Yaxel Lendeborg will maintain off on his NBA profession. The projected first-round choose will withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft and as an alternative enroll at Michigan, per ESPN. Lendeborg performed for UAB from 2023 to 2025 and can head to the Wolverines by way of the switch portal.
The 22-year-old defined his reasoning for taking part in faculty ball for one more yr, saying it is about enhancing on and off the courtroom.
“Whereas it has been and nonetheless is a dream of mine to play within the NBA, I really feel the event and progress as a participant and an individual I’ll acquire on the College of Michigan shall be very helpful,” Lendeborg mentioned. “I would wish to thank (Michigan coach Dusty) Could and workers for permitting me to undergo this course of with none strain, the Champions Circle collective for serving to make this chance attainable, and all of the NBA groups I labored out for, permitting me to expertise the pre-draft course of. Go Blue.”
Lendenborg was CBS Sports activities’ No. 1 ranked participant within the switch portal after starring for the Blazers and was AAC Match MVP in 2024 and earned first-team All-AAC and AAC Defensive Participant of the Yr every of the final two seasons.
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Gamers have till Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET to withdraw from the NBA Draft and keep faculty eligibility beneath the NCAA deadline.
Lendeborg’s inventory soared late
Lendeborg’s choice was watched carefully by NBA and faculty basketball observers and was probably a tough one for the gifted ahead. He soared up draft boards after his efficiency within the NBA Draft Mix earlier this month.
Measuring 6-foot-8.5 with a stunning 7-4 wingspan and 9-0.5 standing attain helped Lendeborg work his manner into a variety within the draft that just about made it too powerful for him to cross on.
“He did effectively for himself along with the measurements and seemed the a part of a first-rounder in scrimmages working as a small-ball huge,” wrote CBS Sports activities’ Kyle Boone after Lendeborg’s efficiency in Chicago.
Lendeborg was projected to go No. 24 in Boone’s newest mock draft and was the No. 30 choose in CBS Sports activities’ Cameron Salerno current mock draft.
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Michigan wins portal prize
Touchdown Lendeborg was an enormous coup for Could, however it could have all been for naught had he determined to stay within the NBA Draft. As an alternative, the Wolverines will usher in a participant of immense expertise. Lendeborg is probably the most full participant on this portal cycle and is an All-Huge Ten candidate who shall be working to enhance his draft inventory for 2026.
The Wolverines return three of their high eight scorers (Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett and L.J. Cason) from final season’s 27-10 group that superior to the Candy 16 of the NCAA Match. Along with Lendeborg, Michigan will add Illinois switch Morez Johnson Jr., North Carolina switch Elliot Cadeau, UCLA switch Aday Mara from the portal to hitch a recruiting class that includes four-star freshmen Trey McKenney and Winters Grady.
The Wolverines are No. 8 within the CBS Sports activities Prime 25 And 1 early preseason rankings.