Big Ten Honors Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg as Player of the Year

Illinois' Keaton Wagler named Freshman of the Year, coaches and media split on Coach of the Year

Mar. 10, 2026 at 7:53pm

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The Big Ten conference has selected Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg as the conference's Player of the Year, as voted on by the league's coaches and media members. Illinois guard Keaton Wagler was named Freshman of the Year, while the Coach of the Year award was split, with the coaches choosing Nebraska's Fred Hoiberg and the media selecting Michigan's Dusty May.

Why it matters

Lendeborg's selection as Player of the Year caps off a standout season for the Michigan star, who led his team to the Big Ten regular season championship. The conference's individual awards are highly prestigious, recognizing the top talent in the league and setting the stage for potential postseason honors.

The details

Lendeborg, a junior forward, averaged 18.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game for the Wolverines this season. Wagler, a freshman guard for Illinois, emerged as one of the conference's top young talents, putting up 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per contest. The Coach of the Year award was split, with the coaches selecting Hoiberg for leading Nebraska to a surprise season, while the media opted for May, who guided Michigan to the regular season title.

  • The Big Ten announced the award winners on March 10, 2026.
  • The Associated Press had previously named its All-Big Ten team and major award winners on the same day.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

A junior forward for the University of Michigan, Lendeborg was selected as the Big Ten Player of the Year after leading the Wolverines to the regular season conference championship.

Keaton Wagler

A freshman guard for the University of Illinois, Wagler was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after a standout debut season.

Fred Hoiberg

The head coach of the University of Nebraska, Hoiberg was selected as the Big Ten Coach of the Year by the conference's coaches.

Dusty May

The head coach of the University of Michigan, May was selected as the Big Ten Coach of the Year by the conference's media members.

Aday Mara

A player for the University of Michigan, Mara was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Braden Frager

A player for the University of Nebraska, Frager was selected as the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year.

Sharif Chambliss

An assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin, Chambliss was selected as the Big Ten Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“Yaxel Lendeborg has been a dominant force in the Big Ten all season long, and his selection as Player of the Year is a well-deserved honor.”

— Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska Head Coach

“Keaton Wagler has been a revelation for Illinois this year, and we're excited to see what the future holds for this talented young player.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

What’s next

The Big Ten individual award winners will be recognized at the conference's annual postseason banquet, where they will receive their trophies and be celebrated by their peers and coaches.

The takeaway

The Big Ten's selection of Yaxel Lendeborg and Keaton Wagler as the conference's top player and freshman, respectively, highlights the depth of talent in the league and the bright futures of these young stars. The split in the Coach of the Year award also reflects the competitive nature of the conference, with both Hoiberg and May earning recognition for their impressive seasons.