Michigan basketball earned a massive commitment early on Saturday, with UAB transfer big man Yaxel Lendeborg opting to commit to the Wolverines, over schools like Kentucky and Auburn. Lendeborg is ranked as the #1 player in the transfer portal, and should instantly be THE star on Michigan's 2025-26 roster.
The 6'9 senior averaged 17.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game with UAB this past season. He shot 35.7% from three and 52.2% overall. Lendeborg will likely man the small forward/power forward position.
This is a huge win for Michigan, and it signals that the future is extremely bright in Ann Arbor. In the era of NIL, only the top programs can compete for the #1 player in the transfer portal. To beat out Kentucky and Auburn, especially when there were rumors that Lendeborg could commend $4m+ in NIL, shows that Michigan is looking to be a championship contender under Dusty May.
The Wolverines add an elite scorer who can be Michigans go-to guy. Combined with the additions of an elite playmaker in point guard Elliot Cadeau and a physical beast in Morez Johnson, Michigan is building a roster that can compete for a national championship. It'll be fascinating to see what other moves, if any, Michigan makes.
Lendeborg is still looking to go through the NBA draft process, but his commitment to Michigan is a very positive sign for the Wolverines. Michigan basketball doesn't appear to be going away any time soon. The Wolverines are committed to landing the best talent, and are going to be competing for championships. Go blue!