Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg Shines in Elite Eight Matchup

Graduate transfer from UAB leads Wolverines in NCAA Tournament run

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:34am

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting the action of a basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.Lendeborg's all-around game and defensive prowess have been crucial to Michigan's deep NCAA Tournament run.Chicago Today

Yaxel Lendeborg, a graduate student forward at the University of Michigan, is making a significant impact in his first season with the Wolverines. After starring at UAB from 2023-25, Lendeborg was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and First-Team All-Big Ten in 2026 as Michigan advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

Lendeborg's versatile skillset and defensive prowess have been crucial to Michigan's deep tournament run, showcasing his growth and development as a player over his collegiate career. His performance could help raise his NBA draft stock as he looks to take the next step professionally.

The details

In 37 games this season, Lendeborg has averaged 14.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game. He was also named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Prior to joining Michigan, Lendeborg was a two-time First-Team All-AAC performer and two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year at UAB, where he led the Blazers to the AAC Tournament championship in 2024.

  • Lendeborg began his collegiate career at Arizona Western Community College from 2020-23.
  • He played at UAB from 2023-25.
  • Lendeborg is in his first season at the University of Michigan in 2026.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

A graduate student forward at the University of Michigan who was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and First-Team All-Big Ten in 2026.

Michigan Wolverines

The No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, who are facing the No. 6 seed Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite Eight.

UAB Blazers

The team Lendeborg played for from 2023-25, where he was a two-time First-Team All-AAC performer and two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“Yaxel has been a game-changer for us all season. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor has been crucial to our tournament run.”

— Juwan Howard, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines

What’s next

If Michigan defeats Tennessee, they will advance to the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Lendeborg's successful transition from UAB to Michigan has been a key factor in the Wolverines' deep NCAA Tournament run. His all-around game and defensive prowess have made him an invaluable asset, and his performance could boost his professional prospects as he looks to take the next step in his basketball career.