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ESPN names three Michigan basketball players as 2026 NBA Draft candidates

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome06/28/25anthonytbroome
Yaxel Lendeborg Dusty May
Michigan Wolverines basketball forward transfer commit Yaxel Lendeborg and head coach Dusty May. (Photo by Michigan Photography)

The Michigan Wolverines should have one of the most talent-rich rosters in the country when the 2025-26 season opens, which could mean a spotlight in next spring’s NBA Draft. After sending Danny Wolf off as a first-rounder this season, next year could come with a few potential early selections.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo took a look ahead at the 2026 NBA Draft class with three Michigan players making the rankings in forward Yaxel Lendeborg (14th overall), center Aday Mara (22nd) and forward/center Morez Johnson Jr. (33rd). Woo has Lendeborg as one of the returning players to watch.

“Lendeborg broke out last season at UAB and will transfer to Michigan, where a huge role and lucrative NIL deal await after he considered entering the 2025 draft,” he wrote. “He had positive flashes at the combine, but it wasn’t enough to earn him a first-round assurance. The Wolverines have lost quite a bit of frontcourt production, with first-rounder Danny Wolf (No. 27) and Vladislav Goldin off to the pros, allowing Lendeborg to help himself in the same way.

“A late-blooming prospect with a mix of offensive skill, defensive playmaking and excellent length, expect Lendeborg to figure prominently for Michigan.”

Lendeborg went through the NBA Draft process this year, but never got what he was looking for in terms of a promise or guarantee.

“At first, it was stressful because nobody was giving me any straight answers,” Lendeborg told The Wolverine of the pre-draft process. “I was just looking for something that I didn’t get to hear.

“I’m glad I went through it, just so I know how to go into it next year. I’m glad I got to meet all the people that I did, because it ultimately just helped me a lot, seeing the basketball world outside of basketball. Next year, I’ll attack it a little differently, and do everything I can this year to prove myself even more.”

The No. 1 player in the transfer portal was a star this past season at UAB, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 52.2% from the field and 35.7% from the 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 and led the NCAA with 26 double-doubles on the season.

 ”I mean, he has similarities to Danny. I know, like that’s more recent,” teammate Nimari Burnett said this week. “But I was thinking [former Michigan star] Chris Webber. He’s unselfish and makes the right read, makes the right task. And like, honestly, he’s just a player of his own, too, because he can do so many things on the floor. Three-level scorer, playing in the post, rebounding at a high level. So it’s gonna be exciting when he gets out there and plays. But it’s already exciting.”

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