Wolverines HC Dusty May adds key player to his team ahead of next NCAAB season

The results of this season, which is still ongoing, were undoubtedly not what the Michigan Wolverines had hoped for. With their sights now set on the upcoming NCAAB season, they are beginning to build a competitive roster for Dusty May, and the arrival of a key player through the Transfer Portal has been confirmed.

Yaxel Lendeborg was one of the most sought-after players by several programs in College Basketball, and ultimately, the forward made the decision to commit to the Wolverines, meaning he will no longer be a player for UAB next season.

The news was shared via the official On3Sports account on X (formerly Twitter), where Lendeborg’s final decision to join May’s team and leave Birmingham was officially announced.

“BREAKING: UAB star transfer forward Yaxel Lendeborg has committed to Michigan, @DraftExpress reports,” it was announced on social media.

Jonathan Givony, ESPN reporter, added details about the forward’s basketball background: “Yaxel Lendeborg has a very unique backstory. An avid gamer, he played only 11 varsity high school games and was essentially forced to move across the country to a JUCO in Arizona by his mother, after standing out in an exposure camp for Dominican players in New York.”

The reasons behind Lendeborg’s decision

Lendeborg is one of the top prospects in the sport right now, with some even projecting him as a future NBA player. His arrival at the Wolverines has a primary reason, which the player himself made clear to the press.

“I love the culture Dusty May has brought to every team that he’s coached,” Lendeborg said, per ESPN. “When I first started watching college basketball, it was FAU.”

In addition, he expressed his intentions to take confident steps in his career and to go to places where he truly has the opportunity to showcase all his talent on the court.

“Make sure I am in a good spot. I would prefer to play college basketball in Ann Arbor than be in and out of the G League on a two-way. I want to find a safe spot,” the forward added.

Lendeborg’s early steps

The arrival of the former UAB player to the Wolverines marks a significant step in his career. It was he himself who, in statements to the press, explained how his journey unfolded to reach this point in his sport.

“I was more into video games than basketball for most of my life,” Lendeborg said. “I would play 19 hours a day, it was a religion for me. I wasn’t the best student. My mom forced me to get on a plane to Arizona. That was the best thing that ever happened to me. I went from there to UAB, where Andy Kennedy was a father figure for me. This past summer was really the first time I ever had a real organized workout plan. I’m just scratching the surface on the player I can evolve into, and with more work I can reach that potential.”