Choosing to play another college season after dropping out of the 2025 NBA Draft, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg had a lot to prove to improve his draft stock this season. In that endeavor and transfer from UAB to Michigan, Lendeborg has shown himself to be one of the best players in college basketball, period. The versatile upperclassman has been a key part of Michigan’s success this season, and certainly a prospect that NBA teams need to keep an eye on for the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft. Considering his success, now is the perfect time to delve into what makes Lendeborg so great. Let’s dive into a prospect overview of the 2026 NBA Draft prospect, Yaxel Lendeborg.
2026 NBA Draft Prospect Overview: Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg
Areas Of Excellence
Impressive Scoring Prowess
Standing at six-foot-nine with a seven-foot-four wingspan, Lendeborg uses his athleticism and physicality to be a great scorer in his own right. With his strength and touch, he is capable of posting up and scoring efficiently around the basket. In fact, he is currently shooting 80.4% on two-point shots, demonstrating his efficiency. While he can post up, Lendeborg can also create from the perimeter and successfully operate in the pick-and-roll. Plus, he has the athleticism to be a real threat to throw down thunderous dunks.
Additionally, Lendeborg has also improved as a three-point shooter. Specifically, both his three-point percentage and three-point attempts have increased significantly from last season. He has gone from 35.7% to 40% and from 1.9 attempts to 4.5 attempts this season. He possesses a versatile scoring package that would be a good fit in the NBA.
Strong Defense And Rebounding
Lendeborg is highly talented on the offensive end, but he is also excellent as a defender and rebounder as well. His athletic and physical gifts allow him to be a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. He also knows how to fully utilize his length to bother passing lanes or alter shots. Plus, Lendeborg has the basketball IQ to know exactly where he needs to rotate or help. Additionally, his strength, motor, and wingspan help in terms of rebounding, as Lendeborg is a force on the glass. He can carve out space under the basket to get a great rebounding position and use his length to grab the ball first.
Great Playmaking And High Basketball IQ
While Lendeborg is talented as a scorer, he is also offensively talented as a playmaker, highlighting his basketball IQ. In particular, he has demonstrated excellent court vision and passing ability for his position. He has the vision to find the open man, whether they are cutting or open in the corner, and get them the ball. Furthermore, he can initiate offense from the perimeter using his ball-handling. He rarely gets out of control and knows how to use his scoring to create shots for others.
Dec 9, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) dunks in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Areas Of Concern
Isn’t The Youngest
One of the clearest downsides to Lendeborg as a prospect is that he is very old for a prospect. Having turned 23 this past September, the upperclassman is one of the oldest prospects in the entire class. While age isn’t necessarily a major issue for certain teams, it can be a turn-off for franchises currently or entering into a rebuild. In particular, prospects like Lendeborg are viewed by teams as not possessing as much upside compared to younger prospects.
Not The Quickest
Another area that isn’t as favorable to Lendeborg is his overall quickness. While he isn’t slow by any means, Lendeborg’s quickness isn’t the best. He can be exploited by quicker guards and wings when defending on the perimeter. He has the defensive abilities and basketball IQ to make up for this deficiency, but it is something to keep in mind.
The Last Word
Overall, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg has continued into this season as a highly versatile piece at the forward spot. Not only can he provide immense value on the offensive end, but Lendeborg has also shown himself to be an excellent defender. He has improved upon his shooting, adding further consistency to his shot and rounding out his offensive game. His playmaking remained as good as ever since last season. Furthermore, Lendeborg has proven his defensive abilities against higher-level competition this year. While he is an older prospect, it will be hard for teams to pass up the sheer production that Lendeborg provides.
Featured Image: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images