The Michigan men’s basketball team and Wolverines first-year coach Dusty May turned to the transfer portal a year ago to help turn around its program.
The Wolverines once again have utilized the portal to augment a returning cast that helped Michigan win 27 games, win the Big Ten tournament title, and reach the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 one season after losing a program-record 24 contests. May has added four transfers — guard Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), forwards Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), and center Aday Mara (UCLA) — who will play prominent roles.
Lendeborg is the crown jewel. The UAB transfer, who considered jumping to the NBA before heading to Michigan, is one of CBS Sports’ six “splashiest” newcomers for the 2025-26 college basketball season, the outlet unveiled Thursday.
“No newcomer in this year’s class — whether from high school, the transfer portal or international ranks — offers the same mix of talent and seamless fit as the UAB transfer Lendeborg,” Kyle Boone of CBS Sports writes. “He impressed at the NBA Combine this summer but ultimately opted out of the draft, despite near-consensus belief he’d be a first-round pick. That decision was a huge win for Dusty May and his staff and — as we’ll likely see soon — an even bigger win for Lendeborg’s long-term stock. He’s a stud, and he’ll be showcased as such in Ann Arbor.”
The 6-foot-9 Lendeborg starred the past two seasons for the Blazers before announcing in April his plans to transfer to Michigan and test the NBA Draft waters while maintaining college eligibility. Last season, Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals at UAB, shooting 54.6% on 2-pointers and 34.9% on 3-pointers.
Last season, the Wolverines utilized 7-footer Danny Wolf, a transfer from Yale, as a point forward capable of deft passing or deep shooting. May has said he envisions a similar role for Lendeborg, calling him the “queen on a chessboard.”
Wolf was selected at No. 27 overall by the Brooklyn Nets in June’s NBA Draft.
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