With star transfer Yaxel Lendeborg withdrawing from the NBA Draft and officially joining Michigan Basketball, expectations for Dusty May’s 2025-26 team have been significantly elevated:
In the aftermath of star transfer Yaxel Lendeborg withdrawing his name from the 2025 NBA Draft and officially joining the Michigan Wolverines , Dusty May’s team is hoping to be a legitimate national championship contender.
May found plenty of success in his first season at Michigan by leading the Wolverines to a 27-10 record that included a Big Ten Tournament title and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. Now, expectations have continued to rise .
Lendeborg’s announcement was massive news for the Wolverines. He brings an elite blend of experience, physicality and versatility. In his two seasons at UAB, he proved he is an elite scorer, rebounder and defender.
Following the huge news that Yaxel Lendeborg is sticking in college, the Michigan Wolverines’ betting odds to win the National Championship skyrocketed: https://t.co/YOPjWc6aXd
— Maize n Brew (@MaizenBrew) May 27, 2025
Heading into the upcoming campaign, the expectations are sky high with Lendeborg bringing his talents to Ann Arbor.
According to several way-too-early top-25 rankings, the Wolverines appear to be considered a consensus top-10 team. Michigan is currently slotted in the top-10 in rankings released by CBS and On3 following Lendeborg’s announcement. Coming off a great first year with May, the Wolverines could be even better in the 2025-26 season.
Now that Lendeborg is officially on the roster, the Wolverines’ chances of contending for championships are more likely. Not only is he a dynamic player with size and strength, but Lendeborg’s relentlessness will add a ton of energy to the team.
BREAKING: Michigan commit Yaxel Lendeborg is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and will play for Dusty May and the Wolverines next season, he told @On3sports .
Lendeborg was the No. 1 ranked player in the portal and averaged 17.7 PTS, 11.4 REB, & 4.2 AST per game this season at… pic.twitter.com/GSOWrHNMEJ
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) May 27, 2025
The former UAB forward posted a team-high 17.7 points and 11.4 rebounds on 52.2 percent shooting from the field in 2025. His impressive skillset and consistent production made him the highest ranked transfer on 247Sports , CBS and On3 .
Lendeborg headlines one of the nation’s top rated transfer classes that consists of North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau, Illinois center Morez Johnson Jr. and UCLA center Aday Mara. Michigan has the second-best transfer class on 247Sports.
In addition to putting together the best transfer class in the Big Ten, the Wolverines are set to bring back a handful of talented players like Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle Jr., L.J. Cason and Will Tschetter.
It’s difficult to predict just how long it will take for the new-look roster to develop chemistry and find a rhythm, but if they’re eventually able to reach their full potential, the Wolverines could become one of the top teams in the country.