Lendeborg Earns Wooden All-America Honors
4/8/2026 7:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- University of Michigan men's basketball standout Yaxel Lendeborg was named to the Wooden All-America Team, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Wednesday (April 8).
The Wooden All-America Team is one of college basketball's most prestigious honors, recognizing the nation's top 10 players. Selected by the John R. Wooden Award committee, the team is named for legendary UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden, who won 10 NCAA championships in 12 seasons.
Joining Lendeborg on the 2026 Wooden All-America Team are Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Keaton Wagler (Illinois), Braden Smith (Purdue), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State) and JT Toppin (Texas Tech).
Lendeborg was also one of four finalists for the Wooden Award, which was ultimately awarded to Duke's Cameron Boozer.
Joining the Wolverines as a graduate student, Lendeborg delivered one of the most memorable seasons in U-M basketball history. His versatility defined Michigan's success, impacting the game as a scorer, rebounder, playmaker and defender.
Lendeborg, a consensus first-team All-American, played a central role in leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten title, winning the conference by four games with a program-record 19-1 mark. Michigan also posted a perfect 10-0 road record, becoming the first Big Ten team in 50 years to accomplish the feat. After falling in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, U-M surged through the NCAA Tournament, winning its first five games by an average of 27.5 points while topping 90 points in each. The Wolverines capped the run by securing their second national title with a 69-63 victory over UConn.
The Big Ten Player of the Year, Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He recorded seven double-doubles and posted double-digit rebounds in 31 contests while shooting 51.5 percent from the field, anchoring Michigan on both ends of the floor.
Lendeborg earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, solidifying his place among the conference's most complete players. He was also recognized as the Associated Press Big Ten Player of the Year and AP First-Year Transfer of the Year. Additionally, he earned NABC All-Great Lakes District first-team honors and was named the NCAA Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player, along with All-Regional Team recognition.
Lendeborg becomes the 10th Wolverine to earn Wooden All-America Team honors and the first since Hunter Dickinson in 2021.
Yaxel Lendeborg
• Associated Press All-America First Team
• NABC All-America First Team
• USBWA All-America First Team
• CBS Sports All-America First Team
• The Sporting News All-America First Team
• The Field of 68 All-America First Team
• College Hoops Today All-America First-Team (Jon Rothstein)
• NABC All-Great Lakes District First Team
• Big Ten Player of the Year (coaches & media)
• Associated Press Big Ten Player of the Year
• Fox Sports Big Ten Player of the Year
• USA Today Big Ten Player of the Year
• The Field of 68 Big Ten Player of the Year
• All-Big Ten First Team (coaches & media)
• Associated Press All-Big Ten First Team
• Fox Sports All-Big Ten First Team
• USA Today All-Big Ten First Team
• Big Ten All-Defensive Team
• Associated Press Big Ten First-Year Transfer of the Year
• CBS Sports Transfer of the Year
• CBS Sports All-Transfer Team
• USA Today Big Ten Newcomer of the Year
• NCAA Midwest Regional Most Valuable Player
• NCAA All-Midwest Regional Team
