The Naismith Awards unveiled its 2026 College Basketball Player of the Year Late-Season Team on Thursday (Feb. 19) afternoon, which included 30 of the best players from this year. The list includes Yaxel Lendeborg, a standout basketball player for Michigan.
Throughout the entire season, Lendeborg has been essential to the No. 1 Wolverines’ success. He has led the team in points (14. 4), rebounds (7. 5), steals (1. 2), and minutes (28. 8) each game. The 6’9″ forward is averaging 3. 2 assists per game in addition to shooting 50% from the floor, 30. 6% from range, and 82. 9% from the free throw line.
The excitement for Lendeborg was palpable at the start of the season. Prior to the season, the UAB transfer was chosen for the All-Big Ten Team and the AP preseason All-American team. With UAB, Lendeborg earned two-time First Team All-Conference honors and two-time American Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades, making the excitement around him justifiable.
The Pennsauken, N. J. native seems to be headed in the right direction with the Wolverines, as he is aiming for All-Conference and maybe even All-American recognition in his senior year of collegiate basketball.
It might be contended that Lendeforg’s statistics would be even more amazing if he played for any other squad. However, due to the Wolverines’ depth and unselfishness, any number of players might have a standout performance on any given night.
Lendeborg led the Wolverines to a close victory over Maryland (December 13) with a season-high 29 points, three blocks, two steals, nine assists, and eight rebounds in his finest game of the year, coming close to a 30-point triple-double. Triple-doubles are uncommon in college basketball, much less coming close to achieving them with roughly 30 points. Additionally, he made four three-pointers in that contest.
In the last ten years, Michigan has only had one All-American, Hunter Dickinson (2021). Since 2000, Trey Burke (2013) and Nik Stauskas (2014) were the only two players to earn such recognition, which would be a remarkable accomplishment if Lendeborg were to be only the fourth Wolverine to do so.
On Saturday, when Michigan faces Duke in Washington, D. C. , at 6:30 p. m. EST, Lendeborg will be hoping to maintain his outstanding performance.
