January 16th

In the first installment of Yaxel Lendeborg’s player profile, we delved into his tremendous offensive output, where his intersection of per-possession offensive dominance and versatility created the best offensive player in the NCAA. All of that information has remained entirely the same, as Lendeborg has continued his supremacy and continues to assert his case as the single best player in the country. To stake that claim, though, one has to effectively play both sides of the ball. In Lendeborg’s case, despite holding the mantle of best offensive player, his defense is somehow just as good. Proving this will be the focus of the player profile’s second rendition.

To begin, let’s once again contextualize Lendeborg’s new role within Michigan’s defense. While he played primarily as a power forward at UAB, he’s played the majority of minutes as a small forward with Michigan. The shift from big man to wing has necessitated increased perimeter defensive deployment, something Lendeborg has acclimated to seamlessly. Despite standing 6-foot-9 and 240 lbs with a massive 7-foot-4 wingspan, Lendeborg routinely pressures ballhandlers at three-quarters of the court with ease. His integration of agility, length, and quick reaction speed shows up in his excellent 2.7 steals per 100 possessions, which ranks in the 89th percentile among wings.

More time spent on the perimeter would mean less production as the rim protector for most players, especially given a leap in competition levels. But Yaxel Lendeborg is not most players. Against all odds, he’s increased his defensive block percentage from 5.1% last season to 5.5% this season. His 2.9 blocks per 100 possessions rank in the 94th percentile, and together, zero high-major wings in the country match both the block and steal rates of Lendeborg.

Yaxel Lendeborg’s ability to toggle between perimeter wing stopper and primary rim protector is truly uncanny. Together, his wide array of skills on both ends of the floor not only make him the most versatile player in the country, but also give him an argument for the most versatile NBA draft prospect of the 21st century. While that last statement could be debated by some, next to the likes of LeBron James and Zion Williamson, his status as the current best player in the NCAA is simply not up for debate.

December 4th

In the first installment of Yaxel Lendeborg’s player profile, we delved into his tremendous offensive output, where his intersection of per-possession offensive dominance and versatility created the best offensive player in the NCAA. All of that information has remained entirely the same, as Lendeborg has continued his supremacy and continues to assert his case as the single best player in the country. To stake that claim, though, one has to effectively play both sides of the ball. In Lendeborg’s case, despite holding the mantle of best offensive player, his defense is somehow just as good. Proving this will be the focus of the player profile’s second rendition.

To begin, let’s once again contextualize Lendeborg’s new role within Michigan’s defense. While he played primarily as a power forward at UAB, he’s played the majority of minutes as a small forward with Michigan. The shift from big man to wing has necessitated increased perimeter defensive deployment, something Lendeborg has acclimated to seamlessly. Despite standing 6-foot-9 and 240 lbs with a massive 7-foot-4 wingspan, Lendeborg routinely pressures ballhandlers at three-quarters of the court with ease. His integration of agility, length, and quick reaction speed shows up in his excellent 2.7 steals per 100 possessions, which ranks in the 89th percentile among wings.

More time spent on the perimeter would mean less production as the rim protector for most players, especially given a leap in competition levels. But Yaxel Lendeborg is not most players. Against all odds, he’s increased his defensive block percentage from 5.1% last season to 5.5% this season. His 2.9 blocks per 100 possessions rank in the 94th percentile, and together, zero high-major wings in the country match both the block and steal rates of Lendeborg.

Yaxel Lendeborg’s ability to toggle between perimeter wing stopper and primary rim protector is truly uncanny. Together, his wide array of skills on both ends of the floor not only make him the most versatile player in the country, but also give him an argument for the most versatile NBA draft prospect of the 21st century. While that last statement could be debated by some, next to the likes of LeBron James and Zion Williamson, his status as the current best player in the NCAA is simply not up for debate.