The school basketball switch portal is already popping, and a few early winners are rising on the boys’s facet. Louisville added three great perimeter players to go together with incoming five-star recruit Mikel Brown Jr. to doubtlessly emerge as a top-10 workforce subsequent season. North Carolina hit it big by getting a dedication from former Arizona 7-footer Henri Veesaar. The Michigan Wolverines already had class going two main commitments, and now they’ve landed an excellent greater star.
Yaxel Lendeborg committed to Michigan on Saturday morning, in accordance with a number of reviews. Lendeborg was probably the greatest gamers in school basketball this 12 months at UAB. The 6’9 huge man led the Blazers in factors, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, however his workforce nonetheless missed the NCAA match after shedding within the AAC match title sport to Memphis. Lendeborg put his identify within the switch portal, and was ranked as the No. 1 player available.
He joins head coach Dusty Might’s switch portal haul, which already consists of former Illinois huge man Morez Johnson and former North Carolina level guard Elliot Cadeau. The Wolverines are trying 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 identify within the 2025 NBA Draft. He told ESPN insider Jonathan Givony that he’s seeking a guaranteed contract to maintain his identify within the draft. First-round draft picks are mechanically given assured contracts, and a few second-round picks negotiate them, too.
Lendeborg did not appear in the first-round of our latest 2025 NBA mock draft. He’s the No. 28 total participant on ESPN’s board.
Lendeborg has a mix of measurement, energy, athleticism, and ability that made him virtually unguardable in school basketball this previous season. At 6’9, 240 kilos, he’s a talented inside scorer (17.7 factors per sport), an excellent 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 p.c 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 skill 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 12 months by letting the large man deal with main playmaking duties. It’s simple to think about Lendeborg in the same position, if not because the workforce’s de facto level guard, then not less than as their lead decision-maker.
Lendeborg will probably be thought of probably the greatest gamers in school basketball subsequent season if he’s not within the NBA. He’ll need to show himself on the NBA Draft Mix, which runs from Might 11-18.
Michigan is monitoring as a possible top-5 workforce subsequent season with Lendeborg. Will he truly be on campus? The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline isn’t till June 15, so Michigan will probably be ready some time.
