Yaxel Lendeborg NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land

March Madness is underway and today's college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer's NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg is expected to go in the first round.

Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the forward's draft night will play out. Yaxel Lendeborg 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 8 overall, Memphis Grizzlies All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection Kalbrosky's Analysis: The Grizzlies could add to their rebuilding core after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr.

by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg, who is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have drafted players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here Yaxel Lendeborg player profile (all stats as of March 15) Position: Forward Current Team: Michigan 17. 7 points per game 7 rebounds per game 3. 2 assists per game 50.