It has been an eventful offseason for the Michigan basketball program, but the difference between a good and great offseason is Yaxel Lendeborg.
The 6-foot-9 forward committed to the Michigan Wolverines out of the transfer portal from UAB. He was First-Team All-Conference in the American, in addiiton to being the American's Defensive Player of the Year.
247 Sports has Lendeborg ranked as the No. 1 player in the transfer portal. He also declared for the NBA draft and has been going through that process. Some insiders have suggested that Yaxel is leaning toward the NBA.
However, that's mostly national insiders. Davis Moseley, a Michigan basketball insider for 247 Sports, has maintained that he expects Lendeborg on the roster next season. He committed for a reason. If there's a guarantee that Lendeborg is going to be a first-round pick he will likely go.
But if he's on the border, Michigan could be a safe option. The Michigan Wolverines surely paid him a huge NIL deal. There are rumors of about $4 million. That's essentially what you would make as a late first-round pick.
And a stellar season in Ann Arbor could improve his stock. For Dusty May and Michigan basketball, this weekend will be a chance to convince Lendeborg to sign with the Wolverines, as Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press he will visit Michigan for the first time.
BREAKING: Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 1 player in the transfer portal and Michigan basketball commit, is heading to Ann Arbor for a visit this weekend.
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) April 25, 2025
A suddenly monstrous couple of days upcoming for Dusty May and Co.https://t.co/TNYTBJBJzn
Lendeborg didn't visit before his commitment. This visit could be a sign that Yaxel is leaning toward playing for the Michigan Wolverines. At the very least, playing for Michigan is a real possibility and this visit only reinforces that.
Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game last season. He's not an elite shooter, but he is an elite playmaker, defender, and scorer.
Having NBA-caliber players on your roster is the goal of every college basketball team and if the Wolverines are able to convince Yaxel to play college hoops, the sky is the limit for the 2025-26 season.