Possible 1st-rounder selects U-M over NBA draft

• Jonathan GivonyMay 27, 2025, 11:09 AM ET

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  NBA draft analyst and writer
  Joined ESPN.com in July 2017
  Founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private hunting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams

Yaxel Lendeborg, a predicted late first-round pick, will withdraw his name from the 2025 NBA draft and spend his final collegiate season at Michigan, he informed ESPN on Tuesday.

“While it’s been and still is a dream of mine to play in the NBA, I feel the advancement and growth as a player and a person I will get at the University of Michigan will be extremely advantageous,” Lendeborg told ESPN.The NCAA deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA draft and preserve college eligibility is Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Lendeborg, the No.

26 possibility in ESPN’s NBA draft forecasts, was among the most efficient players in college basketball, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 helps, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 55%from 2-point variety and 36% from 3. He assisted lead UAB to the NIT quarterfinals and became one of only 2 players in Department I history to publish 600-plus points, 400-plus rebounds and 150-plus helps in a season, in addition to Larry Bird.He was called Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-AAC in each of the past 2 seasons.

“I wish to thank Coach May and personnel for enabling me to go through this procedure without any pressure, the Champions Circle collective for helping make this opportunity possible, and all the NBA groups I worked out for, enabling me to experience the predraft process,”Lendeborg said.”Go Blue!” Lendeborg was the No. 1 big male in the NCAA transfer website, devoting to coach Dusty Might in early April. He invested the past 6 weeks checking out

the NBA draft procedure, taking part in the NBA draft combine and personal group workouts.It’s rare for a forecasted first-round choice to pass up the NBA draft in favor of an additional season in college, however the 22-year old Lendeborg’s special backstory contributed to his choice. He played just 11 university high school games as a senior and was crossed the country to a small junior college in Arizona by his mother after sticking out in a direct exposure camp for Dominican players in New York.” I was more into games than basketball for the majority of my life,”Lendeborg informed ESPN. “I would play 19 hours a day; it was a religion for me. I wasn’t the very best trainee. My mom required me to get on a plane to Arizona

. That was the very best thing that ever took place to me. “I went from there to UAB, where Andy Kennedy was a father figure for me. This previous summer season was truly the very first time I ever had actually a genuine organized exercise strategy. I’m just scratching the surface area on the player I can evolve into, and with more work I can reach that potential.”Lendeborg will step into the void left by 7-footer Danny Wolf, a predicted top-20 draft pick coming off a standout season at Michigan in which he played point guard, power forward and center.Lendeborg stated Wolf’s success and the heavy usage he

saw pushing the ball off the defensive glass and helping with the offense as a pick-and-roll ball handler played a part in his decision-making process.”It’s fantastic what Dusty May did

with Danny Wolf,” Lendeborg stated.” I would view his games this season and state,’ Man, I want that was me.’I’m trying to bring the exact same type of versatility he brought to Michigan.”Michigan will look vastly various next season, adding three other effect transfers in North Carolina point player Elliot Cadeau, Illinois huge male Morez Johnson and UCLA’s Aday Mara, in addition to freshman wing and McDonald’s All American Trey McKenney from the high school ranks.Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft professional and the creator and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal hunting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and International groups.