Will Yaxel Lendeborg stay in the NBA Draft or return to college and play at Michigan next season? According to one national analyst, Lendeborg’s NBA Combine performance may have solidified his place in the draft:
Dusty May did a great job this offseason in the transfer portal for the Michigan Wolverines , bringing in the No. 2 overall class with guys like UNC point guard Elliot Cadeau, Illinois big man Morez Johnson Jr. and UCLA big man Aday Mara. The biggest catch of them all was UAB forward Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 1 ranked player in the portal.
There’s just one slight problem — Lendeborg also declared for the NBA Draft in hopes of receiving a guaranteed contract. After performing in the NBA Combine this week, despite recently saying he is leaning 60/40 to play in Ann Arbor next season, it appears Lendeborg may actually have more of a shot to get that coveted guaranteed contract.
Here is the latest from the NBA Combine from 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein :
“I’m going to tell you the truth — (Lendeborg) has got some serious momentum, and it sounds like he may be in this draft to stay. Lendeborg was maybe one of the biggest winners of the measurements, measured 6-8.5 without shoes on … 235 pounds, 7-foot-4 wingspan, fourth-highest differential in the field, and over a 9-foot standing reach. Add that to some of the playmaking and passing we’ve seen late in the season, he’s got some definite momentum heading into the first round. We’ll see what decision he makes.”
It would really, really suck for Michigan if Lendeborg stays in the draft. Of course, it wouldn’t be a surprise considering he has been a fringe first-round pick throughout the process, but the Wolverines would go from legitimate national title contenders to just being contenders in the Big Ten. Michigan should be good next season whether or not Lendeborg is in Ann Arbor, but the ceiling for the team would be limitless with him around.
Lendeborg has two weeks before he has to make his final decision. Even though the deadline to withdrawal from the NBA Draft is June 15, Lendeborg needs to decide by May 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET if he wants to retain his NCAA eligibility.
Needless to say, the Wolverines may have to pony up some more NIL dollars if they hope to have Lendeborg’s services next season.