National analyst weighs in on Yaxel Lendeborg's status with Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines landed the top overall player in the NCAA transfer portal in former UAB forward Yaxel Lendeborg, but it is not a slam dunk that he winds up in Ann Arbor. The coveted big man is also going through the NBA Draft process and seeking a guaranteed contract that may or may not come.
Whether it be as a first round pick or a guarantee from a team at the top of the second round, most believe that Lendeborg is leaning toward the NBA. The Wolverine’s Chris Balas gave an update in Thursday’s part one of Inside the Fort, but the process is still ongoing.
The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman weighed in on the situation in a brief anecdote during a recent appearance, saying he has heard Lendeborg is leaning NBA.
”[Yaxel Lendeborg], who signed with Michigan,” Goodman said in a clip from his show. “The UAB transferred [and committed to] Michigan for a boatload of money, somewhere in the $3 million range, according to my sources.
“One of the best college players in America. He’s unbelievable, does everything. Swiss Army knife who scores and rebounds. Not a great, great athlete, but passes the s––– of it, does everything well, so he, he committed to Michigan. My sources tell me he is very focused and leaning towards staying in the NBA draft. So if you’re him. You got both sides covered right now.”
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Lendeborg, who stands at 6-9, 240 pounds, has also declared for the NBA Draft in addition to entering the portal, but a season at a Power Four school could be a boost to his pro stock. 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 assists 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.
The portal is open through April 22. The deadline to withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft is set for June 15 with the G-League combine taking place May 9-11 and the NBA combine going from May 11-18. Fans will be keeping a close eye on where Lendeborg winds up.
