Michigan Wolverines Basketball

Michigan head coach Dusty May has hit a home run with the addition of Yaxel Lenedeborg in the transfer portal.

Lendeborg told ESPN's Jonathan Givony he will be playing for the Wolverines in 2025-26 after a terrific two-year run at UAB.

NEWS: UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, the best big man in the portal, has committed to Dusty May and Michigan, he told ESPN.

Lendeborg will go through the NBA draft process, with the intention of finding a guaranteed contract.

STORY: https://t.co/Q9r2fZtb1Y pic.twitter.com/pZNNPi2st5

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 5, 2025

Lendeborg declared for the 2025 NBA draft and entered the transfer portal on Monday, allowing him to maintain his college eligibility.

"I love the culture Dusty May has brought to every team that he's coached," Lendeborg told Givony about his decision to commit to Michigan. "When I first started watching college basketball, it was FAU."

May spent six seasons as head coach at Florida Atlantic before being hired by Michigan in March 2024 to replace Juwan Howard.

Per On3.com, Lendeborg was the top-ranked player in the transfer portal. He could still end up going to the NBA if he likes the feedback teams give him.

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected Lendeborg to be a first-round pick at No. 26 overall to the Brooklyn Nets in his most recent mock.

The 26th pick in the 2024 draft is making $2.6 million as a rookie. On3.com has Lendeborg's current NIL valuation at $2.3 million.

Lendeborg has been a double-double machine in his college career. The 22-year-old led all Division I players with 26 double-doubles this season. He has averaged 15.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in 72 games over the past two seasons.

UAB made the NCAA tournament in Lendeborg's freshman season, losing to San Diego State in the first round. He was named to the All-AAC team and won AAC Defensive Player of the Year in both of his seasons with the Blazers.

May led an instant turnaround for the Wolverines, who finished 8-24 in Howard's final season. They went 27-10 and made the NCAA tournament this season, losing to Auburn in the Sweet 16.

The No. 5 seed Michigan Wolverines saw its 15-point second-half lead evaporate before bearing down to defeat the No. 12 seed UC San Diego Tritons 68-65 in NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament first round action on Thursday in Denver.

Michigan led 42-27 early in the second half before UC San Diego stormed back thanks to Tyler McGhie (25 points, nine rebounds) and Nordin Kapic (13 second-half points). McGhie's jumper with 2:29 remaining gave UC San Diego its first lead of the game at 65-63.

UC SAN DIEGO TAKES THE LEAD 😳#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/a9zqnWipjy

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025

However, that lasted just 16 seconds, as Tre Donaldson responded with a three-pointer to put Michigan up 66-65.

MICHIGAN RIPS THE LEAD BACK 🔥

BACK AND FORTH WE GO IN DENVER ‼️ https://t.co/Cw7PWdG3Nq#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/5SNVJ7nOGb

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025

UC San Diego had two possessions to take the lead but could not convert. Then Michigan big man Vladislav Goldin made a pair of free throws after a clutch offensive rebound, putting the Wolverines up 68-65 with 20 seconds left.

McGhie then launched a three-point attempt with four seconds left for the tie, but it did not connect, ending the potential upset.

MICHIGAN SURVIVES THE FINAL UCSD SHOT 😱#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ZpeWbGefrn

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025

And with that, the Big Ten champions survived and advanced, continuing a trend of close wins.

Michigan has played 17 games decided by four or fewer points this season.

After losing four of its first six close games, the Wolverines have won 11 straight and are now 13-4 in those contests.

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) March 21, 2025

The margins of victory in Michigan's last 13 wins:

4 (OT)
4
3
4
3
2
3
3
2
18
1
6
3

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 21, 2025

Michigan has won 13 games by 4 or fewer points this season.

Ties the most in NCAA history in a season.

— Drew Hallett (@DrewCHallett) March 21, 2025

Michigan has played 17 games decided by four or fewer points this season.

After losing four of its first six close games, the Wolverines have won 11 straight and are now 13-4 in those contests.

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) March 21, 2025

Needless to say, fans were taken for a ride in this one, with some praising the squad for another gritty and close victory, this time against a team that had won 15 straight games.

Michigan played a phenomenal game defensively. I watched Michigan 23 times, but every UC San Diego game this season.

They had the perfect game plan, and really made UCSD uncomfortable. I’m glad the CBB world got to see that the Tritons & BW was legit. But solid game from UM💪

— T3™️ (@T3Bracketology) March 21, 2025

The game was the Full Michigan Experience. Wasn’t easy. Wasn’t pretty. But in March you play to survive and advance. Michigan survived. Michigan advanced. Beat the Aggies.

— Scott Bell (@sbell021) March 21, 2025

Michigan just played the team with the longest active winning streak in the nation and Michigan just beat the team with the longest active winning streak in the nation. A brutal draw for both teams, but the Wolverines walk away with the win against a difficult opponent.

— Scott Bell (@sbell021) March 21, 2025

Cardiologists in Michigan absolutely feasting this year. 💓 https://t.co/jeHr7hLyXl

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) March 21, 2025

Michigan is such a funny basketball team because no matter what happens the game is decided by 1 possession

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 21, 2025

Every single Michigan game I’ve watched this year has consisted of them blowing a 15 point lead and then winning on the last possession of the game

— TJ (@TJHitchings) March 21, 2025

I want to thank UCSD for taking part in the Michigan experience

— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) March 21, 2025

It is unreal how many close games Michigan has won this season.

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 21, 2025

Michigan will now play No. 4 seed Texas A&M on Saturday in the second round.

Michigan men's basketball coach Dusty May's name was floated as a potential replacement for Mike Woodson at Indiana, his alma mater, before he agreed to a contract extension with the Wolverines on Feb. 21.

On Wednesday, May went on The Rich Eisen Show and explained why he's staying at Michigan as opposing to leaving for the Hoosiers, who hired West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries.

"First of all, my wife and I, we have two sons at Michigan now. My middle son, Charlie, is a walk-on for us, and my youngest son, Eli, is a manager.

"And so...we've been really, really comfortable within the Ann Arbor community. Every interaction on campus with our administration has been unbelievable. Everyone here's committed to winning, and I'm surrounded by greatness and excellence every day and it's hard to leave that. And it was really, really tough to leave FAU. And when you start to plant roots and develop relationships, it's difficult and daunting to think about going and restarting that again. And so I just felt like right now, this stage, this place really, really fits me, us and and we love to be at Michigan."

May was born and raised in Indiana. He then went to Indiana from 1996-2000 and served as a student manager for the men's basketball team under legendary head coach Bob Knight.

So it wouldn't have been a surprise to see May at least strongly entertain the offer, but he'll remain with the Wolverines, which won the Big Ten title in the 48-year-old's first season leading the program.

But it doesn't appear that was the case here. Eisen asked May if he had spoken with his team about the possibility of leaving Michigan for Indiana. He said he did not, noting that the team was in the middle of the season and that it was more of the media assuming the connection between May and the open job there.

May did add that some players talked to him about the open job in passing with a couple comments, but ultimately, he's sticking around Ann Arbor.

May previously coached Florida Atlantic for six years, notably leading the Owls to the 2003 Final Four as a No. 9 seed. He left FAU for Michigan in 2024.

Now he hopes to head back to the Final Four with Michigan, a No. 5 seed that has a first round date with UC San Diego on Thursday evening in Denver.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced Friday that men's basketball head coach Dusty May has agreed to a contract extension.

The 48-year-old May has led Michigan to a 20-5 overall record in his first season after leading Florida Atlantic's program for six years. The Wolverines also sit first in the Big Ten with a 12-2 mark.

Per Andrew Kahn of mlive.com, May initially signed a five-year, $18.75 million contract in base compensation. Terms of his extension were not immediately disclosed.

The May news quiets any speculation that he could leave the Wolverines for Indiana, which is in the market for a new head coach with Mike Woodson stepping down at the end of the season.

Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, May was "expected to be one of the Hoosiers' top targets." The Indiana alum was once a student manager for the men's basketball team from 1996-2000 under legendary head coach Bob Knight.

But May is leading Michigan for the foreseeable future. It was a great hire for Michigan, which signed a coach that once led Florida Atlantic to a 35-4 record and a 2023 Final Four appearance as a No. 9 seed. If not for a buzzer-beating shot from San Diego State guard Lamont Butler in the Final Four, the Owls would have made the national championship.

FAU followed that up with a 25-win season before May left for the Wolverines. He took over a Michigan program that had gone 8-24 overall and finished last place in the Big Ten with a 3-17 record.

May went to work bringing in some new talent. In fact, Michigan's top four scorers (Vladislav Goldin, Danny Wolf, Tre Donaldson and Roddy Gayle Jr.) all transferred into the program this year. Goldin, the team's No. 1 scorer, followed May from FAU to Michigan.

The one-year rebuild has certainly been fruitful, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Michigan make an NCAA tournament run this year. The latest Bleacher Report bracketology projection has Michigan as a No. 4 seed, but that could certainly change if the Wolverines continue their success.

For now, though, Michigan is giving May a well-deserved extension as he guides a much-improved program to great heights.

5-star guard prospect Trey McKenney has committed to Michigan, he announced on Saturday on a livestream with 247Sports.

McKenney chose the Wolverines over his other top choices of USC and Georgetown.

NEWS: Top-25 overall recruit Trey McKenney has committed to Michigan, he tells @On3Recruits.

The 6-4 Shooting Guard and Flint native is the top-ranked player in the state of Michigan for 2025.

Story: https://t.co/MPNDkAolok pic.twitter.com/7P368jfdCd

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) November 9, 2024

The 6-foot-4 guard out of St. Mary's Prep in Orchard Lake, Michigan is ranked as the No. 3 combo guard and the No. 24 overall prospect by 247Sports' composite rankings.

He will now join Michigan's incoming class of 2025 alongside 4-star prospect Winters Grady and top international prospect Oscar Goodman.

McKenney is originally from Flint, Michigan, which is about an hour drive from Ann Arbor. He wore a Detroit Red Wings jersey during his announcement.

He had also previously been linked to Michigan State, but the Spartans did not make his list of finalists.

Instead, McKenney will join Dusty May, who was hired as the Wolverines' head coach in March to replace Juwan Howard and made recruiting the in-state prospect "a priority," Jamie Shaw previously reported for On3.

McKenney similarly told Zagsblog's Sam Lance in July that he had been in talks with May since he was hired.

Shaw wrote that an official visit to Ann Arbor in September "answered a lot of questions" for the prospect and that he "started trending heavily toward Michigan" after that.

McKenney told On3's Joe Tipton that he joined Michigan after watching former head coach John Beilein lead the program to two Big Ten tournament titles.

"Just feeling at home and being given the opportunity by the coaching staff to come in and make an immediate impact and also growing up just Michigan being my dream school and watching the Beilein days," McKenney said about his decision.

On3's Shaw described McKenney as "a strong-framed guard" with "a sturdily-built base and a plus wingspan:"

While he might not be the optimal height as an off-guard, McKenney is a tough and sound defender. He uses his strength and his toughness well when guarding the point of attack. He is instinctive in the passing lanes. McKenney is a productive player on both ends of the court, consistently making plays.

247Sports' Adam Finkelstein meanwhile wrote that McKenney presents a "unique backcourt match-up" thanks to his 6-foot-9 wingspan:

He plays with an aggressive scoring mentality and has an advanced understand of how to leverage his body type within his attack. He's powerful, physical, crafty, has a great left-hand, and is also very adept at scoring over top of contesting defenders in the mid-range area.

Michigan is off to a 1-0 start to the season after a 101-53 blowout of Cleveland State on Monday thanks in part to guard depth led by Tre Donaldson and Roddy Gayle. The Wolverines are back in action on Sunday afternoon at Wake Forest.

The Fields Family may be switching allegiance to the Michigan Wolverines.

Jessica Fields, the younger sister of former Ohio State and current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, announced her commitment to the Wolverines women's basketball program.

pic.twitter.com/MhQfBmIEsr

— jessica r fields (@JessicaF2025) August 11, 2024

Fields is a 6'1" senior at Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw, Georgia. She chose the Wolverines over Georgetown and Northwestern. She did not announce an Ohio State offer.

She expressed relief at the process being over but said it was fun to be the one being recruited.

"I was ready to wrap up my recruitment process," Fields said, per Talia Goodman of On3. "I started very early in eighth grade, so it's been a very long process. I got to see both of my siblings go through it, so I always looked forward to when coaches would finally focus on me in visits instead of being the little sibling running around."

Justin would play two seasons at Ohio State after originally beginning his career at Georgia. He won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020 and won his only matchup against Michigan.

Fields' other sister, Jaiden, played softball at Georgia. Jessica will now get her chance to shine in a power conference.

Michigan went 20-14 in 2023-24 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Former FAU center Vladislav Goldin is withdrawing his name from NBA draft consideration and transferring to Michigan, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 7'1" big man is following his head coach to Ann Arbor. Dusty May took the Wolverines job this spring after spending the last six seasons with the Owls.

Goldin averaged 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks as a fourth-year junior at FAU. He was particularly effective down the home stretch. In the Owls' final 11 games, he put up 19.5 points per contest on 68.7 percent shooting.

"Goldin is one of the best back-to-the-basket players in college basketball," The Athletic's C.J. Moore wrote in his scouting report. "Last season, he scored 1.203 points per possession on post-ups, per Synergy. He takes pride in being able to shoot equally well with either hand and can score over either shoulder. If he gets close to the basket, he will dunk it with authority. His aggressiveness went up this season as his confidence grew, allowing him to bump his scoring average up from 10.2 points as a junior to 15.7 points as a senior.

From the moment his arrival in Michigan was official, May has been hard at work building his 2024-25. The Wolverines got commitments from Danny Wolf, Rubin Jones, Tre Donaldson, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Sam Walters out of the portal before adding Goldin.

Since he was hired at Michigan, Dusty May has landed:

- Justin Pippen (HS prospect)
- Rubin Jones (North Texas)
- Danny Wolf (Yale)
- Tre Donaldson (Auburn)
- Roddy Gayle Jr. (Ohio State)
- Sam Walters (Alabama)
- Lorenzo Cason (HS prospect)
- Vlad Goldin (FAU)

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) April 29, 2024

May inherited a rebuilding job from his predecessor, Juwan Howard. Michigan missed the 2023 NCAA tournament before bottoming out with an 8-24 record. Looking ahead to 2024-25, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter didn't rank the Wolverines in his Top 25.

Based on the talent and experience the program has added, a quick turnaround may be in store.

Justin Pippen, a 2024 shooting guard prospect, announced his commitment to Michigan on Friday.

NEWS: 2024 four-star SG Justin Pippen, the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, has committed to Michigan and Dusty May, he tells @On3Recruits.https://t.co/CHgDGn3Slo pic.twitter.com/5NdB7MC426

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 19, 2024

Pippen, the son of Hall of Fame forward and Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, is a 4-star prospect who ranked as the No. 12 recruit in the state of California (per 247Sports' composite rankings).

He received offers from Stanford, Georgia Tech, Cal, and Texas A&M before eventually making his decision to join the Wolverines and new head coach Dusty May.

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Pippen revealed that he chose Michigan due to his desire to eventually play in the NBA.

"I chose Michigan because my long-term goal is to make the NBA," he said, per Joe Tipton of On3.com. "Michigan is great for my development and playing on that big of a stage in that conference is great for me."

Pippen's elder brother, Scotty, averaged 12.9 points and 4.7 assists in 21 games for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2023-24 season. The new Michigan guard discussed working out with his brother as well as other professional players in order to build up a strong work ethic and prepare for college.

"I feel like my brother has increased my work ethic, for sure," Pippen said, via Yahoo Sports' Krysten Peek. "Just being in the gym with him and other pros this summer, and my dad as well. He's just telling me to wake up every single day and put the work in."

He's currently coming off a strong senior senior at Sierra Canyon High School, averaging 16.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game (per Tipton).

Now, he'll look to help the Wolverines bounce back after a dismal 2023-24 season that resulted in an overall record of 8-24 as well as the firing of former head coach Juwan Howard.

HEIGHT: 6'1½"

WEIGHT: 298

HAND: 9"

ARM: 33"

WINGSPAN: 78¼"

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40-YARD DASH: 5.23

3-CONE: 7.33

SHUTTLE: 4.5

VERTICAL: 29.5"

BROAD: 8'5"

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POSITIVES

— Operates with spark-plug energy, aggression and initial quickness.

— Can work inside/under his target to win the initial leverage battle on base and overtake blocks.

— Quick feet and processing skills put him in proper position to adjust to slants and gap exchanges.

— Works in an effective snatch-trap technique to steal leverage and give him a shot against nose tackle bull-rush attempts.

— Fights and claws to stay attached to blocks with active feet and excellent effort.

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NEGATIVES

— Short, compact frame and build with mediocre play strength and stopping power.

— Buttery soft edges routinely are captured and exploited against movement across his face.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 15 starts at center

— First-team All-Big Ten

— National champion

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NOTES

— Born Feb. 9, 2001

— 3-star recruit from the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Three-time Colorado state champion in the shot put

— His father, Terry, played quarterback for Colorado State before being drafted in the sixth round by the Browns and playing for two seasons in the NFL

— Transferred to Michigan for the 2023 season after playing four seasons, starting 24 games at center and earning his degree at Stanford

— 39 career starts at center

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OVERALL

Drake Nugent is a three-year starter with 39 career starts at center, including for Michigan's 2023 national championship-winning team that deployed a run-heavy (61-39 run-pass split), downhill and multiple run scheme with extensive heavy formations. Nugent has a short, compact frame and build with minimal mass and girth, solid athletic ability and marginal power.

Nugent wins in the run game by operating in tandem on double-teams with the initial quicks to get into proper position and fits before overtaking and releasing to the second level in a timely manner. He fights and claws to stay attached with active feet and max effort, which leads to some splash finishes. But overall, he struggles sustaining, steering and recovering out of compromising positions due to his middling size, play strength and power. That leads to him routinely getting stalemated, pressed back and/or edged.

In pass protection, Nugent is largely protected by the scheme's run-heavy, pass protection-based approach that limits one-on-ones. He is best on play action when he can eliminate the runway of rushers, get his hands on quickly and work in a snatch technique to drop top-heavy bull-rushes. He struggles to protect his edges and will get knocked around against pick attempts.

Overall, Nugent is a spark plug at the pivot who plays fast and hard, but he lacks the necessary size, play strength and power to hold up as a starter in the NFL without positional versatility to fall back on. His best chance of sticking around would be a change in scheme to a more zone-based approach rather than the gap-heavy system he was in at Michigan where his quickness will become more of a focal point in his game.

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GRADE: 5.4 (Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential — UDFA)

OVERALL RANK: 241

POSITION RANK: IOL33

PRO COMPARISON: Jimmy Morrissey

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.