The 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament is down to its Sweet 16 and we’ll have a Final Four by Sunday evening. For half of the college stars taking the court this weekend, it’s one final opportuniy to impress NBA teams with their play at full game speed when the lights are brightest as this year’s draft class comes into focus.
The 2026 NBA 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.
Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Yaxel Lendeborg 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 7 overall, Memphis Grizzlies
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
The Grizzlies could add to their rebuilding core after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg, who has shown on his way to the Sweet 16 that he 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
- 50.9% field goal percentage
- 35.3% three-point field goal percentage
Memphis Grizzlies 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 8, No. 19 (via ORL) and No. 31 (via IND)
