On the cusp of the transfer deadline of May 28, Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines finally had their big fish. The 2025 top transfer, Yaxel Lendeborg, withdrew his name from the draft to commit to May’s squad. The 22-year-old forward is the cherry on the cake that has been this transfer portal for Michigan.

The Wolverines experienced a remarkable turnaround during the 2024–25 season. After finishing the previous year with an 8–24 record, they improved to 27–10 under new head coach Dusty May, marking the largest single-season win increase in program history. May did this within one season. Imagine what he can do with the reinforcements that the college has brought for 2025-26. They had some difficulties getting the players they wanted in the first season, according to assistant coach Drew Williamson. 

“Last year, I think there were a lot of questions for us coming in, and players, parents, and agents weren’t quite sure yet how this coaching staff would be, how this team would be,” Williamson said on the ‘Defend The Block’ podcast with host Brian Boesch. “And now you go out and have some success the first year, and everybody’s kinda like, ‘OK, well, that translated from what we thought it would be.’ That makes it a little bit easier.”

Coming from the back with that incredible turnaround, they had arguably the best transfer portal in the college circuit. After a Sweet 16 run, with these four transfers, they can be a serious Final Four contender going into the 2025-26 season. 

Yaxel Lendeborg (From Alabama)

Lendenborg is CBS’ No. 1-ranked player in the transfer portal after averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals at UAB last season. The forward, who shot 52.5% from the floor and 35.7% from the three-point line, believes he is a mixture of Dennis Rodman and Magic Johnson!

Lendeborg had long been committed to the Michigan Wolverines as a transfer but wanted to go through the pre-draft process to test the waters. Despite being projected as a late first-round pick in a recent ESPN mock draft, he chose to come to Michigan, and May couldn’t have been more glad. Lendeborg fills the stat sheet in every category, showing off athletic shot creation, dominant rebounding, and versatile defense. There really isn’t anything he can’t do. He fills Michigan’s biggest void—a reliable, dynamic frontcourt leader—and could be the team’s most complete player. 

Elliot Cadeau (From North Carolina)

Elliot Cadeau arrived at North Carolina with high expectations as a five-star prospect, reclassifying from the 2024 recruiting class to begin his college career a year early. After coming off the bench for the first five games of his freshman season, he quickly earned a permanent spot in the starting lineup, starting 68 of UNC’s last 69 games across two years.

Cadeau made significant strides in his sophomore campaign, averaging 9.4 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting nearly 34% from three-point range—a major improvement from his freshman season. His 231 total assists ranked in the top 20 nationally and marked the highest single-season total by a Tar Heel in over a decade, surpassing any output since Kendall Marshall’s elite distributing days. 

At Michigan, Cadeau immediately fills a long-standing need for a true point guard. His elite vision and playmaking will elevate scorers like Roddy Gayle Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg while also easing the burden on young guards like L.J. Cason.

Morez Johnson Jr.(From Illinois)

Morez Johnson Jr. appeared in 30 games for Illinois as a freshman, starting eight of them and averaging 7.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in just under 18 minutes per game. He was highly efficient around the rim, shooting 64.2 percent from the field, although his free throw shooting remained a work in progress at 61.8 percent. He did not attempt a three-pointer, instead embracing his role as a traditional interior presence. Now entering his sophomore season, Johnson looks ready to take the next step in his development.

Standing at 6-foot-9, Johnson brings toughness and energy to the floor. He thrives in physical matchups and makes a living doing the dirty work around the basket. His relentlessness on the offensive glass was one of his most valuable contributions, recording a 17.2 percent offensive rebounding rate on KenPom, which ranked among the best in the country.

That effort helped Illinois finish among the top 20 nationally in offensive rebounding. At Michigan, Johnson adds much-needed physicality to a roster filled with skilled playmakers like Elliot Cadeau. While others focus on creating opportunities, Johnson provides the hustle, rebounding, and aggressive finishes around the rim that give the team balance and toughness.

Aday Mara (From UCLA)

In two seasons at UCLA, the 7-foot-3-inch Aday Mara averaged just 11.4 minutes per game playing for an old-school coach in Mick Cronin, who prioritizes experience. This past season, Mara averaged 6.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, providing valuable minutes on both ends for the Bruins off the bench.

Mara is a rock at the post; the 240-pound center is hard to move even for the best in the circuit.  Seventy percent of Mara’s field goal attempts came at the rim, and he made 69 percent of those attempts. He also provides much-needed defensive solidity with his shot blocking. He might rotate with Morez Johnson Jr., who is a little shorter but has a different skillset. This provides Michigan with more variety. 

With a mix of proven collegiate production and high-upside potential, this transfer class provides both instant impact and developmental promise. If even two of these players reach their projected ceilings, Michigan could remain a consistent force in the Big Ten.