The problem with being an elite basketball team is that the chance that you retain the nucleus from that squad the next year starts to become awfully unlikely. Such may be the case for the Michigan Wolverines, should everything both go to plan (in the postseason), but less so in the aftermath.
The maize and blue have a lot talent on the roster, with star forward Yaxel Lendeborg leading the way. He was a fringe first-round NBA draft pick last year before he withdrew and opted to transfer to Michigan basketball. But this year, he’s certainly going to hear his name called in round one.
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But as ESPN’s Jeremy Woo put together a full two-round mock draft in advance of the NCAA Tournament, he has three Wolverines going in the first round — perhaps a sign of things to come this postseason, but also a sign of potential losses going into next.
Here are the three.
Yaxel Lendeborg
Lendeborg is out of eligibility regardless and was going to be on his way out, but the question more so has been how high might he go? According to Woo, he looks to be something of a mid-round pick, going behind former Michigan commit Christian Anderson, at No. 17 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
17. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando)
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, MichiganSenior2025-26 stats: 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists in 31 games
Amid an excellent year at Michigan, winning Big 10 Player of the Year, Lendeborg has looked like a readymade rotation player, the primary drawback being his age (23).
He has successfully defended opposing guards and bigs alike, while also helping to facilitate offensively on the perimeter, showcasing a level of versatility that NBA teams appreciate. A capable if not stellar shooter (34.3% from 3), Lendeborg’s switchability and skill level should allow him to plug in all over the floor. He’ll have a big platform in March to buck the age narrative and play his way into the lottery.
The Grizzlies own the better of Phoenix’s and Orlando’s picks, likely giving them a second selection inside the top 20.
Lendeborg’s skillset is tailor-made for the NBA, given that he’s a big man who can handle the ball like a guard. A stout defender, Lendeborg was also named to the Big Ten all-defensive team on Tuesday.
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Aday Mara
The hopes in Ann Arbor have to center around Mara returning, given that he’s the catalyst for this team, even with Lendeborg running the show. Everything runs through Mara on the court, as the big man has thrived after transferring to Michigan from UCLA following his freshman year.
But, with success comes the likelihood that the NBA comes calling. According to Woo, Mara would go at No. 24 overall should he exit college.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston)
Aday Mara, C, MichiganSophomore2025-26 stats: 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 31 games
Mara is an acquired taste for some scouts, but it’s hard to ignore his role in Michigan’s success.
His gigantic frame — 7-foot-3 — allows him to effectively wall off the paint, and he has real skill and playmaking feel to lean on offensively.
Mara has a hard time covering ground at his size and will likely be limited to drop coverage. He lacks upper-body strength and struggles with ball security at times, too, but he’s a unique player some teams will be willing to invest in, particularly if he can develop a functional 3-point shot. His stroke looks passable in warmups, but it hasn’t translated to game action or the free throw line (52.9%).
Philadelphia acquired this pick at the deadline from Oklahoma City in the Jared McCain trade.
One of the things that Mara is elite at that doesn’t get enough credit for is his ability to pass the ball. Yes, that does sometimes come with mistakes, but even still, he can handle, he can shoot, can defend, and is even getting increasingly better at free-throw shooting compared to earlier in the year.
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Morez Johnson Jr.
At No. 27 overall, right ahead of the first-round break line, it’s not a guarantee that Morez Johnson Jr. would see his name on a first-round mock (players don’t make decisions from mock drafts anyway, they do from draft grades following the combine) and depart, but the idea that the second-year player who transferred from Illinois isn’t going to test the waters is becoming increasingly unlikely.
There might not be a player on the Michigan basketball roster who has been more consistently good, outside of Lendeborg, than Johnson. Thus, ESPN has him slated to the Knicks late in the first round.
27. New York Knicks
Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, MichiganSophomore2025-26 stats: 13.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 31 games
It’s been a strong season for Johnson, who has worked his way up draft boards with consistent play and a willingness to do the dirty work.
His strong frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan allow him to play bigger than his size (6-9), and he’s shown the ability to guard 4s and 5s.
His offensive role will be limited, but he’s knocked down spot 3s (10 of 24 on the season) and finishes simple plays around the basket. With NBA teams pivoting back toward double-big lineups, Johnson should have long-term utility and provide immediate depth.
There are no other Wolverines in the first or second round of the mock, but Nimari Burnett is out of eligibility, and Elliot Cadeau has been somewhat streaky offensively, while being excellent on defense.
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The Wolverines do have some young players on the current team (Winters Grady, Oscar Goodman, Malick Kordel) who could step up beside Trey McKenney, who is an emerging star. The maize and blue also have four 2026 players signed and another committed, with forwards Quinn Costello and Lincoln Cosby both having the potential to be able to step in and play early. Even still, should Michigan lose the two underclassmen to the draft, as projected, it would change the dynamic of what could be next season. But if this season continues as it has, many would trade continuity for immediate success in the NCAA Tournament.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Three Michigan Wolverines in ESPN’s NBA mock draft