Flying Below the Radar: NBA Draft Prospects Who Deserve a Closer Look
Hidden in Plain Sight: Deep Draft Prospects Worth Knowing
With March Madness just over a month away and conference play heating up, the college basketball landscape is beginning to take shape. By now, several prospects have solidified themselves as surefire first-round picks, commanding attention from NBA scouts and fans alike. But for every headline-grabbing name, there are a handful of overlooked prospects quietly making their case. These players might not be on every big board yet, but as we approach the spring, they could emerge as sleeper picks worthy of closer inspection. Last week, I highlighted a few under-the-radar freshmen who could make waves, but today, I want to expand the scope to spotlight intriguing prospects across the country—hidden gems who could capture the spotlight during conference tournaments and beyond.
These are the names to know as we edge closer to NBA draft season.
Yaxel Lendeborg
Alabama-Birmingham
Senior
Forward
6’9” | 240
Age on draft night: 22.7
He’s not a deep sleeper like some of the names mentioned in this post, but Yaxel Lendeborg is quietly putting up Player of the Year-level numbers outside the spotlight of mainstream media. In my opinion, he’s solidified himself as a draft pick—the only question now is how high he’ll go on draft night.
Lendeborg first emerged as an NBA prospect last season when he led UAB to the NCAA Tournament in his first year on campus, following back-to-back JUCO All-American seasons at Arizona Western. After a strong junior campaign where he averaged 13.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, he seemed like an ideal candidate to test the NBA Draft waters. He also looked like the type of player that Power 5 programs with big budgets would target in the transfer portal. Instead, he returned to UAB and has put together one of the most productive statistical seasons in college basketball.
This year, Lendeborg is averaging 17.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game while continuing to impact winning in multiple ways. He’s fresh off a career night against Tulsa, where he posted 28 points, 13 rebounds (6 offensive), 6 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks—a performance that exemplifies his ability to stuff the stat sheet and make his presence felt all over the floor.