Lendeborg Announces Transfer, talks Importance of Time At UAB
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - April 5, 2025
Yaxel Lendeborg announced on Saturday that his whirlwind recruitment following his entry into the transfer portal on Monday concluded with a commitment to The University of Michigan.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Lendeborg, who grew from junior college transfer into one of the top players in the country at UAB, had his choice of college destinations throughout the country. The NIL bidding war for his commitment included Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Kentucky, Houston and Michigan and stretched much longer than that.
Lendeborg, who Andy Kennedy recruited to UAB after three seasons at is also trying to decide whether he will forego his final year of eligibility to enter the NBA Draft. He will work through that process, possibly playing in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and participating in the NBA Draft combine, before having to make a final decision by June 15. At this point, he is projected to be a first-round pick if he stays in the draft pool.
Lenderborg was at the UAB practice facility on Friday to work out with UAB Director of Player Performance Aaron Johnson. Lendeborg took some time before the workout to sit down and talk about his time at UAB and what is ahead in his basketball career.
What was it like for you in the days following your announcement that you were leaving UAB for the transfer portal?
“It's been all types of crazy. I haven't had any time to relax myself besides when I take a nap and it still doesn't feel relaxing because AJ (former UAB standout and current UAB Director of Player Development Aaron Johnson) is over here blowing my phone up (with) ‘Oh, we have to talk to this guy, talk to that guy.’ This is this is all types of crazy. I never imagined it to be this way and I still can't believe it's happening.”
How many calls do you think you received, even if you didn’t answer, in the first couple of hours?
“Between all of us, I would probably go for between 25-50ish. We could only answer like two or three because we had to get on a plane anyway.”
What will you remember, what will jump out, about your UAB experience?
“The fan support for sure. I've had guys who believed in me since day one. Even when I played bad, you know, they were still there and still thought I was a good person, great guy. That meant a lot to me, you know, going through that tough stretch. That is ultimately my favorite thing. The coaches obviously, I love them. They made me who I am, but the fans are really what stood out to me and what made my decision much easier to stay here (for a second season) and play as hard as I could and just enjoy my time.”
Is there any way, when you first got to UAB, that you could have looked ahead and see where you are at right now with the transfer portal interest and NBA hopes?
“No. I definitely thought that I was gonna be your average Joe. Just get the rebound, give it to the guys, sit down (in the paint), just an average role play, just do what I had to do to win. But to become like superstar-ish was definitely not a goal of mine and definitely not something I thought I could be capable of doing.”
How much have you grown as a person in the two years at UAB?
“I'd say like 90 out of 100. I feel like I've definitely gotten a lot more confident within myself on the basketball court and just outside of the basketball court becoming a better person to other people that are around me. I feel like I have grown to become kind of a man, I guess a young man, instead of just a boy that came in here.”
When you think about the way your UAB career ended, as a competitor, will that stick with you?
“Yeah, especially since I feel like ultimately it was my fault that we lost. The whole game was just on me. But as soon as that happened, I just completely went numb. Like, you know, usually, you know, me, I cry over everything. I wasn't even able to cry after that. And I was quiet for a very long time on a bus. When we got to the airport, I only talked to AJ. It was just like, what just happened? Like, is it really over? Did I cause this for real? Yeah, it was a numb feeling.”
When did you start to evaluate what you wanted to do next?
“During the season, like towards the end, AK was talking to me about, you know, the JUCO ruling and all that stuff and what's next. I didn't think it was going to actually get passed. I was just focused on the NBA Draft. And then he comes up and tells me, yeah, it got passed. It was me and Chris (he told). It got passed. You have an extra year. I guess all your stress is released now. You can play freely and if you need to go back for another year, you can. He was just egging me on to go, you know, into the transfer portal, get as much money as I can and build my brand a little bigger. So that kind of did give me a little bit less of a stress, you know, than just NBA or I'm going to be done for, you know.”
What was it like to walk side-by-side with Chris (Coleman) over these past two seasons?
“He's meant a lot to me. He's always been my favorite teammate, favorite guy to play with on the court since last year. I didn't think I have that quick of a connection with someone like Chris because he's almost completely different from me. I'm just always goofy and crazy, he's always calm and cool. So it was something special for me, especially every fast break we get. I see him running out in front of me and I get to give him the ball, go dunk it. That's always been something special for me, so it's been a lot.”
Say you do end up going to another school through the portal instead of entering the NBA Draft this year. When you do go to the draft the next year, will you be a UAB guy or from whatever school you choose?
“I mean, I would say I'm a UAB guy because this is where I was made. So hopefully, whatever school that is can accept me for that. Obviously, I still care for them, but UAB is where I was made.”
What are your thoughts, at least right now, as far as choosing the NBA Draft or transfer portal?
“Well, you know, NBA, that's obviously the long-time goal. Well, not a long time, but, you know, a goal now. I just had a talk about this yesterday pretty much. It's like 10 to 15 years of pro career, hopefully, or, you know, one more year of college, but doing it a little bigger. That’s where that conversation came about. Honestly, I’m stuck. Obviously, I want to be in the NBA. I want to be a pro, but one more year college does sound fun. It does sound, like I get to prepare myself a little bit more. I’ll actually know what I can do and where I can do it best. Ultimately, I can’t even say (for sure) but I would say like 80-20 NBA to college.”
Are you worried about the NBA being a young person’s draft and could that factor into your final decision?
“Yeah, I do because I see the young guys, obviously, you know, they got potential and room to grow. That's what everybody looks for. But, you know, I see a lot of (veteran college) players now that are completely better, like, like heads and toes better, than the new guys and all that. Well, some of the new guys. But, you know, it is what it is. Is the potential better than something proven? But I do (think about) the age cap thing.”
What is your timetable for making a final decision?
“I (will) make the college decision. That’s just like a safety net but have a focus on the draft.”
Will you go the Portsmouth Invitational?
“That I didn't, I didn't know I got invited until (Aaron Johnson) told me last night. I didn't even know. I’ve got to think about that to make sure. Eric (Gaines) played in it last year. It was pretty cool. He got to go out there, have some fun, get some mixtapes and all that. That was cool.”
Is it weird for you to get this type of attention?
“Well, I mean, I don't feel like a celebrity at all. I still feel like the same old kid that was, you know, playing video games in my mom's basement. So I feel like I'm adjusting to it pretty well. As long as I don't let it get to me, I feel like I'll be doing pretty fine.”
Who is part of your team helping you make basketball decisions?
“My team is this guy that got his jersey retired here somehow. Number one, Aaron Johnson. That is pretty much my only circle. Him and, you know, the people he trusts as well. Right. So that's my circle. That's pretty much all the help I'm getting.”