Michigan basketball got some massive news Tuesday, as top transfer Yaxel Lendeborg withdrew from the NBA draft.
Lendeborg, a 6-foot-9 transfer from UAB, was considered a likely first-round pick in the upcoming draft. But he will put off that opportunity to spend a year in Ann Arbor.
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Lendeborg is the No. 1-ranked player in the transfer portal after averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game at UAB last season. He shot 52.5% from the floor and 35.7% from beyond the arc.
Dusty May is looking to build on an excellent first season with the program. He took over a team that had just experienced its worst season ever, at 8-24, and immediately won the Big Ten Tournament and marched to the Sweet 16.
This offseason, May landed transfer commitments from Lendeborg, as well as the following prospects:
- Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) -- No. 29 player in transfer portal.
- Aday Mara (UCLA) -- No. 49 player in transfer portal.
- Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina) -- No. 62 player in transfer portal.
The Wolverines are also welcoming five-star Flint guard Trey McKenney and four-star (No. 87 overall) wing Winters Grady, of Napa, California, in their freshman class.
Michigan managed to retain a few key players from that Sweet 16 roster -- Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett, Will Tschetter, and L.J. Cason. So there’s also some valuable experience returning for the Maize and Blue.
The final roster should be able to compete once again near the top of the Big Ten, and certainly qualify for the NCAA Tournament.