ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Projected NBA first-round draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg has withdrawn from the 2025 NBA Draft and is transferring to the University of Michigan. Lendeborg has played for the University of Alabama-Birmingham over the past three years and was the 2024 AAS Tournament MVP.
Lendeborg on withdrawing his name and choosing Michigan out of the portal says, “While it’s been and still is a dream of mine to play in the NBA, I feel the development and growth as a player and a person I will gain at the University of Michigan will be very beneficial. I’d like to thank Coach May and staff for allowing me to go through this process without any pressure, the Champions Circle collective for helping make this opportunity possible, and all the NBA teams I worked out for, allowing me to experience the pre-draft process. Go Blue.”
CBS Sports had Lendeborg as the No. 1 ranked player in the transfer portal and was the AAC’s Defensive Player of the Year twice, along with being on the first team. He averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game this past season. He is only one of two players in NCAA Division I history to have 600-plus, 400-plus rebounds, and 150-plus assists in a season, joining Larry Bird.