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 crew subsequent season. North Carolina hit it huge 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, in response to a number of experiences. Lendeborg was among the finest gamers in faculty basketball this yr at UAB. The 6’9 huge man led the Blazers in factors, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, however his crew nonetheless missed the NCAA event after shedding within the AAC event title sport to Memphis. Lendeborg put his title within the switch portal, and was ranked because the No. 1 participant accessible.
He joins head coach Dusty Might’s switch portal haul, which already contains former Illinois huge 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 title within the 2025 NBA Draft. He instructed ESPN insider Jonathan Givony that he’s in search of 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 total participant on ESPN’s board.
Lendeborg has a mix of dimension, 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 sport), a fantastic 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 % 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 huge man helped his standing significantly with NBA groups, showcasing his potential 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 large man deal with main playmaking duties. It’s straightforward to think about Lendeborg in an analogous function, if not because the crew’s de facto level guard, then at the least as their lead decision-maker.
Lendeborg can be thought-about among the finest gamers in faculty basketball subsequent season if he’s not within the NBA. He’ll should show himself on the NBA Draft Mix, which runs from Might 11-18.
Michigan is monitoring as a possible top-5 crew subsequent season with Lendeborg. Will he really be on campus? The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline isn’t till June 15, so Michigan can be ready some time.