Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 1-ranked player in the transfer portal, has committed to Michigan, sources confirmed to 247Sports.
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The former UAB forward will also go through the NBA draft process with the intention of finding a guaranteed contract, Jonathan Givony of ESPN reports. Lendeborg played two seasons at UAB and has two seasons of college eligibility remaining.
A 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward, Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game last season for the Blazers. In the process, he shot 52.2% from the field and 35.7% from three. These eye-popping numbers along with his positional versatility moved the 247Sports team to crown Lendeborg as the top-ranked player in this year’s transfer portal cycle.
“Yaxel Lendeborg is the top dawg in the portal who is positioned to be a major needle-mover if the NBA doesn’t come calling,” CBS Sports and 247Sports college basketball analyst Isaac Trotter wrote. “Lendeborg is a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward who can pass, dribble, shoot and defend. Lendeborg can play the small-ball 5 or toggle to the 4 rather effortlessly, and he dominates with a mix of power and finesse.”
“Lendeborg’s 30-point, 20-rebound, eight-assist, zero-turnover, four-block, five-steal showing against East Carolina in the AAC Tournament was one of the single-best games anyone played this season,” Trotter continued. “Lendeborg has an extra year of eligibility due to the JUCO ruling, and he can be a First Team, All-Conference selection in any league in America next year.”
It’s safe to say that Michigan is an early winner of this year’s transfer portal. Lendborg joins a stacked Wolverine transfer class that includes former North Carolina point guard Elliot Cadeau — the No. 40-ranked transfer. Also, former Illinois fan-favorite and top-20 transfer, Morez Johnson, chose to stay in the Big Ten by committing to the Wolverines. Together, along with Lendborg (if he doesn’t get grabbed by the NBA), gives Dusty May a trio that could make some noise in one of college basketball’s best conferences.
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