Yaxel Lendeborg, 6'9, 240, PF, Michigan, Sr.

• Comp: Kenneth Faried / Onyeka Okongwu / David West

• Ceiling: ALL-STAR

• Floor: Out of League

• Last year's stats: PTS(17.7) REB(11.4) AST(4.2) BLK(1.8) STL(1.7) FG%(52.2) 3P%(35.7)

• Best rebounder in the class

• Scrappy defender

• Physical, bruising athlete

• Good at stretching out to the 3 and spacing the floor

• Underrated passer

• Very reliable scorer from the post

• Has shown he can be apart of a winner

• Expectation: Borderline ALL-STAR; Could be an ALL-STAR on a bad team, but could be a top tier roll player on a winning team

STAYING IN COLLEGE

• Best rebounder in the class

• Scrappy defender

• Physical, bruising athlete

• Good at stretching out to the 3 and spacing the floor

• Underrated passer

• Very reliable scorer from the post

• Comp: Kenneth Faried / Onyeka Okongwu / David West

• Ceiling: ALL-STAR

• Floor: Out of League

• Expectation: Borderline ALL-STAR

• What to Expect: Could be an ALL-STAR on a bad team, but could be a top tier roll player on a winning team

• For more go check out my Instagram @thefingerreport

Yaxel is a stud who can do a bit of everything on the court. He’s an older prospect but is still fairly young in terms of basketball experience and his rate of improvement has been awesome. He just keeps getting better and better and rounding out his game. I was super high on him last year and thought he could've been a first-rounder, and now my point is proven. Has been an integral part of a dominant defense at Michigan. Was one of the highest-impact switch defenders in the country. Has the build to stop bumps from stronger bigs and can also comfortably check shifty point guards. Was incredible at ball pressure this season, and what he lacks in vertical pop, he makes up for in mobility. He really excelled as a connecting passer this year. Improving his jumper is a must, as higher efficiency as a dynamic shooter and more consistent, physical rim pressure could help him carve out a bigger role at the next level. Leveling up to better competition and performing well have lightened some of that concern, but he still needs to continue on that path.

NBA Comp: Aaron Gordon, PJ Washington

Strengths: Rebounding, Physicality, Interior Scoring, Playmaking, Basketball IQ, Defense,

Weaknesses: 3pt Shooting, Perimeter Defense, Iso Scoring, Ball Handling, Age,

Draft Range/10-15, Role/Traditional 4, Ceiling/DPOY, Floor/Out of League, Expectation/Starter, Position/PF

very solid player. amazing rebounder

not the best shooting, but the 85% ft gives me hope. increased volume this year

mid range/contact shots

Amazing defense

should be a plug and play role player for a good team a la tristan da silva

late lotto

Low End: Kyle Kuzma Median: Obi Toppin High End: Pistons Blake Griffin Pros: Rebounding, touch/feel, scoring, defense, motor Cons: Age, shooting Verdict: Shooting has massively improved this season and passing feel is great, still feel the same way about him disappearing. Potentially, might be a good thing that he's such a positive impact even when he doesn't feel like he's doing so.

Rebounding machine with great post-scoring and good feel to find open players around him. Yaxel should enter the league as an impactful role player who can connect the dots on offense while also guarding multiple positions. There are shooting concerns with Yaxel, but they should not matter in a scaled down role in the league. The questions begin with his upside projection as not only is he an older player, but he just isn't assertive enough with his scoring ability to the point where he can sometimes 'disappear' during offensive sets before showing up again for a rebound. A player like Lendeborg is more likely to be a role player, but the ceiling is certainly tantalizing.

SCOUTING REPORTS: YAXEL LENDEBORG:

Yaxel Lendeborg is one of the better prospects this year, I have him as a lotto pick and maybe a top 10. Prospect on the wolverines he has had to adjust to being a wing rather than just a big, and he’s done great, he’s a very NBA ready, old prospect, but pound for pound great, he is one of the top 3 rebounders in this class, I expect him to come in and make an immediate impact on the glass. He is also a decent defender, using athleticism and scrappy hustle to create a strong defense, his competitiveness and athletic ability makes him scary on 1 on 1’s. On offense he comes off as an aggressive inside player with relentless drives to put up tough shots and get and ones. Once he’s in the paint it’s hard to stop him. He also is able to stretch the floor with decent 3pt shooting of 35.3% and off ball mobility. Despite his minor shortcomings he is also a capable playmaker, and moves the ball without hesitation. Of course his main issue is age, (23) but that isn’t as important as you think because of his NBA readiness.

Archetype: Inside Scoring Paint Prodigy.

Player Comps: Onyeka Okonguwu, Jalen Johnson, Tristan Da Silva.

Overall Score: 53.98

Pros:

1. Bouncy

2. Well Rounded

3. Good All Around Defender

4. Solid Decision Making and Playmaking

5. Flashes of 3 Pointer

Cons:

1. Low Level Shooter

2. Low Upside, Not going to be a star

3. Questions about Fit at the next level

4. No Glaring things he will be doing at a super High level (No real calling card)

Pro Comp: Draymond Green, Higher End Jeremy Sochan

Ceiling: Starter on a championship team Floor: Bench warmer, defense guy

Best Team Fits: Portland, Golden State, Charlotte, San Antonio Calling Card: Defense, Rebounding (Kind of a Jack of All Trades)