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Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg Named Big Ten Player of the Year
Lendeborg outperformed expectations and led Michigan to a Big Ten title
Published on Mar. 10, 2026
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Yaxel Lendeborg, a transfer from UAB, was named the Big Ten Player of the Year after helping lead Michigan to the Big Ten championship. Lendeborg averaged 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, and was a key leader in the Wolverines' team-first approach. He accomplished two of his three preseason goals - winning the Big Ten title and being named Player of the Year - with the final goal of a national championship still in sight.
Why it matters
Lendeborg's selection as Big Ten Player of the Year is a significant accomplishment, as the award has only been won by two Michigan players in the last decade. His impact on the team's success and leadership has been crucial, as the Wolverines look to make a deep NCAA tournament run.
The details
Lendeborg, the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal last offseason, chose to come to Michigan over entering the NBA draft. He was paid handsomely to join the Wolverines, but bought into a team-first system where he wouldn't be the sole focus. Lendeborg had 24 games with double-digit scoring, seven with 10+ rebounds, and six double-doubles. He shot 50.8% from the field and 34.3% from 3-point range, more than doubling his attempts from his standout 2024-25 season at UAB.
- On March 8, Lendeborg helped Michigan clinch the Big Ten title with a 90-80 rivalry win over Michigan State.
- On March 10, Lendeborg was officially named the Big Ten Player of the Year, the first Wolverine to win the award since 2014.
The players
Yaxel Lendeborg
A transfer from UAB who was the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal last offseason. He joined Michigan and helped lead them to a Big Ten championship while being named the conference's Player of the Year.
Dusty May
The head coach of the Michigan basketball team, who praised Lendeborg's performance and impact on the team.
Morez Johnson Jr.
A Michigan player who cited Lendeborg's team-first mentality as inspiring the rest of the team to be more selfless.
What they’re saying
“He's done everything. He's outperformed his contract. He's outperformed all expectations up to this point.”
— Dusty May, Michigan Head Coach (Detroit Free Press)
“If he's willing to sacrifice things for the team, everyone should be able to sacrifice things for the team. Lord knows he could be anywhere, somewhere else in the country, just getting shots up, trying to get his numbers.”
— Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan Player (Detroit Free Press)
What’s next
Lendeborg and Michigan will now focus on the NCAA tournament, where they hope to win the national championship and complete Lendeborg's third preseason goal.
The takeaway
Lendeborg's selection as Big Ten Player of the Year is a testament to his ability to excel in a team-first system, putting the greater good of the team ahead of individual accolades. His leadership and impact have been crucial to Michigan's success, and they will look to him to lead them to a national championship.
