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UAB power forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who led the Blazers in points (17.7), rebounds (11.4), assists (4.2), steals (1.7) and blocks (1.8) per game this past season, plans to enter the 2025 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
Ranked No. 28 overall on ESPN’s latest big board (Insider link), Lendeborg says he is committed to the draft process, but if he instead uses his final season of eligibility, he intends to transfer to Michigan.
“I’m focused on the draft process and making the NBA right now,” Lendeborg said. “I want a guaranteed contract. That’s the biggest thing. Make sure I am in a good spot. I would prefer to play college basketball in Ann Arbor than be in and out of the G League on a two-way. I want to find a safe spot.”
As Givony writes, Lendeborg has an unusual background for a possible first-round pick, as the 22-year-old grew up playing video games and not basketball. Since he started playing organized basketball much later than most prospects, he believes he is “just scratching the surface” of what he “can evolve into, and with more work I can reach that potential.”
According to Givony, Lendeborg is only the second Division I player in history to record at least 600 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in a season, joining Hall of Famer Larry Bird. He was named first-team All-AAC and Defensive Player of the Year each of the past two seasons, Givony adds.
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Bill Self added to Kansas' elite recruiting class with addition of four-star center
Bill Self is setting his Kansas Jayhawks up for a very successful future thanks to a 2026 recruiting class that is starting to look stacked. The latest addition to that class came this past weekend, when four-star center Davion Adkins from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., committed to the Jayhawks. Adkins, who checks in at 6-foot-9, 205 pounds, is one of the top frontcourt recruits in the country. According to the 247Sports Composite, he's ranked as the No. 3 center nationally and a top 30 player overall. What drew Davion Adkins to Kansas? Kansas has been to 16 Final Fours and has won four championships as a program, with the latest coming under Self in 2022. That was Self's second March Madness win with Kansas, and that culture of winning championships was a big part of the reason Adkins decided to roll with the Jayhawks. "I love the culture they have, it's a really heavy winning culture," Adkins told 247Sports. "My coach also had a great relationship with Bill Self, so it already felt like a family." Speaking of Self, he played a huge role in this commitment. Not only does he have a good relationship with Adkins' high school coach, but the big man likes the way the two-time National Coach of the Year goes about his business. "He's not a yes man, he tells you the truth," Adkins said. "He told me to my face what I need to work on, and I told him, 'I got you. I'm going to do everything to get me on the floor.'" As mentioned, Adkins joins a class that's starting to look elite. He's Self's third 2026 commitment, joining five-star point guard Taylen Kinney and four-star small forward Trent Perry. The class is ranked No. 2 in college basketball, only behind Missouri, and the Tigers boast two five-star commitments.
North Carolina reportedly considering nuclear option with Bill Belichick, and that's justified
Packers could see breakout star emerge on defense in weeks ahead
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Why Blue Jackets winger is a logical trade target for the Canadiens
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Cowboys list 18 players on their injury report but a couple of names steal the spotlight as their return appears very likely
The Dallas Cowboys just revealed their first injury report of Week 6 on Wednesday and it's a long one. The team listed 18 players on it ahead of their matchup against the Carolina Panthers, five of which were non-participants while 10 were limited. The remaining three players on the report were listed as full participants. Two of latter stole the spotlight amid the bitter updates as their "full" participation means they're close to making their 2025 debut very soon: Cornerback Caelen Carson and wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. Neither of the them are currently on the 53-man roster but the Cowboys activated their 21-day practice window last week. Carson and Mingo were limited participants in each of last week's practices. To be upgraded to full on the first practice of the week is a promising sign for their chances of playing against the Panthers. The coaching staff would need to open up roster spots to place them on the 53-man roster. Other notes on Cowboys' initial injury report for Week 6 CeeDee Lamb was a non-participant once again as his chances of playing Week 6 remain up in the air. KaVontae Turpin also missed practice and told reporters he wasn't expecting to play. Right guard Tyler Booker also missed practice. The new additions to the non-participants were LB Jack Sanborn (concussion) and S Donovan Wilson (elbow/knee). Safety is starting to look like a serious concern. Malik Hooker was placed on Injured Reserve last weekend and now Wilson missed practice while Juanyeh Thomas popped up on the injury report as a limited participant. Other starters that were limited participants: CB Trevon Diggs, CB DaRon Bland, OT Tyler Guyton, LG Tyler Smith. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer suggested Guyton will start at left tackle if cleared. Thursday's full Cowboys' injury report window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*');
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