The school basketball switch portal is already popping, and a few early winners are rising on the boys’s aspect. Louisville added three nice perimeter gamers to associate with incoming five-star recruit Mikel Brown Jr. to probably emerge as a top-10 staff subsequent season. North Carolina hit it large by getting a dedication from former Arizona 7-footer Henri Veesaar. The Michigan Wolverines already had a great class going two main commitments, and now they’ve landed a good larger star.
Yaxel Lendeborg dedicated to Michigan on Saturday morning, based on a number of studies. Lendeborg was among the best gamers in faculty basketball this yr at UAB. The 6’9 large man led the Blazers in factors, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, however his staff nonetheless missed the NCAA event after dropping within the AAC event title recreation to Memphis. Lendeborg put his title within the switch portal, and was ranked because the No. 1 participant obtainable.
He joins head coach Dusty Could’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 trying 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 title within the 2025 NBA Draft. He advised ESPN insider Jonathan Givony that he’s looking for a assured contract to maintain his title within the draft. First-round draft picks are robotically 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 measurement, energy, athleticism, and ability that made him virtually unguardable in faculty basketball this previous season. At 6’9, 240 kilos, he’s a talented inside scorer (17.7 factors per recreation), an amazing rebounder (11.4 per recreation), a gifted passer (4.2 assists per recreation), and a defensive presence who can block pictures and get into the passing lanes. He even hit 35.7 % of his three-pointers on 70 makes an attempt this season.
Yaxel Lendeborg’s excellent season ended within the NIT quarterfinals final evening. The 6’9 large man helped his standing significantly with NBA groups, showcasing his means to deal with, cross, shoot, and rebound, with the kind of two-way versatility, ability, and instincts NBA groups covet pic.twitter.com/iF3cpTt51d
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 27, 2025
Michigan turned Danny Wolf into a possible first-round decide this yr by letting the massive man deal with main playmaking duties. It’s straightforward to think about Lendeborg in the same function, if not because the staff’s de facto level guard, then a minimum of as their lead decision-maker.
Lendeborg will likely be thought of among the best gamers in faculty basketball subsequent season if he’s not within the NBA. He’ll must show himself on the NBA Draft Mix, which runs from Could 11-18.
Michigan is monitoring as a possible top-5 staff subsequent season with Lendeborg. Will he truly be on campus? The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline isn’t till June 15, so Michigan will likely be ready some time.
