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ESPN analyst: Yaxel Lendeborg could improve draft stock 'if he withdraws now,' heads to Michigan

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•05/19/25•

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NCAA Basketball: American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship-Memphis vs UAB
Michigan transfer portal commit Yaxel Lendeborg has until May 28 to make a decision on the NBA Draft or Ann Arbor. (Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images)

The Michigan Wolverines are eagerly awaiting Yaxel Lendeborg‘s decision on whether to head to the NBA or Ann Arbor next season. After the NBA Combine, there could be some momentum for him to ultimately land at Michigan, at least according to one ESPN analyst.

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy put together a post-combine mock draft that has Lendeborg at No. 26 to the Brooklyn Nets, but says the team may not keep the pick while working through roster and salary cap decisions.

In Woo’s intel portion of the mock draft, he seemed to suggest that teams know he has an NIL package to go to Michigan and might be willing to see where his stock goes with a year in Ann Arbor.

“Lendeborg faced one of the highest-profile, stay-or-go decisions among prospects at the combine, measuring quite well and turning in a solid, if not spectacular, showing in scrimmages, with Michigan coach Dusty May and members of his staff in Chicago to support him,” Woo wrote on Monday. “NBA teams are aware Lendeborg has a multimillion-dollar NIL package to attend Michigan next season, and it wasn’t clear by the end of the week as to whether he had done enough to secure the type of guarantee that might keep him in the draft.

“He was highly productive last season at UAB and will step into a huge role with the Wolverines as the ostensible replacement for [Danny] Wolf, giving him an opportunity to improve his draft stock if he withdraws now.”

Lendeborg, who stands at 6-9, 240 pounds, was the No. 1 player available this transfer portal cycle and spent the last two years at UAB after spending two seasons at Arizona Western College in the JUCO ranks. While he was there, he was a two-time NJCAA All-American and back-to-back ACCAC Player of the Year. This season, he was a star with the Blazers, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 52.2% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.

Lendeborg said last week his decision was a true 50-50 after previously stating it might be 60-40 in favor of Michigan. He has until May 28 to withdraw and make a decision on his future. With the NBA Combine now in the rearview mirror, a decision could come at any time in the next nine days.

Lendeborg was part of what On3 currently ranks as the No. 4 transfer portal class in the country, along with big men Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA) and point guard Elliot Cadeau.

Michigan star heads to title contender, Vlad Goldin drafted

The player Lendeborg could replace, forward Danny Wolf, impressed scouts at the combine and seemed to solidify his status as a potential first-round pick.

Givony and Woo’s mock has Wolf as the No. 17 overall pick, heading to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are in the Western Conference for the second year in a row and appear poised to be a title contender for years to come around star Anthony Edwards.

“Wolf’s mix of perimeter functionality, passing and interior size (he measured at 6-10½ barefoot, putting him close to 7 feet in shoes with a 7-2¼ wingspan) makes him an intriguing player for creative teams,” ESPN writes. “With Julius Randle and Naz Reid holding player options for next season, adding a younger forward in Wolf to the mix would be an interesting consideration as the Timberwolves sift through their options.”

Michigan’s other 7-footer, center Vladislav Goldin, did not have the best NBA Combine showing, by all accounts, but still was drafted in the ESPN mock. He went to the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the second round of their draft.

The 2025 NBA Draft will be held on June 25, 2025, in Brooklyn, New York.

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