Yaxel Lendeborg Transfers to Michigan, Eyes NBA Draft \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ UAB star Yaxel Lendeborg will transfer to Michigan while entering the NBA draft evaluation process. A flurry of other high-impact men’s and women’s college basketball transfers were announced this weekend, including key additions for Kentucky, Kansas, Creighton, and Iowa State. The NCAA landscape continues to shift with draft decisions looming.
Quick Looks
- Yaxel Lendeborg transfers from UAB to Michigan, enters NBA draft eval
- Kentucky lands Pitt’s Jaland Lowe to replace Lamont Butler
- Creighton signs Iowa sharpshooter Josh Dix
- Kansas picks up Jayden Dawson (Loyola-Chicago) and Tre White (Illinois)
- Wisconsin adds Portland standout and WCC freshman of the year Austin Rapp
- Nebraska gets Central Michigan’s Ugnius Jarusevicius to fill frontcourt void
- Purdue signs All-Summit League center Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State
- Drake’s Tavion Banks becomes fifth player to follow Coach McCollum to Iowa
- Rutgers adds top ACC point guard Kaylah Ivey from Boston College
- Iowa State signs former McDonald’s All-American Jada Williams from Arizona
Deep Look
The NCAA basketball landscape continued its offseason reshaping as UAB’s star forward Yaxel Lendeborg announced his transfer to Michigan, while also entering the NBA Draft evaluation process. Lendeborg, one of the most sought-after big men in the transfer portal, made his decision public Saturday, with ESPN and other outlets confirming the news.
At 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, Lendeborg posted 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game this past season, helping UAB reach the NIT quarterfinals. A two-time first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection and two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Lendeborg brings elite two-way play to a Michigan squad that recently lost 7-footer Danny Wolf.
Lendeborg will attend the NBA Combine in Chicago in mid-May, with a deadline of May 28 to either remain in the draft or return to college. If he joins Michigan, he will fill a critical interior role and immediately upgrade their frontcourt presence.
Kentucky, Kansas, and Creighton Bolster Lineups
Kentucky secured a likely replacement for departing point guard Lamont Butler with the commitment of Jaland Lowe, who announced via Instagram. Lowe led Pittsburgh with 16.8 points and 5.5 assists per game, while shooting nearly 89% from the free-throw line and scoring in double digits 26 times.
Creighton added Josh Dix from Iowa — their third transfer signing this week. Dix averaged 14.4 points, shot 42.2% from three, and started all 32 games for the Hawkeyes. A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, he now joins a Bluejays program just across the Missouri River.
“Josh is coming home to be a Bluejay,” said Creighton coach Greg McDermott, praising Dix’s versatility on and off the ball.
Kansas also stayed active, signing Jayden Dawson from Loyola-Chicago, who led the Ramblers with 13.9 points per game and shot over 36% from deep. He scored a career-high 35 points in the NIT against San Francisco. The Jayhawks also landed Tre White from Illinois, who averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and will now suit up for his fourth school in four years (USC, Louisville, Illinois, now Kansas).
Frontcourt Additions: Purdue, Nebraska, Wisconsin Get Size
Purdue added Oscar Cluff, a 6-foot-11 Australian center from South Dakota State, where he averaged 17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and shot 63.4% from the field. Cluff, an All-Summit League and All-Defensive team selection, joins Trey Kaufman-Renn in forming a dominant frontcourt pairing.
Nebraska filled a major need with the signing of Ugnius Jarusevicius from Central Michigan. The All-MAC forward led the Chippewas with 16.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, helping to offset Nebraska’s frontcourt departures.
Wisconsin secured Austin Rapp, the WCC Freshman of the Year from Portland. The 6-10 forward averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks, providing size and skill for the Badgers heading into 2025.
Iowa Adds Drake’s Core as McCollum Takes Over
Iowa’s new head coach Ben McCollum continues to build his new team with familiar faces. Tavion Banks, the Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year, became the fifth player to follow McCollum from Drake to Iowa.
Banks joins Bennett Stirtz, Kael Combs, Cam Manyawu, and Isaia Howard, marking a nearly complete transplant of Drake’s core roster to Iowa for next season.
Top Women’s Transfers: Rutgers, Iowa State Make Key Moves
On the women’s side, Rutgers made a significant addition with graduate transfer Kaylah Ivey from Boston College. One of the ACC’s top point guards, Ivey led the conference and ranked third nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.3), dishing 160 assists to just 49 turnovers. She notably had 16 assists with zero turnovers in a single game vs. Miami — an ACC record since 2002.
Iowa State added Jada Williams from Arizona, a 2023 McDonald’s All-American who led the Wildcats with 12.7 points per game. In Big 12 matchups, she upped her scoring to 13.4 points, providing immediate impact for the Cyclones’ backcourt.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.