After a period of anticipation, Yaxel Lendeborg has officially withdrawn from the 2025 NBA Draft and will be joining the Michigan Wolverines. This decision is a significant recruiting victory for Coach Dusty May, elevating expectations for his second year leading the team. Lendeborg, a highly-regarded UAB big man, had committed to Michigan in early April but continued to explore his NBA prospects.

During the NBA Draft process, Lendeborg participated in various workouts and the NBA Draft Combine, where he emerged as a potential first-round pick. He mentioned at the Combine that he was seeking a promise or guarantee regarding his draft standing to remain in the draft. Ultimately, he chose to withdraw and pursue his collegiate career at Michigan, making his decision official after weeks of speculation.

The 6-foot-9 graduate transfer brings an impressive record from UAB, where he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in his last season, playing an average of 33.6 minutes. He will have one year of eligibility remaining at Michigan. Lendeborg is considered a consensus top-three transfer in college basketball and was one of the highest-rated professional prospects to pull out of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Lendeborg expressed his admiration for Coach Dusty May, citing May's willingness to wait for him throughout the NBA Combine process as a key factor in his decision. 'I was a fan of Dusty’s since he was at FAU, you know, I’ve been a big fan,' Lendeborg stated. He appreciated Michigan's commitment, contrasting it with other teams that were 'willing to outbid the NBA,' an approach he did not favor. 'I wanted a school that was gonna rock with me from the beginning to the end, and that was Dusty,' he added.

Lendeborg's addition makes him the highest-profile transfer in Michigan's incoming class, which also includes North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau, Illinois big man Morez Johnson Jr., and UCLA big man Aday Mara. With Lendeborg in the fold, the Wolverines are now ranked by most outlets as a preseason top-ten team. His versatility is expected to help Michigan fill the void left by Danny Wolf’s departure.

Recognized as one of the most productive returning players in college basketball, Lendeborg is an elite rebounder, passer, and all-around scorer. He led UAB in every statistical category and topped the country in double-doubles. His journey to this point began in junior college at Arizona Western, where he was a two-time All-American. In his two years at UAB, he was named to the All-AAC First Team and was honored as Defensive Player of the Year in both seasons.