The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Photo by: Ken Shepherd
Two-Time JUCO All-American Yaxel Lendeborg Signs with UAB MBB
5/1/2023 3:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB men's basketball head coach Andy Kennedy announced the addition of Two-time NJCAA All-American forward Yaxel Lendeborg to the 2023 signing class on Monday. Lendeborg earned 2022-23 Second Team All-American, ACCAC Player of the Year and First Team All-Region honors after averaging 17.2 points per game and leading NJCAA DI with 13.0 rebounds per game.
"Yaxel is a big, long, versatile athlete who is going to add real value to our front court next season." Kennedy said, "He can impact the game in so many ways with his ability to dribble, pass and shoot. Yax is also an excellent defender who rebounds the ball at a very high rate."
An efficient scorer, he shot 72.7 percent from the field over 33 games in 2022-23 while leading Arizona Western in scoring. The Pennsauken, New Jersey native recorded 21 double-doubles during his sophomore season, including a 28-point, 31-rebound effort against Scottsdale Community College. Lendeborg closed the season with eight-straight double-doubles, including a pair of 30-point performances. The forward grabbed 15 or more rebounds in 11 of 33 games and blocked 46 shots en route to earning ACCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The 6'9" forward also averaged a double-double in 2021-22 with 12.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while earning NJCAA DI Third Team All-American honors. He led the ACCAC in rebounding and earned both ACCAC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Region honors.
Following the 2022-23 season, he was invited to the West Coast Elite JUCO All-American Game and earned MVP honors. Additionally, he earned an invitation to the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game in Las Vegas on May 20.
Lendeborg ranks as the No. 9 player in the 2023 JUCO Top 100 Player Rankings according to JUCORecruiting.com, becoming the third UAB signee to be listed in the Top 10 with Chris Coleman at No. 2 and Alejandro Vasquez at No. 6. Both Lendeborg (second team) and Vasquez (first team) were named NJCAA DI All-Americans.
In addition to Lendeborg, the Blazers have added three other players from the JUCO ranks, including Coleman, Vasquez and Lendeborg's Arizona Western teammate Marquis Hargrove. UAB has also signed North Alabama transfer Daniel Ortiz and Ole Miss transfer James White as well as the lone high school signee in the class, KJ Satterfield.
2023-24 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2023-24 UAB men's basketball season are now available starting as low as $110. Season ticket packages will feature all home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Bartow Arena. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
"Yaxel is a big, long, versatile athlete who is going to add real value to our front court next season." Kennedy said, "He can impact the game in so many ways with his ability to dribble, pass and shoot. Yax is also an excellent defender who rebounds the ball at a very high rate."
An efficient scorer, he shot 72.7 percent from the field over 33 games in 2022-23 while leading Arizona Western in scoring. The Pennsauken, New Jersey native recorded 21 double-doubles during his sophomore season, including a 28-point, 31-rebound effort against Scottsdale Community College. Lendeborg closed the season with eight-straight double-doubles, including a pair of 30-point performances. The forward grabbed 15 or more rebounds in 11 of 33 games and blocked 46 shots en route to earning ACCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The 6'9" forward also averaged a double-double in 2021-22 with 12.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while earning NJCAA DI Third Team All-American honors. He led the ACCAC in rebounding and earned both ACCAC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Region honors.
Following the 2022-23 season, he was invited to the West Coast Elite JUCO All-American Game and earned MVP honors. Additionally, he earned an invitation to the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game in Las Vegas on May 20.
Lendeborg ranks as the No. 9 player in the 2023 JUCO Top 100 Player Rankings according to JUCORecruiting.com, becoming the third UAB signee to be listed in the Top 10 with Chris Coleman at No. 2 and Alejandro Vasquez at No. 6. Both Lendeborg (second team) and Vasquez (first team) were named NJCAA DI All-Americans.
In addition to Lendeborg, the Blazers have added three other players from the JUCO ranks, including Coleman, Vasquez and Lendeborg's Arizona Western teammate Marquis Hargrove. UAB has also signed North Alabama transfer Daniel Ortiz and Ole Miss transfer James White as well as the lone high school signee in the class, KJ Satterfield.
2023-24 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2023-24 UAB men's basketball season are now available starting as low as $110. Season ticket packages will feature all home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Bartow Arena. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
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