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Newsstand: Analyst says Yaxel Lendeborg should go to Michigan

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome05/20/25anthonytbroome
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Perhaps the final piece of the puzzle for the Michigan Wolverines this offseason comes in the form of Yaxel Lendeborg‘s decision to either head to Ann Arbor or head to the NBA Draft. Coming out of last week’s NBA Combine in Chicago, there seems to be some growing buzz that one more year in college might be the play.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger said that Lendeborg did not do enough to secure the promise he may have been looking for from an NBA team, opening the door for an official move to Michigan.

“Michigan commit Yaxel Lendeborg wasn’t overtly bad but likely didn’t do enough on the court to garner a first-round promise, including shooting 2 of 6 on the second day,” Hollinger wrote.

Lendeborg, who stands at 6-9, 240 pounds, was the No. 1 player available this transfer portal cycle and spent the last two years at UAB after spending two seasons at Arizona Western College in the JUCO ranks. While he was there, he was a two-time NJCAA All-American and back-to-back ACCAC Player of the Year. This season, he was a star with the Blazers, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 52.2% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.

Lendeborg has until May 28 to withdraw from the NBA Draft process.

Tweets of the day

Michigan quote of the day

“ I think every program’s probably different to some extent as to how their head coach operates on game day, like Steve Sarkisian’s calling the plays for Texas. So obviously his impact on the game is a little bit greater. But I think the phrase that comes to mind for me that probably fits across the board is a tone setter. You get off the bus, you’re looking at your head coach, what’s his vibe? Is he walking out with it with a level of confidence? Is there some energy? I think that’s kind of the temperature that’s set on game day.”

– On3’s J.D. PicKell on how Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore sets a tone for the program, and what will be missed during potential suspension

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ESPN analyst: Yaxel Lendeborg could improve draft stock ‘if he withdraws now,’ heads to Michigan
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