Yaxel Lendeborg Biography – Yaxel Okari Lendeborg was born on September 30, 2002. He is an American-Dominican college basketball player. He plays for the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Conference. He is a very talented player. In 2026, he was named a consensus All-American. He also won the Big Ten Player of the Year award. Before joining Michigan, he played for other teams. He played for the Arizona Western Matadors. He also played for the UAB Blazers
Yaxel Lendeborg Biography
Yaxel was born on September 30, 2002. His Full Name is Yaxel Okari Lendeborg. Yaxel mother is Yissel Raposo. Yaxel Lendeborg is one of the most exciting college basketball players in the United States. He plays as a forward for the Michigan Wolverines.
He is about 6 feet 9 inches tall. He is known for his strong athletic skills. He is very good at rebounding the ball. He also plays strong defense. He works hard on both offense and defense. He did not start as a top player in high school.
But he improved a lot with time and practice. Now, he is a well-known player in college basketball. Many people see him as a future star. His journey shows hard work and determination
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yaxel Okari Lendeborg |
| Date of Birth | September 30, 2002 |
| Nationality | American-Dominican |
| Profession | College Basketball Player |
| Position | Forward |
| Team | Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Height | 6 feet 9 inches |
| Known For | Rebounding, Defense, Athletic Skills |
Yaxel Lendeborg Family
Yaxel Lendeborg’s mother is Yissel Raposo. She was a volleyball player for the Dominican Republic national team. She also played at the American University of Puerto Rico.
Yaxel says she is the strongest person he knows. He gives her credit for helping him improve his life and career. His father is Okary Lendeborg. He was a basketball player for the Dominican Republic national team.
His family is originally from the Dominican Republic. They later lived in Puerto Rico and then moved to New Jersey. Yaxel has said his relationship with his father has been complicated.
This became harder after his grandfather passed away. His mother has faced cancer, but she still supports him. She often comes to his games and cheers loudly from the stands
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Mother | Yissel Raposo |
| Mother Profession | Former Volleyball Player (Dominican Republic Team) |
| Father | Okary Lendeborg |
| Father Profession | Former Basketball Player |
| Background | Dominican Republic roots |
| Family Journey | Lived in Puerto Rico → New Jersey |
| Special Note | Mother is a strong supporter and cancer survivor |
Yaxel Lendeborg Career
Yaxel Lendeborg started his real basketball journey at the Arizona Western Matadors. He joined the team on a scholarship. At first, he was seen as a raw player with less experience.
In his first season (2020–21), he showed promise. He averaged 6.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. In the next season (2021–22), he improved a lot. He averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds per game.
He was named an NJCAA All-American. He also won ACCAC Player of the Year. In the 2022–23 season, he had a breakout year. He scored 17.2 points and grabbed 13 rebounds per game.
He also had a very high shooting percentage. He became the all-time leading rebounder in NJCAA history. After this success, many big colleges noticed him. He was linked with teams like Memphis Tigers and St. John’s Red Storm.
Finally, he joined the UAB Blazers. This move helped him grow into a stronger and more complete player.
Yaxel Lendeborg Net Worth
Yaxel Lendeborg is a top college basketball player. He played for the Michigan Wolverines in the 2025–26 season. His NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal is very valuable.
It is estimated to be around $3 million in 2025. This money comes from endorsements and sponsorships. He had offers from other schools too. Those offers were between $7 million and $9 million.
But he decided not to accept them. He chose to play for Michigan instead. This decision shows his trust in his team and coach. His NIL deal makes him one of the top-paid college athletes.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated NIL Value | $3 Million (2025) |
| Income Source | Endorsements & Sponsorships |
| Other Offers | $7M – $9M (Rumored) |
| Decision | Chose Michigan over higher offers |
| Status | One of top-paid college athletes |
Yaxel Lendeborg Early Life
Yaxel Lendeborg was born on September 30, 2002. He was born in Puerto Rico. When he was 2 years old, his family moved to Ohio. Later, at age 8, his family moved to Pennsauken Township, New Jersey.
He is of Dominican background. Both of his parents were good basketball players. He went to Pennsauken High School. He joined the basketball team as a freshman. But he was removed from the team because of poor grades.
He missed the next two seasons due to studies. Later, he worked hard and improved his grades. In his senior year, he joined a special program with a college. His grades got better, and he returned to the team. He played the last 11 games of the season. His team won 10 out of 11 games.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated NIL Value | $3 Million (2025) |
| Income Source | Endorsements & Sponsorships |
| Other Offers | $7M – $9M (Rumored) |
| Decision | Chose Michigan over higher offers |
| Status | One of top-paid college athletes |
Yaxel Lendeborg Education
Yaxel Lendeborg first loved baseball when he was young. He wanted to be like his grandfather. Later, he joined Pennsauken High School. He played basketball for the first time in his freshman year.
Before that, he tried many times but did not get selected. His high school life was not easy. He was removed from the team because of poor grades. He also missed his sophomore and junior years.
Yaxel said he did not believe in himself at that time. He felt he was not good enough. His mother helped him improve. She helped him join a dual-enrollment program at Camden County College.
His grades became better. He returned to the team in his senior year. He played the last 11 games. His team won 10 out of 11 games.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Puerto Rico |
| Childhood Moves | Ohio → New Jersey |
| Hometown | Pennsauken Township, New Jersey |
| School | Pennsauken High School |
| Early Challenge | Removed from team due to poor grades |
| Comeback | Returned in senior year |
| Team Performance | Won 10 out of last 11 games |
Yaxel Lendeborg Personal Life
Yaxel Lendeborg had a very emotional moment in 2021. He was traveling to Arizona to start his basketball journey. It was his first time away from his family. He felt very sad on the plane. He said he was crying the whole time.
He missed his mother and felt scared being alone. At that time, his life was not going well. He was spending too much time playing video games. He was not focusing on his studies. His mother helped him change his life.
She pushed him to study and play basketball seriously. She arranged for him to go to Arizona Western College. When he reached Arizona, he felt a big change.
He was not used to the desert environment. It felt very different from his old home. At first, he stayed alone in his room. Later, he made friends and started adjusting. He also enjoyed simple things like eating with teammates.
He slowly improved in basketball. He became a strong player over time. He even became a junior college All-American. After that, he played for UAB and later moved to Michigan. His journey shows how he grew from a struggling student to a successful player.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Emotional Moment | Left family for Arizona in 2021 |
| Challenge | Felt lonely and homesick |
| Turning Point | Focused on basketball and studies |
| Lifestyle Change | Reduced gaming, became disciplined |
| Growth | Became junior college All-American |
| Personality | Determined and hardworking |
Yaxel Lendeborg Achievements
Yaxel Lendeborg had a great season with the Michigan Wolverines. He was named the Big Ten Player of the Year (2025–26). This award was chosen by coaches and media members. In his first season at Michigan, he played very well.
He scored 14.7 points per game. He also had 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He helped in defense with blocks and steals too. Michigan had a strong season with a 29–2 record. The team won their last 15 Big Ten games.
They also finished with a 19–1 conference record. Lendeborg helped Michigan win the Big Ten regular season title. The team became the No. 1 seed in the tournament. He led the team in minutes, points, and steals.
He was one of the top players in college basketball. He is expected to be a top-20 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His coach Dusty May was also named Coach of the Year. This season showed how important Lendeborg is for his team.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Major Award | Big Ten Player of the Year (2025–26) |
| All-American | Consensus All-American (2026) |
| Stats | 14.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.2 APG |
| Team Record | 29–2 season |
| Conference Record | 19–1 |
| Team Achievement | Big Ten Champion |
| Draft Projection | Top-20 pick (2026 NBA Draft) |
| Coach | Dusty May (Coach of the Year) |
FAQ – Yaxel Lendeborg
1. Who is Yaxel Lendeborg?
Yaxel Lendeborg is an American-Dominican college basketball player known for his strong performance as a forward.
2. When was Yaxel Lendeborg born?
He was born on September 30, 2002.
3. Which team does Yaxel Lendeborg play for?
He plays for the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Conference.
4. What position does Yaxel Lendeborg play?
He plays as a forward and is known for his rebounding and defensive skills.
5. What major award did Yaxel Lendeborg win?
He won the Big Ten Player of the Year award in the 2025–26 season.
6. What is Yaxel Lendeborg’s height?
He is about 6 feet 9 inches tall.
7. Which teams did Yaxel Lendeborg play for before Michigan?
He played for the Arizona Western Matadors and the UAB Blazers.
8. What challenges did Yaxel Lendeborg face in high school?
He struggled with his studies and was removed from his school basketball team before making a strong comeback.
9. What is Yaxel Lendeborg’s net worth from NIL deals?
His NIL valuation is estimated to be around $3 million.
10. Why is Yaxel Lendeborg considered a future star?
He is seen as a future star because of his improvement, strong performances, and achievements like being named a consensus All-American.
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