The faculty basketball switch portal is already popping, and a few early winners are rising on the lads’s facet. Louisville added three nice perimeter gamers to associate with incoming five-star recruit Mikel Brown Jr. to probably emerge as a top-10 workforce subsequent season. North Carolina hit it large by getting a dedication from former Arizona 7-footer Henri Veesaar. The Michigan Wolverines already had class going two main commitments, and now they’ve landed a good greater star.
Yaxel Lendeborg dedicated to Michigan on Saturday morning, in response to a number of experiences. Lendeborg was the most effective gamers in school basketball this 12 months at UAB. The 6’9 large man led the Blazers in factors, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, however his workforce nonetheless missed the NCAA match after shedding within the AAC match title sport to Memphis. Lendeborg put his identify within the switch portal, and was ranked because the No. 1 participant out there.
He joins head coach Dusty Might’s switch portal haul, which already consists of former Illinois large man Morez Johnson and former North Carolina level guard Elliot Cadeau. The Wolverines are wanting stacked for subsequent season coming off a Candy 16 run, however provided that they really get Lendeborg on campus.
Lendeborg additionally introduced he’s placing his identify within the 2025 NBA Draft. He advised ESPN insider Jonathan Givony that he’s looking for a assured contract to maintain his identify within the draft. First-round draft picks are routinely given assured contracts, and a few second-round picks negotiate them, too.
Lendeborg didn’t seem within the first-round of our newest 2025 NBA mock draft. He’s the No. 28 general participant on ESPN’s board.
Lendeborg has a mixture of dimension, energy, athleticism, and talent that made him nearly unguardable in school basketball this previous season. At 6’9, 240 kilos, he’s a talented inside scorer (17.7 factors per sport), an amazing rebounder (11.4 per sport), a gifted passer (4.2 assists per sport), and a defensive presence who can block pictures and get into the passing lanes. He even hit 35.7 p.c of his three-pointers on 70 makes an attempt this season.
Yaxel Lendeborg’s excellent season ended within the NIT quarterfinals final night time. The 6’9 large man helped his standing significantly with NBA groups, showcasing his skill to deal with, cross, shoot, and rebound, with the kind of two-way versatility, talent, and instincts NBA groups covet pic.twitter.com/iF3cpTt51d
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 27, 2025
Michigan turned Danny Wolf into a possible first-round choose this 12 months by letting the large man deal with major playmaking duties. It’s simple to think about Lendeborg in the same position, if not because the workforce’s de facto level guard, then at the very least as their lead decision-maker.
Lendeborg can be thought of the most effective gamers in school basketball subsequent season if he’s not within the NBA. He’ll must show himself on the NBA Draft Mix, which runs from Might 11-18.
Michigan is monitoring as a possible top-5 workforce subsequent season with Lendeborg. Will he truly be on campus? The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline isn’t till June 15, so Michigan can be ready some time.
