NIL

Thoughts on Yaxel Lendeborg committing to Michigan basketball and what it means for the Wolverines

Yaxel Lendeborg, the top-rated player in the Transfer Portal, will play for the Michigan Wolverines this winter. The talented big announced the news earlier this week, giving Dusty May and Co. a jewel in their Transfer Portal haul and raising expectations for Year 2 in Ann Arbor. Lendeborg joins the roster alongside Elliot Cadeau (North […]

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6 days ago

May 30, 2025

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Yaxel Lendeborg, the top-rated player in the Transfer Portal, will play for the Michigan Wolverines this winter.

The talented big announced the news earlier this week, giving Dusty May and Co. a jewel in their Transfer Portal haul and raising expectations for Year 2 in Ann Arbor. Lendeborg joins the roster alongside Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA) as they complement Trey McKenney, Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle Jr., Will Tschetter and others with the goal of improving on last season’s run to the Sweet Sixteen.

Last season, Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game at UAB. He’s a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-AAC and is considered among the best bigs in the country.

Here are thoughts on Yaxel Lendeborg picking Michigan over the NBA Draft and what it means for the Wolverines:

Why Yaxel Lendeborg chose Michigan over the NBA Draft

Lendeborg was pretty transparent about the factors influencing his decision between Michigan and the NBA Draft. He explained that his ultimate goal was securing a guaranteed NBA contract, but that he had legitimate interest in the Wolverines.

This week, Lendeborg spoke with The Banner and explained why he ultimately withdrew from the NBA Draft process.

“When I working out with NBA teams, working through that whole process talking with teams, they pretty much assured me, or reassured me, that even if I was to go to Michigan, the majority of them would still be with me and it wouldn’t hurt my draft stock,” Lendeborg told The Banner.

“I wouldn’t say I wasn’t ready to go into the draft, but skill wise I don’t know if I would be as productive as I think I am. Pretty much what decided it was teams telling me I could still get drafted in the same spot or better if I go polish my game.”

Lendeborg added that “nobody really promised or guaranteed me” a first-round selection and that excelling against better competition could move his stock upward next year at this time. You can read his full interview here.

Lendeborg is more proof that Michigan is competitive in the NIL space

Dusty May spoke candidly with The Michigan Insider last month about how NIL at Michigan “improved greatly” during his first season at the helm in Ann Arbor. From an NIL perspective, he said, Michigan and other top programs can compete with a second-round NBA contract.

“Our market allows the best players to be competitive with a second-round contract,” May told TMI.

“… The last couple of years there’s been a boon in what the players are able to make, and what the market says. So now the best players at all of these teams that are considering going to the NBA, you have to be competitive with that second-round pick. Obviously the first round is a guaranteed multi-year contract. It’s tough to compete with that. But the second-round picks, they’re probably going to be much better off if they go to college from a financial standpoint, and it gives you a chance to move up and improve and get a chance to be a first round the following year.”

And Michigan can also sell playing in front of sold-out arenas and for passionate fan bases — something the G League cannot offer. The educational opportunities, development at top-tier facilities and expectations to compete in the NCAA Tournament are also bonuses. This isn’t unique to the Wolverines, and this week saw a number of players choose a return to college basketball as NIL has helped make the sport a preferable option compared to a two-way or G League contract.

Dusty May is swinging big in recruiting, and it’s working

Michigan had to rebuild through the Transfer Portal out of necessity last offseason, but the end product was better than most people expected. The Wolverines nabbed three high-major players, plus two mid-major stars (Vlad Goldin, Danny Wolf) with clear starting potential.

Dusty May got to work quickly this offseason, visiting Elliot Cadeau hours after the Wolverines were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Auburn. Adding Morez Johnson (Illinois), Aday Mara (UCLA) and a likely first-round NBA Draft talent in Lendeborg again places Michigan among the top-ranked Portal classes in the country. Meanwhile, the program lost only one starter (Tre Donaldson) to another school.

NIL, of course, is a major factor here, but so is the staff’s ability to recruit. There’s a reason Lendeborg picked Michigan over both the NBA and the many, many college programs that were interested in his services.

“Our staff does a great job of developing relationships,” May said last month. Specifically with Lendeborg, it’s clear the UAB transfer’s visit to Ann Arbor and the Michigan staff’s support of him at the NBA Combine in Chicago played a significant role in swaying him toward the Wolverines.

At the same time, the staff can and does point to their success in Year 1 — and the entertaining, fast-paced style of basketball — and use that as a recruiting tool moving forward.

“There were a lot of questions for us coming in and players, parents, agents, they weren’t quite sure yet how this coaching staff would be, how would this team be,” said assistant coach Drew Williamson. “And now you go out and have some success the first year and everybody’s kind of like, ‘Okay, well, that translated from what we thought it would be.'”

Yaxel Lendeborg gives Michigan another powerful, intriguing front court

About a year ago, when Michigan coaches started talking about playing Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin together, the public reaction was ambivalent. The result, of course, is that what the staff saw behind closed doors in practice translated against opponents: Area 50-1, the combination of two skilled 7-footers, made the Wolverines a unique beast on offense.

This offseason, Dusty May and Co. have several more intriguing puzzle pieces at their disposal. Start with Yaxel Lendeborg, who played the majority of his minutes as a small-ball ‘5’ at UAB and offers value as an on-ball playmaker, defender and rebounder. His age belies his inexperience; Lendeborg saw just 11 games in high school and has markedly improved in each season he’s played. If his 3-point shooting (36% on 69 attempts) translates with more volume, it could be the key to a potent Michigan offense.

It’s likely Michigan again plays two-big lineups. The 7-foot-3 Aday Mara is a good rim protector and finisher in the paint, though he played limited minutes with the Bruins. (KenPom compared his output last season at UCLA to Vlad Goldin at FAU in 2022.) Morez Johnson is a force on the boards, and his motor and athleticism at 6-foot-9 will impact games. Then there’s Will Tschetter, the veteran who can help space the floor with his 3-point shooting.

Not even Michigan’s coaches know how all the pieces will fit, but odds are good that some combination of those four will click and once again make the Wolverines an entertaining, high-ceiling team.

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Cooper Flagg’s NIL earnings at Duke were double his projected rookie salary

Former Duke Blue Devils standout Cooper Flagg took the college basketball world by storm during his lone season in 2024-25. As the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation, Flagg lived up to the hype, leading Duke to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance while earning accolades like the ACC Player of the […]

Published

14 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

However, we all know that in today’s world, his impact extended far beyond the court. His Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings reportedly reached staggering heights, surpassing even his projected NBA rookie salary.

Unprecedented NIL earnings at Duke

During an interview with Bob Costas, sports journalist Howard Bryant revealed that Flagg’s NIL earnings at Duke amounted to an astonishing $28 million. This figure, which includes a massive $13 million deal with New Balance and another whopping $15 million deal with Fanatics, dwarfed earlier estimates of $4.8 million by On3. These contracts represent multi-year totals, but even so, they highlight Flagg’s unparalleled marketability as a college athlete. He also signed additional deals with brands like Gatorade, Cort Furniture, and The NIL Store which further boosted his earnings, and made him one of the highest-paid college athletes ever.

How Flagg’s NIL deals were structured

Flagg’s partnership with New Balance, which he signed in August of 2024, was a landmark deal that reflected his Maine roots with the brand’s nearby manufacturing presence. The Fanatics deal further cemented his status as a marketable star, which included exclusive merchandise like Topps Bowman basketball cards. Combined with his endoresments from Gatorade and others, these deals capitalized on Flagg’s on-court dominance, where he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. His off-court charisma also lended a hand in landing these contracts, as he is well-known as a humble guy who works hard.

Comparing NIL earnings to NBA rookie salary

Flagg is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which the Dallas Mavericks miracuously landed, with a four-year rookie contract estimated at $62.7 million, including $13.8 million in the first year. Remarkably, his $28 million in NIL earnings at Duke is more than double this first-year NBA salary. The transformative power of NIL in college sports has been felt heavily in the past few seasons, where elite athletes like Flagg can out earn their early professional contracts while still in school.

Why NIL earnings are changing college sports

The NIL era has seemingly redefined college athletics, enabling athletes to monetize their personal brands. Flagg’s case is a prime example of this, as his earnings rival those of top NBA rookies. As Costas noted, this finacial dynamic is even more impactful for athletes who can earn more in college than in professional leagues like the WNBA, where top salaries are significantly lower. Flagg’s success is just one highlight of how NIL deals can incentivize athletes to stay in college longer, even though he opted for the NBA after one season.

As Flagg prepares for the NBA, his NIL deals are going to follow him, which allows him to supplement his rookie contract with continued endoresments. When you combine his ongoing brand partnerships with his projected $62.7 million NBA deal, he is positioned very well for a lucrative professional career. Flagg’s ability to dominate not only on the court, but also in the business world, signals a new era for athletes who can leverage their college fame into gigantic financial opportunities.

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Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady faces toughest challenge yet after Game 1 heartbreak | National News

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — NiJaree Canady has achieved almost everything since transferring to Texas Tech from Stanford and signing an NIL deal worth just over $1 million. She led the Red Raiders to three firsts — the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles and a berth in the Women’s College World Series. She was […]

Published

16 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — NiJaree Canady has achieved almost everything since transferring to Texas Tech from Stanford and signing an NIL deal worth just over $1 million.

She led the Red Raiders to three firsts — the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles and a berth in the Women’s College World Series. She was the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year and leads the nation in wins (33) and ERA (0.94).

The only thing missing is a national championship and that goal will be the toughest to reach after she gave up a late lead in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series to Texas on Wednesday. After the 2-1 loss, the Red Raiders must beat the Longhorns in two straight to win the national title.

Canady, who threw 88 pitches in Game 1, is battling a soft tissue injury on her left leg suffered in the preseason that has severely limited her practice time. She still expects to be ready for Game 2 on Thursday.

“I’m fine,” a dejected Canady said. “I have all summer to rest. I’m ready to play softball.”

Canady lost the lead when she threw what was supposed be ball four and an intentional walk close enough for Texas’ Reese Atwood to make contact. Atwood knocked in what turned out to be the game winning runs in the sixth inning, putting the Longhorns one win from their first national title.

Atwood knew she was fortunate to get that pitch from Canady.

“Props to NiJa, because she definitely kept us real tight throughout that game,” she said. “She’s a great pitcher. I saw my opportunity and I took it.”

Canady has thrown every pitch for the Red Raiders during the World Series, but Tech coach Gerry Glasco did not guarantee his ace would start on Thursday, saying he needs to watch out for her long-term health. Glasco said Canady is such a competitor that she might not be fully honest about her condition.

“If you know NiJa, she’s not going to complain, she’s not going to tell you,” he said. “We’ll have to really dig, and hopefully the trainer can get her to communicate enough that he’ll get a good assessment. I want to win, but also I want to be sure we leave this season healthy for the future.”

That being said, Glasco expects Canady to be ready. Her competitive drive is one of the reasons recruiting her was a priority when he became Tech’s coach before this season.

Canady has been on the hot seat before. She led Stanford to the national semifinals the previous two seasons and was the winning pitcher on Monday when Tech knocked out four-time defending national champion Oklahoma.

“As far as NiJa tomorrow, if you’ve got to pick a pitcher in America to come back and win two games in a row with — I’ll take NiJa,” he said. “If anybody can do what we need to do to come back, I’m thrilled to have NiJa do it.”

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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How a Texas bill would change NIL laws for college athletes

Texas colleges could soon pay their student athletes. With the NCAA expected to end its decades-old prohibition on universities paying players directly, Texas lawmakers authored a bill to change state law and allow schools to do so. Under House Bill 126, which is awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, colleges could enter into name, image and […]

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36 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Texas colleges could soon pay their student athletes.

With the NCAA expected to end its decades-old prohibition on universities paying players directly, Texas lawmakers authored a bill to change state law and allow schools to do so.

Under House Bill 126, which is awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, colleges could enter into name, image and likeness agreements with their athletes. Current state law allows students to have NIL agreements only with third-party brands.

The bill would allow athletes 17 or older to be paid after they have enrolled in college, but it would not extend the provision to high school students.

Schools could provide a total of $20.5 million to their athletes annually, and they would be able to use it as a tool to recruit high school athletes as well, which is not allowed under current rules.

University leaders told lawmakers the legislation is necessary to attract talent to the state and keep homegrown talent under the expected NCAA changes.

Abbott has until June 22 to sign or veto bills. If signed, the NIL law would take effect Sept. 1.

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High school football player files NIL lawsuit in California

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A former high school football player has filed a class-action lawsuit in California. It has the potential to set a precedent for Name, Image and Likness rules across the United States, if successful, according to a report from Reuters. Dominik Calhoun, a 2025 graduate of Pittsburg High School in California and member […]

Published

46 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

High school football player files NIL lawsuit in California

Dominik Calhoun, a 2025 graduate of Pittsburg High School in California and member of Boise State’s incoming recruiting class at safety, is the plaintiff in the suit against the California Interscholastic Federation.

It follows year of litigation against the NCAA, starting with cases such as former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon’s suit, that opened the door for college athletes to earn money through NIL.

“Like the cases that have led to important reforms in college sports,” said attorney Yaman Salahi, who filed the suit Friday in San Francisco, for the Reuters report, “we’re asking a simple question: if corporations are cashing in on high school athletes’ hard work, then why can’t the athletes themselves? We’re pushing to make the system fairer and to bring long-overdue rights to young athletes.”

The CIF, which had yet to respond as of Thursday morning to Reuters, also is not the only target in the athlete’s suit. Spectrum SportsNet LLC, which has regional networks throughout the country including California and Ohio, is among the defendants. Spectrum is the official television partner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

SBLive Sports Inc., which is now under the umbrella of Sports Illustrated, also is named in the suit.

California has NIL provisions in its bylaws. Thirty high schools have NIL permissions. California allows student-athletes to receive payments from third parties in “narrow circumstances,” the lawsuit stated according to Reuters. Endorsements cannot be made, however, on school property or with school uniforms.

In 2022, Bronny James and Juju Watkins signed NIL deals with Nike while in high school. Both attended Sierra Canyon, which is in the CIF.

Payments from broadcasting agreements, ticket sales and sponsorships are not allowed by the CIF. Calhoun is challenging that and the CIF’s player-eligibility rules that restrict transferring between schools for athletic reasons.

The suit has been filed in the same Northern California District that has heard several NIL cases against the NCAA, according to Front Office Sports, which also obtained a copy of the complaint.

“These policies harm the high school student-athletes who create the economic value exploited by the CIF, its Sections, its member schools, and their commercial partners, and constitute unreasonable restraints of trade in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act,” the complaint read, according to Front Office Sports.

Ohio is not among the 30 states that allow NIL in some form. OHSAA member schools voted down an NIL proposal in 2022 by a count of 538 to 254. Since then, Florida has adopted NIL. So have some states that border Ohio, including Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

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FBS GM warns of fake offers circulating on social media

While a handful of college football programs had employed a general manager position prior to the transfer portal, it was the portal’s introduction that sparked an absolute need for the role on every major college football campus in the country. Their duties stretch far beyond the portal to include NIL, roster management, scouting and recruiting, […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Their duties stretch far beyond the portal to include NIL, roster management, scouting and recruiting, along with a list of other things that are too lengthy to appropriately cover here.

One of those peripheral additional duties, is blowing the whistle on fake scholarship offers, as UAB’s Lino Lupinetti found himself doing this morning.

“Multiple fake ‘offers’ claiming to be from UAB have been sent out recently. These come from people with ZERO ties to our staff or program,” Lupinetti shared on X earlier today.

He went on to shed light on the three accounts guilty of extending the bogus offers, while adding that the Blazers will “NEVER” send an offer via text or direct message.

While fake scholarship offers are not something necessarily new, power users of the X platform have all surely noticed an increase in fake accounts, bots, and other questionable accounts, so it’s something that high school coaches, college coaches, and recruits need to be aware of and diligent about verifying.

Dilfer and the Blazers are entering a critical year three of his tenure with the Blazers, after going 4-8 the first season and 3-9 last year. He landed the opportunity at UAB following a 44-10 run over four seasons at Lipscomb Academy (TN) which followed a 14-year career in the NFL.

Multiple fake “offers” claiming to be from UAB have been sent out recently. These come from people with ZERO ties to our staff or program. Watch out for these 3 accounts.

UAB will NEVER send an offer via text or DM. pic.twitter.com/d9R4nQIdi2

— Lino Lupinetti (@lino_lupinetti) June 4, 2025