Yaxel Lendeborg, the top-ranked player in the transfer portal, is officially a Michigan Wolverine. Rather than declaring for the NBA Draft — where he was projected as a late first-round pick — Lendeborg chose to return to college, bringing elite two-way production to Ann Arbor.
Last season at UAB, Lendeborg stuffed the stat sheet:
17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game.
He also claimed AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors — for the second year in a row.
What makes his numbers even more intriguing is how efficient he was in a relatively low-usage role. Despite putting up dominant box scores, Lendeborg ranked just 175th in usage rate (23.9%) nationally. That’s likely to change at Michigan, where he’s expected to be the focal point of the offense.
On the advanced stat front, he ranked 5th in offensive win shares and 7th in PER, showcasing his elite offensive value and overall efficiency. With his rare combination of scoring, playmaking, rebounding, and defense, Lendeborg may be the most complete player in college basketball heading into the 2025–26 season.
The jump from UAB to the Big 12 with Michigan will present a challenge — but also a massive opportunity. If Lendeborg can translate his production to a power conference, he’ll not only be a National Player of the Year candidate, but a surefire riser on NBA draft boards.
