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Yaxel Lendeborg makes final decision between NBA Draft, attending Michigan
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Yaxel Lendeborg was among the top players in the transfer portal this offseason after a major breakout campaign for UBA. That made it a surprising and major win when he committed to Dusty May and Michigan, but there was one catch.
Lendeborg was investigating his chances at the NBA Draft, initially declaring but maintaining his eligibility while going through the process. Now, he’s ready to make his decision, according to a joint report through ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Shams Charania.
According to those 2 insiders, Lendeborg is pulling his name out of the draft and will spend the 2025-26 season at Ann Arbor. Needless to say, it’s a massive win for the Wolverines.
“While it’s been and still is a dream of mine to play in the NBA, I feel the development and growth as a player and a person I will gain at the University of Michigan will be very beneficial,” Lendeborg told ESPN.
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This past season at UAB, the 6-foot-9 Lendeborg was among the most versatile players in the country, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals. He also shot 35.7% from 3-point range and over 52% overall from the floor.
According to 247 Sports, Lendeborg was the top-rated transfer prospect in the entire country this offseason, and multiple outlets had Lendeborg as the top big man in the portal. His decision to bypass the draft is surprising but gives the Wolverines a massive building block for the season ahead.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.