A shifting dynamic in college basketball recruiting has emerged, with more top-tier transfer portal entrants also declaring for the NBA Draft and delaying final decisions until they receive evaluations from professional teams. Analysts Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman have highlighted the growing impact of this trend.
This year, all seven top-ranked uncommitted players in the portal have also declared for the draft, complicating roster plans for coaches and futures for players. UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg, the portal’s No. 1 player, has pledged to Michigan—but only if he withdraws from the NBA Draft.
Insiders Warn of Growing Trend: Transfers Holding Off for NBA Draft Results
The college basketball offseason is taking on a new dimension as an increasing number of high-profile transfer portal entrants are also declaring for the NBA Draft, choosing to delay final decisions while awaiting evaluations from league teams.
This emerging trend, highlighted by insiders Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman on “The Field of 68,” is complicating roster construction for coaches and introducing a new layer of strategy for players navigating the dual paths of NIL earnings and professional aspirations.
Dauster and Goodman noted that, following the commitments of Andrej Stojakovic and Cedric Coward, five of the top six remaining players in the portal are currently uncommitted and have all declared for the NBA Draft.
UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg, considered the No. 1 transfer available, is committed to Michigan—but only if he returns to school. Dauster emphasized the uncertainty around Lendeborg’s professional outlook, saying,
“I’m kind of of the mindset that he’s probably going to the draft… this is the kind of dude that has top-20 pick written all over him.”
However, Goodman questioned that projection, suggesting Lendeborg might fall in the 20-40 range.
“Yaxel’s got $3 million sitting on the table at Michigan,” Goodman noted, comparing that figure to what a second-round NBA pick would typically earn.
“Even if you go 35 or 40… it won’t be $3 million for this year.”
This dynamic is increasingly influenced by NIL. As CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein pointed out, the financial edge once held by the NBA has eroded.
“A two-way deal… paid $578,577 last season,” he wrote, adding that this is significantly less than what some top college players are now earning. Players no longer need to turn pro just to secure financial stability.
Dauster praised the approach taken by players like Lendeborg and Coward—identifying strong college fits while exploring professional opportunities.
“He found himself a really good landing spot with a really good number,” Dauster said of Lendeborg’s Michigan commitment, contingent on draft feedback.
The possibility to raise draft stock in a favorable college system adds strategic value to delaying an NBA jump. Ultimately, insiders agree the calculus for elite transfers is changing.
KEEP READING: Why College Basketball Players Keep Transfer Options Open After Declaring for the NBA Draft
Unless a player is a surefire lottery pick, returning to college—with top-tier exposure and significant NIL money—now presents a more appealing and financially sound option than fringe draft positioning.
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