He Played 11 Games In High School. Now OKC Is Drafting Him In The Lottery

title: He Played 11 Games In High School. Now OKC Is Drafting Him In The Lottery Yaxel Lendeborg is the most underrated prospect in this 2026 NBA Draft class — and the Oklahoma City Thunder just drafted him in the lottery. Here's why he's a steal. Yaxel Lendeborg full scouting report: from his JUCO years at Arizona Western to his national title with Michigan, including his Big Ten Player of the Year award. A 6'9", 240 lbs with a 7'4" wingspan who defends positions 1-5, passes better than most point guards, and just produced 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. What makes his story completely insane: Cut from his high school team because of his grades. Zero basketball for two years. His mother literally saved him by driving him to a different school every day. Then COVID hit, and a JUCO coach spotted him in a showcase video because he "needed another body." Three years later: JUCO All-American. Then UAB. Then Michigan — Big Ten Player of the Year, First-Team All-American, national champion. In the national semifinals against Arizona, he sprained his MCL and ankle in the same fall. He came back to play. The next day, he started the final against UConn. 36 minutes. Michigan won 69-63. Scouts compared him to Aaron Gordon, Thaddeus Young, a Draymond Green lite — championship-caliber role players. The kind of player who will never make a Top 10 but wins playoff series. A player who spent six years NOT being the "main guy" and still won everything. OKC couldn't have dreamed of a better fit. 📊 Michigan Stats 2025-2026: • 15.1 PPG | 6.8 RPG | 3.2 APG • 51.5% FG | 37.2% 3PT | 64.6% TS • 1.2 BPG | 1.1 GSP | +16.7 BPM⏱️ CHAPTERS: 0:00 — The High School Kid Nobody Wanted 2:15 — The COVID Showcase That Changed Everything 4:30 — Arizona Western: Becoming an All-American 6:45 — UAB: The Decision to Stay 9:20 — Michigan: Big Ten Player of the Year 12:10 — The National Finals on One Leg 15:00 — Why OKC Is the Perfect Fit 18:30 — The Verdict: Draft Steal or Future Role Player? 🔔 Subscribe to stay up-to-date on the 2026 NBA Draft and scouting reports like this one. #YaxelLendeborg #NBADraft2026 #OKCThunder #MichiganBasketball #NBADraft #ScoutingReport#NBADraftSleepers #NBA #Basketball #OklahomaCityThunder