ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference announced Tuesday (Oct. 7) that University of Michigan men’s basketball graduate-student forward Yaxel Lendeborg has been named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten team, becoming the 24th Wolverine in program history to earn the honor.
Before arriving in Ann Arbor, Lendeborg played two seasons at UAB (2023-25) following three years at Arizona Western College (2021-23). In 2024-25, he led the Blazers with team highs in points (17.7) and rebounds (11.4) per game. He scored in double figures 24 times while shooting 52.2 percent from the field and posted 26 point-rebound double-doubles — the most in the nation. With 420 total rebounds, he became the first player in program history to surpass 400 in a season, setting the UAB single-season record.
Lendeborg is one of four transfers and eight newcomers on Michigan’s 2025-26 roster. He joins Charles Matthews (2018-19) as the only transfer in program history to earn preseason All-Big Ten honors and is the first Wolverine recognized since Hunter Dickinson (2022-23).
Lendeborg will make his Michigan debut on Friday, Oct. 17, when the Wolverines host Cincinnati in an exhibition game at Crisler Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m., with coverage on B1G+.
2025-26 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Braden Smith, Purdue
2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Bennett Stirtz (Iowa)
Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan)
Nick Martinelli (Northwestern)
Bruce Thornton (Ohio State)
Nate Bittle (Oregon)
Jackson Shelstad (Oregon)
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue)
BRADEN SMITH (Purdue)
Donovan Dent (UCLA)
John Blackwell (Wisconsin)
U-M’s Preseason All-Big Ten Selections
1993-94: Juwan Howard (Jr.), Jalen Rose (Jr.)
1995-96: Maurice Taylor (So.)
1996-97: Maurice Taylor (Jr.)
1997-98: Robert Traylor (Jr.)
1998-99: Louis Bullock (Sr.)
2000-01: LaVell Blanchard (So.)
2001-02: LaVell Blanchard (Jr.)
2003-04: Daniel Horton (So.)
2008-09: Manny Harris (So.)
2009-10: Manny Harris (Jr.)
2012-13: Trey Burke (So.)
2013-14: Mitch McGary (So.), Glenn Robinson III (So.)
2014-15: Caris LeVert (Jr.)
2015-16: Caris LeVert (Sr.)
2016-17: Derrick Walton Jr. (Sr.)
2017-18: Moritz Wagner (Jr.)
2018-19: Charles Matthews (Sr.)
2019-20: Zavier Simpson (Sr.)
2021-22: Hunter Dickinson (So.), Caleb Houstan (Fr.)
2022-23: Hunter Dickinson (Jr.)
2025-26: Yaxel Lendeborg (Gr.)
