Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan - 2026 NBA Draft - Lottery pick

[Caneman786]

LINK TO DIRECTORY OF ALL PLAYERS

Yaxel Lendeborg, the senior forward who leads #1 ranked Michigan, is now ranked #8 among draft prospects by ESPN Analytics.

Ranking History:
Not in the top 15 on November 2
Ranked #14 on January 5
Ranked #10 on January 17
Ranked #8 on February 21
Ranked #10 on February 27
Ranked #10 on March 18
Ranked #10 on March 26

Yaxel Lendeborg was born on September 30, 2002 in Puerto Rico. His full name is Yaxel Okari Lendeborg. Lendeborg's parents were standout basketball players in the Dominican Republic, and Lendeborg's mother Yissel Raposo was on the national team. After Lendeborg's birth in Puerto Rico, his family moved to Ohio, then to Pennsauken township, New Jersey, which is considered Lendeborg's hometown. Pennsauken township is in Camden County and borders both the city of Camden, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lendeborg did not start playing organized basketball until the age of 15 (so in the year 2017 or 2018), and was not a top 100 recruit in the class of 2020, which was his high school class. Although he was quite young for that high school class, only being 17 at the time of his graduation, he is quite old for the draft class of 2026. This is because he worked his way through the Junior College system for three years, transferred to D1, playing for the University of Alabama at Birmingham for two seasons, and this college basketball season he started at the University of Michigan, playing for the Wolverines. He is a "sixth-year senior" (even if he has an age closer to a "fifth-year senior"). In reality, though, he is a graduate student. He is 23 years old right now, and will turn 24 years old before the opening night of the 2026–27 NBA season.

At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), which plays in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Lendeborg was a highly decorated player. He was first-team All-AAC and the conference's defensive player of the year both years he played at UAB. He led the conference in rebounding both seasons as well. He was on the All-AAC tournament first-team both years he played for the school, and won the tournament MVP in his first year there, in 2024.

Lendeborg is known as a highly versatile player who has two-way impact, and is currently one of the best players in D1 college basketball. Advanced metrics usually have him as a close second to #1-ranked Cameron Boozer when it comes to player impact in D1 college basketball.

The University of Michigan has him listed as a 6' 9", 240 pound forward. However, we have Lendeborg's official measurements, as he initially tried for the 2025 NBA draft, and participated in the 2025 NBA draft combine.

At the age of 22, Lendeborg stood at 6' 8.50" barefoot, weighed 234.6 pounds, and had a monstrous wingspan measuring 7' 4.00"! A longer wingspan than the average NBA center.

[Caneman786]

Link to this post: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2437273&p=121201504#p121201504

Tonight on ESPN, at 6:30 PM Eastern Time will be the marquee matchup of college basketball's regular season.

The #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines will visit the #3 ranked Duke Blue Devils.

Michigan is 25-1 on the season and leads the Big Ten in conference play, having gone 15-1.

Duke is 24-2 on the season and leads the ACC in conference play as well, having gone 13-1.

In tonight's matchup, high draft picks abound will take the floor. Here's a summary with ESPN Analytics' Aggregate Draft Rankings:

DUKE

#2 PROSPECT - 6' 9", 250 lbs. - Freshman Forward CAMERON BOOZER
#18 PROSPECT - 6' 11", 250 lbs. - Sophomore Center PATRICK NGONGBA II
#34 PROSPECT - 6' 6", 180 lbs. - Sophomore Guard / Forward ISAIAH EVANS
#49 PROSPECT - 6' 8", 190 lbs. - Freshman Guard / Forward DAME SARR
#89 PROSPECT - 6' 4", 205 lbs. - Freshman Guard CAYDEN BOOZER
#91 PROSPECT - 6' 9", 225 lbs. - Senior Forward MALIQ BROWN
#155 PROSPECT - 6' 8", 215 lbs. - Freshman Guard / Forward NIKOLAS KHAMENIA

MICHIGAN

#8 PROSPECT - 6' 9", 240 lbs. - Senior Forward YAXEL LENDEBORG
#24 PROSPECT - 6' 9", 250 lbs. - Sophomore Forward MOREZ JOHNSON JR.
#30 PROSPECT - 7' 3", 255 lbs. - Junior Center ADAY MARA
#137 PROSPECT - 6' 8", 190 lbs. - Freshman Guard TREY MCKENNEY

Of interest here is the matchup between forwards Cameron Boozer and Yaxel Lendeborg. Statistically, they have been the two top players of college basketball:

On College Basketball Reference's BPM, Boozer is #1 with +19.4 (OBPM +13.1, DBPM +6.3) and Lendeborg is #2 with +16.6 (OBPM +9.2, DBPM +7.4).

On Bart Torvik's BPM, Boozer is #1 with +17.9 and Lendeborg is #2 with +15.1.

On Evan Miya's BPR, Boozer is #1 with +13.71 (OBPR +8.99, DBPR +4.72) and Lendeborg is #2 with +13.07 (OBPR +7.62, DBPR +5.46).

On Hoop-Explorer's Luck-adjusted RAPM, Boozer is #1 with +15.1 (Offensive +10.3, Defensive +4.8) and Lendeborg is #2 with +14.7 (Offensive +9.1, Defensive +5.6).

Tonight's matchup may have some implications for the NPOY race, especially if Yaxel has a statement game.

[CptCrunch]

5th year senior, will turn 24 before his first NBA game. I'm okay with taking him in the lotto as he can shoot (and obviously has near NCAA leading advanced stats).

It's going to a risky pick. If he fails, GM look like moron drafting a 5th year senior when they could draft some 18/19 year old under performing freshman. If he works out, you get an instant role player.

[tmorgan]

You make the pick if you want immediate contribution. He’s not going to be a star, but may be a starter. All-around skillset, but not amazing at anything.

I expect one of the contender-status teams that gets in the late lottery with an outside pick or swap to take him.

[Caneman786]

UPDATE: Yaxel Lendeborg had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in his 38 minutes, and was -3 in those minutes.

He started off this game hot with 14 points in the first half, but had a stretch where he went scoreless for 14 minutes in the middle of the second half. He shot 4/6 from 2-point range, 3/9 from 3-point range, and 4/6 from the free throw line.

Link to this post: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2437273&p=121201504#p121201504

Tonight on ESPN, at 6:30 PM Eastern Time will be the marquee matchup of college basketball's regular season.

The #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines will visit the #3 ranked Duke Blue Devils.

Michigan is 25-1 on the season and leads the Big Ten in conference play, having gone 15-1.

Duke is 24-2 on the season and leads the ACC in conference play as well, having gone 13-1.

In tonight's matchup, high draft picks abound will take the floor. Here's a summary with ESPN Analytics' Aggregate Draft Rankings:

DUKE

#2 PROSPECT - 6' 9", 250 lbs. - Freshman Forward CAMERON BOOZER
#18 PROSPECT - 6' 11", 250 lbs. - Sophomore Center PATRICK NGONGBA II
#34 PROSPECT - 6' 6", 180 lbs. - Sophomore Guard / Forward ISAIAH EVANS
#49 PROSPECT - 6' 8", 190 lbs. - Freshman Guard / Forward DAME SARR
#89 PROSPECT - 6' 4", 205 lbs. - Freshman Guard CAYDEN BOOZER
#91 PROSPECT - 6' 9", 225 lbs. - Senior Forward MALIQ BROWN
#155 PROSPECT - 6' 8", 215 lbs. - Freshman Guard / Forward NIKOLAS KHAMENIA

MICHIGAN

#8 PROSPECT - 6' 9", 240 lbs. - Senior Forward YAXEL LENDEBORG
#24 PROSPECT - 6' 9", 250 lbs. - Sophomore Forward MOREZ JOHNSON JR.
#30 PROSPECT - 7' 3", 255 lbs. - Junior Center ADAY MARA
#137 PROSPECT - 6' 8", 190 lbs. - Freshman Guard TREY MCKENNEY

Of interest here is the matchup between forwards Cameron Boozer and Yaxel Lendeborg. Statistically, they have been the two top players of college basketball:

On College Basketball Reference's BPM, Boozer is #1 with +19.4 (OBPM +13.1, DBPM +6.3) and Lendeborg is #2 with +16.6 (OBPM +9.2, DBPM +7.4).

On Bart Torvik's BPM, Boozer is #1 with +17.9 and Lendeborg is #2 with +15.1.

On Evan Miya's BPR, Boozer is #1 with +13.71 (OBPR +8.99, DBPR +4.72) and Lendeborg is #2 with +13.07 (OBPR +7.62, DBPR +5.46).

On Hoop-Explorer's Luck-adjusted RAPM, Boozer is #1 with +15.1 (Offensive +10.3, Defensive +4.8) and Lendeborg is #2 with +14.7 (Offensive +9.1, Defensive +5.6).

Tonight's matchup may have some implications for the NPOY race, especially if Yaxel has a statement game.

[codydaze]

Love his potential fit in San Antonio. You can round out a really solid young five with Harper-Castle-Bryant-Yaxel-Wemby.

[tmorgan]

Love his potential fit in San Antonio. You can round out a really solid young five with Harper-Castle-Bryant-Yaxel-Wemby.

I also like his potential fit in Detroit.

I never brought this up previously, as I doubted the possibility of using resources to move up from 29/30 to a pick around 10th. But now that there’s swap with Minnesota (top 19 protected) that could get them into the early 20’s, maybe Detroit would offer stuff to move up and grab him if he’s on the board in the late lottery and a team is receptive.

He’d make a great timeshare with Tobias next year, assuming Tobi wants to come back a little cheaper and with less minutes. And the door would be open to becoming a starter in 2-3 years.

[JMAC3]

The story writes itself, he will end up going like 11th. Crush summer league, crush preseason and first month or two in the season compared to other rookies and people will call him the steal of the draft and will be in convo for ROY.

Then he will fall off the 2nd half of the year and 2nd year he will settle into a role player and everyone who demanded for Crow to be ate because he was good will be nowhere to be found.

We do it every year with upper classmen.

[BigGargamel]

I like him for Charlotte or San Antonio at the end of the lottery. Won't be an All Star, but should be a solid sixth man for a team wanting to get to the playoffs right away.

Top ten would definitely be a reach. Especially from a non playoff team.

[RookieStar]

How does he compare to Tristan Da Silva? Especially in their senior year?

[Caneman786]

SUMMARY (see initial post of this thread):

.
Yaxel Lendeborg was born on September 30, 2002 in Puerto Rico. His full name is Yaxel Okari Lendeborg. Lendeborg's parents were standout basketball players in the Dominican Republic, and Lendeborg's mother Yissel Raposo was on the national team. After Lendeborg's birth in Puerto Rico, his family moved to Ohio, then to Pennsauken township, New Jersey, which is considered Lendeborg's hometown. Pennsauken township is in Camden County and borders both the city of Camden, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lendeborg did not start playing organized basketball until the age of 15 (so in the year 2017 or 2018), and was not a top 100 recruit in the class of 2020, which was his high school class. Although he was quite young for that high school class, only being 17 at the time of his graduation, he is quite old for the draft class of 2026. This is because he worked his way through the Junior College system for three years, transferred to D1, playing for the University of Alabama at Birmingham for two seasons, and this college basketball season he started at the University of Michigan, playing for the Wolverines. He is a "sixth-year senior" (even if he has an age closer to a "fifth-year senior"). In reality, though, he is a graduate student. He is 23 years old right now, and will turn 24 years old before the opening night of the 2026–27 NBA season.

At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), which plays in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Lendeborg was a highly decorated player. He was first-team All-AAC and the conference's defensive player of the year both years he played at UAB. He led the conference in rebounding both seasons as well. He was on the All-AAC tournament first-team both years he played for the school, and won the tournament MVP in his first year there, in 2024.

Lendeborg is known as a highly versatile player who has two-way impact, and is currently one of the best players in D1 college basketball. Advanced metrics usually have him as a close second to #1-ranked Cameron Boozer when it comes to player impact in D1 college basketball.

The University of Michigan has him listed as a 6' 9", 240 pound forward. However, we have Lendeborg's official measurements, as he initially tried for the 2025 NBA draft, and participated in the 2025 NBA draft combine.

At the age of 22, Lendeborg stood at 6' 8.50" barefoot, weighed 234.6 pounds, and had a monstrous wingspan measuring 7' 4.00"! A longer wingspan than the average NBA center.

[JMAC3]

How does he compare to Tristan Da Silva? Especially in their senior year?

They are really nothing alike other than both being old.

[RookieStar]

How does he compare to Tristan Da Silva? Especially in their senior year?

They are really nothing alike other than both being old.

?????

6'8/6'9
"old" senior
SF/PF for their team
Shoots the 3

I was asking more for their "game"

[CptCrunch]

The problem with Yaxel is that there is no guarantee of translation of play. I have doubts that he can develop much in the NBA given his advanced age.

His closest comp in translation is Keegan Murray, some instant role player into a good defender.

His ugly comp would be Trayce Jackson-Davis/Johni Broome. It doesn't matter if you play like college NPOY with 13-15 BPM as a senior (remember this guy is a 6th year senior). You might still be a pure scrub in the NBA.

I would say Yaxel might be overvalued a bit just because he has better size and wing skills compared to the above 3. He should be closer to 14-20 than top 10 really. Translation of mega old senior does not have a good track record.

You give any of the top 7 players let's say 4-5 more years in college, what do you think they would put up? Which team in the late lotto is trying to chance roll for role player in this loaded draft. You go draft those sexy freshmen 4-5 years younger.

[RookieStar]

The problem with Yaxel is that there is no guarantee of translation of play. I have doubts that he can develop much in the NBA given his advanced age.

His closest comp in translation is Keegan Murray, some instant role player into a good defender.

His ugly comp would be Trayce Jackson-Davis/Johni Broome. It doesn't matter if you play like college NPOY with 13-15 BPM as a senior (remember this guy is a 6th year senior). You might still be a pure scrub in the NBA.

I would say Yaxel might be overvalued a bit just because he has better size and wing skills compared to the above 3. He should be closer to 14-20 then top 10 really. Translation of mega old senior does not have a good track record.

You give any of the top 7 players let's say 4-5 more years in college, what do you think they would put up? Which team in the late lotto is trying to chance roll for role player in this loaded draft. You go draft those sexy freshmen 4-5 years younger.

Whoah... hold on there Mr. Epstein

Lol. Just kidding

[JMAC3]

How does he compare to Tristan Da Silva? Especially in their senior year?

They are really nothing alike other than both being old.

?????

6'8/6'9
"old" senior
SF/PF for their team
Shoots the 3

I was asking more for their "game"

Yaxel is 20-25 lbs heavier than Da Silva for 1.

Da Silva was 6-8.25 no shoes, 6-10.25 Wingspan and 217 lbs.
Yaxel was 6-8.5 no shoes, 7-4 wingspans and 234 lbs.

As a senior Da Silva made 39.5% on 162 attempts from three.
Yaxel currently shooting 30.8% on 120 attempts from three.

Defensively Yaxel had 130 Stocks last year (full szn) vs 58 Stocks for Da Silva.
Yaxel averaging 7.5 rpg vs 3.8 rpg for Da Silva.
Yaxel 3.2 apg, vs 2.4apg for Da Silva

So yeah Yaxel is the bigger, more athletic more productive player. Yaxel is more of a 4/5 hybrid who can make threes, whereas Da Silva is more of 3 that mainly just is a taller shooter.

[RookieStar]

They are really nothing alike other than both being old.

?????

6'8/6'9
"old" senior
SF/PF for their team
Shoots the 3

I was asking more for their "game"

Yaxel is 20-25 lbs heavier than Da Silva for 1.

Da Silva was 6-8.25 no shoes, 6-10.25 Wingspan and 217 lbs.
Yaxel was 6-8.5 no shoes, 7-4 wingspans and 234 lbs.

As a senior Da Silva made 39.5% on 162 attempts from three.
Yaxel currently shooting 30.8% on 120 attempts from three.

Defensively Yaxel had 130 Stocks last year (full szn) vs 58 Stocks for Da Silva.
Yaxel averaging 7.5 rpg vs 3.8 rpg for Da Silva.
Yaxel 3.2 apg, vs 2.4apg for Da Silva

So yeah Yaxel is the bigger, more athletic more productive player. Yaxel is more of a 4/5 hybrid who can make threes, whereas Da Silva is more of 3 that mainly just is a taller shooter.

So Yaxel is more of an inside player than TDS who likes to shoot outside more... ok

[CptCrunch]

They are really nothing alike other than both being old.

?????

6'8/6'9
"old" senior
SF/PF for their team
Shoots the 3

I was asking more for their "game"

Yaxel is 20-25 lbs heavier than Da Silva for 1.

Da Silva was 6-8.25 no shoes, 6-10.25 Wingspan and 217 lbs.
Yaxel was 6-8.5 no shoes, 7-4 wingspans and 234 lbs.

As a senior Da Silva made 39.5% on 162 attempts from three.
Yaxel currently shooting 30.8% on 120 attempts from three.

Defensively Yaxel had 130 Stocks last year (full szn) vs 58 Stocks for Da Silva.
Yaxel averaging 7.5 rpg vs 3.8 rpg for Da Silva.
Yaxel 3.2 apg, vs 2.4apg for Da Silva

So yeah Yaxel is the bigger, more athletic more productive player. Yaxel is more of a 4/5 hybrid who can make threes, whereas Da Silva is more of 3 that mainly just is a taller shooter.

The more 4 he is, the less I like him. I need to defend wings at 3/4, not be a 4/5.

A 6th year PF/C is not going to translate. Wing, I would draft him a 3 and D wing.

[JMAC3]

?????

6'8/6'9
"old" senior
SF/PF for their team
Shoots the 3

I was asking more for their "game"

Yaxel is 20-25 lbs heavier than Da Silva for 1.

Da Silva was 6-8.25 no shoes, 6-10.25 Wingspan and 217 lbs.
Yaxel was 6-8.5 no shoes, 7-4 wingspans and 234 lbs.

As a senior Da Silva made 39.5% on 162 attempts from three.
Yaxel currently shooting 30.8% on 120 attempts from three.

Defensively Yaxel had 130 Stocks last year (full szn) vs 58 Stocks for Da Silva.
Yaxel averaging 7.5 rpg vs 3.8 rpg for Da Silva.
Yaxel 3.2 apg, vs 2.4apg for Da Silva

So yeah Yaxel is the bigger, more athletic more productive player. Yaxel is more of a 4/5 hybrid who can make threes, whereas Da Silva is more of 3 that mainly just is a taller shooter.

The more 4 he is, the less I like him. I need to defend wings at 3/4, not be a 4/5.

A 6th year PF/C is not going to translate. Wing, I would draft him a 3 and D wing.

I actually think he is best as a small ball 5 with his shooting, he isn't good enough to play the 3/4 next to a non-shooting big. However, he shoots it pretty well as a small ball 5. He is actually bigger than Amare Stoudemire, Isiah Stewart, David West.

[tmorgan]

Yaxel is just a guy that makes plays on both ends. Not a great shooter, but serviceable. Not a hub, but a good connective passer. Not a stopper, but makes a lot of smart plays. Not a great athlete, but a pretty good one.

The reason he’s an extra year senior is that he had to work his way up through juco and smaller schools to get this chance. That can be a plus or a minus depending on how you look at it.

He may indeed not go lottery if he doesn’t test well this year, but I’m very sure he can be an immediate bench contributor in the NBA. He really does remind me of Tobias Harris, who can shoot, post, pass, rebound, and defend, but rarely has been considered more than “fairly good” at the NBA level at any of those things.