Michigan or NBA? Yaxel Lendeborg gives update on draft decision
The Michigan Wolverines are still waiting on a final decision from transfer portal commit Yaxel Lendeborg, who is weighing Ann Arbor against the NBA. The league’s combine takes place through May 18 in Chicago and will go a long way in determining his final call.
Lendeborg spoke briefly to Big Ten Network’s Andy Katz at the NBA Combine and revealed that, at least heading into the event and coming off an official visit to Michigan, he might be slightly leaning toward joining the Maize and Blue.
“Man, I’m more in between than I can be, to be honest,” Lendeborg told Big Ten Network’s Andy Katz. “You know, I took the visit to Michigan. The visit was amazing and I really loved it. I would love to play there. And then the NBA thing, it’s just the be-all, end-all. So it’s like 50-50, maybe 60-40 [Michigan].”
Lendeborg has sought out a first-round guarantee from NBA teams, but also has a substantial NIL offer from Michigan on the table. He has until May 28 to withdraw from the draft if he chooses to do so.
“I think I’m gonna use this all 10 days,” Lendeborg said. “I’m gonna have 10 days left. I’m gonna use all 10 days to make that decision. [The deciding factor is] how comfortable I feel and whatever brings me the most peace.”
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Should he land in Ann Arbor, the goals he has set for himself and the team are already high.
“I set goals for myself,” Lendeborg said. “If I go to Michigan and I would wanna win Big Ten Player of the Year and at least get us to the Final Four. And if not, then it’s gonna be a bad year for me.”
Lendeborg, who stands at 6-9, 240 pounds, was the No. 1 player available this transfer portal cycle and would slot into Danny Wolf’s spot in the Michigan starting lineup. He has 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 had season highs of 30 points and 20 rebounds in a 94-77 win over East Carolina in the AAC Tournament, along with 8 assists, 4 blocks and 5 steals. He was the AAC Defensive Player of the Year and an All-AAC First-Team selection for the second year in a row. He also set a single-season program record for rebounds with 420 this year at UAB and led the NCAA with 26 double-doubles on the season.
