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The top trio of players on Michigan basketball's most historic team made history once more on their way out.
Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 overall, by the Dallas Mavericks), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11, by the Golden State Warriors) and Aday Mara (No. 12, by the Oklahoma City Thunder) became the first trio of Wolverines players to be drafted inside the top 15 in a single draft in program history. It's only the second time U-M has had three players selected in a single draft, and the first since the trio of Rumeal Robinson (No. 10), Loy Vaught (No. 13) and Terry Mills (No. 16) were all taken in 1990.
FINISHING THE RUN: Aday Mara, Michigan star, goes No. 12 to Thunder in 2026 NBA Draft
The only other time prior to 2026 U-M had even two selections inside the top 15 came in 1994 when Juwan Howard (No. 5, Wizards) and Jalen Rose (No. 13, Nuggets) were taken in 1994.
Michigan has had multiple first-round selections in just three other drafts; 2013 when Trey Burke (No. 9, Minnesota Timberwolves) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (No. 24, New York Knicks) were both taken; 2014 with Nik Stauskas (No. 8, Sacramento Kings) and Mitch McGary (No. 24, Thunder) and 2023 with Jett Howard (No. 11, Orlando Magic) and Kobe Bufkin (No. 15, Atlanta Hawks).
"They're just skilled and obviously environment and situation is very important to all of these guys' [future success]," then-Michigan coach Dusty May said in a conversation with the Free Press a few days before the draft. "But these guys are all guys that impact winning."
May, of course, tipped off the history by nabbing Johnson to play for his Mavericks, just a few hours after the team made his hiring official.
STILL IN ANN ARBOR: Michigan basketball names Mike Boynton Jr. interim head coach
This was historic beyond just Michigan's program history. Lendeborg (graduate), Johnson (sophomore) and Mara (sophomore) became the first trio of non-first year players from one program to go in the first round of the NBA Draft since Florida's Al Horford (No. 3), Corey Brewer (No. 7) and Joakim Noah (No. 9) all went in the top 10 back in 2007.
The trio that became known as the "Big Three" for the Wolverines made up the best frontcourt in the NCAA this past season. Lendeborg led the team in scoring (15.1 points per game), Johnson was second (13.1) and led the team in rebounds (7.1 per game) and Mara was third in scoring (12.1) and tied with Lendeborg for second in rebounding (6.8).
All three earned All-Big Ten nods, while Lendeborg was named Big Ten player of the year, Mara was named Defensive Player of the Year and Johnson became known as the team's "junkyard dog" and enforcer.
Together, they propelled the Wolverines to their most wins in program history (37), a Big Ten record in league wins (19), the status as the first Big Ten team in 50 years to go undefeated on the road and the program's second national championship (and its first since 1989).
With their success as the backdrop, all three will be remembered in Michigan lore despite each spending fewer than 12 months in Ann Arbor. Lendeborg (UAB), Mara (UCLA) and Johnson (Illinois) all transferred in just before the 2025-26 season, but they'll leave for the NBA as Wolverines.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball makes history in NBA Draft with 3 1st-round picks
Continue reading...
Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 overall, by the Dallas Mavericks), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11, by the Golden State Warriors) and Aday Mara (No. 12, by the Oklahoma City Thunder) became the first trio of Wolverines players to be drafted inside the top 15 in a single draft in program history. It's only the second time U-M has had three players selected in a single draft, and the first since the trio of Rumeal Robinson (No. 10), Loy Vaught (No. 13) and Terry Mills (No. 16) were all taken in 1990.
FINISHING THE RUN: Aday Mara, Michigan star, goes No. 12 to Thunder in 2026 NBA Draft
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The only other time prior to 2026 U-M had even two selections inside the top 15 came in 1994 when Juwan Howard (No. 5, Wizards) and Jalen Rose (No. 13, Nuggets) were taken in 1994.
Michigan has had multiple first-round selections in just three other drafts; 2013 when Trey Burke (No. 9, Minnesota Timberwolves) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (No. 24, New York Knicks) were both taken; 2014 with Nik Stauskas (No. 8, Sacramento Kings) and Mitch McGary (No. 24, Thunder) and 2023 with Jett Howard (No. 11, Orlando Magic) and Kobe Bufkin (No. 15, Atlanta Hawks).
"They're just skilled and obviously environment and situation is very important to all of these guys' [future success]," then-Michigan coach Dusty May said in a conversation with the Free Press a few days before the draft. "But these guys are all guys that impact winning."
May, of course, tipped off the history by nabbing Johnson to play for his Mavericks, just a few hours after the team made his hiring official.
STILL IN ANN ARBOR: Michigan basketball names Mike Boynton Jr. interim head coach
This was historic beyond just Michigan's program history. Lendeborg (graduate), Johnson (sophomore) and Mara (sophomore) became the first trio of non-first year players from one program to go in the first round of the NBA Draft since Florida's Al Horford (No. 3), Corey Brewer (No. 7) and Joakim Noah (No. 9) all went in the top 10 back in 2007.
The trio that became known as the "Big Three" for the Wolverines made up the best frontcourt in the NCAA this past season. Lendeborg led the team in scoring (15.1 points per game), Johnson was second (13.1) and led the team in rebounds (7.1 per game) and Mara was third in scoring (12.1) and tied with Lendeborg for second in rebounding (6.8).
All three earned All-Big Ten nods, while Lendeborg was named Big Ten player of the year, Mara was named Defensive Player of the Year and Johnson became known as the team's "junkyard dog" and enforcer.
You must be registered for see images attach
Together, they propelled the Wolverines to their most wins in program history (37), a Big Ten record in league wins (19), the status as the first Big Ten team in 50 years to go undefeated on the road and the program's second national championship (and its first since 1989).
With their success as the backdrop, all three will be remembered in Michigan lore despite each spending fewer than 12 months in Ann Arbor. Lendeborg (UAB), Mara (UCLA) and Johnson (Illinois) all transferred in just before the 2025-26 season, but they'll leave for the NBA as Wolverines.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball makes history in NBA Draft with 3 1st-round picks
Continue reading...
