Michigan senior Yaxel Lendeborg announced his intentions this week to declare for the 2026 NBA draft after leading the Wolverines to their second national title.<\/p>\n
Lendeborg was a consensus first-team All-American after averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 37.2% from 3-point range. He was also the Big Ten Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection.<\/p>\n
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The 6-foot-9 forward elevated his play even further in the postseason, becoming the first Wolverines player with three straight 20-point performances in the NCAA Tournament since Juwan Howard in 1994. He was named the MVP of the Midwest region.<\/p>\n
Lendeborg transferred to Michigan after two years at UAB, where he was a two-time American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He tested the predraft process last year and ultimately opted to play one final year in college to improve his ability and compete for a title.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old is currently considered to be a lottery pick and, likely, the first upperclassman to be selected this year in a draft heavily dominated by freshmen. He is highly touted for his scoring, rebounding and ability to defend multiple positions.<\/p>\n
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Lendeborg likely cemented his standing as a high draft pick after proving himself against high-level competition in the Big Ten. He projects to be ready to contribute in the NBA immediately and should be valued among teams selecting in the upper half of the draft.<\/p>\n