A year ago, questions surrounded Michigan’s bold roster construction. Bringing together three players who had primarily played center at their previous schools seemed like a gamble. Today, that experiment has become one of college basketball’s greatest success stories, with Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. poised to hear their names called in the first round of the NBA Draft.
All three frontcourt stars have been invited to the draft’s green room and are projected to be selected within the top 20 picks, capping a remarkable season that ended with Michigan winning the national championship under head coach Dusty May.
“Immediately after getting our group together this summer, there were days when we knew these three guys were special,” May said. “Those guys believed in the vision and they believed in each other and that they could find a way to co-exist.”
The trio arrived in Ann Arbor through different paths. Lendeborg transferred from the University of Alabama-Birmingham after choosing another season in college over entering the NBA Draft. Mara joined from UCLA, where he had shown flashes of potential but struggled to secure a major role. Johnson arrived from Illinois following his freshman campaign and quickly developed into a cornerstone of Michigan’s lineup.
Together, they formed an unconventional frontcourt that dominated both ends of the floor. Their combination of size, versatility and basketball intelligence helped the Wolverines navigate a championship-winning campaign and turned skeptics into believers.
“My decision to go back to school last year and play at Michigan was based solely on my confidence that I could continue to improve,” Lendeborg said. “Everything I wanted to improve on in my game, I did at Michigan.”
Each player delivered defining moments during Michigan’s NCAA Tournament run. Mara erupted for 26 points in the Final Four victory over Arizona. Johnson recorded a double-double in the national championship game against UConn. Lendeborg produced 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Elite Eight win over Tennessee.
May believes NBA teams are increasingly recognizing the value each player brings.
“These guys deserve it,” he said. “With the amount of research being done, these guys will be in contention for some pretty high picks.”
Mara is projected to be selected between picks eight and 12, while Lendeborg and Johnson are expected to come off the board later in the lottery range.
For the players, draft night will mark the end of a unique partnership. Soon they will become competitors once again, but the bond formed during Michigan’s title-winning season remains strong.
“Draft night is just going to be crazy emotions… full tears, crying,” Lendeborg said. “I’m going to try to get around the table and hug everyone before I lose my mind.”
What began as a risky experiment has evolved into a historic achievement. Now, Michigan’s championship-winning frontcourt is preparing for the next chapter as three of college basketball’s most unlikely stars take their talents to the NBA.
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