The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Lendeborg Named AAC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference
3/12/2024 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – After a standout debut season in Birmingham, UAB men's basketball forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference, the American Conference announced on Tuesday.
The 6'9" junior from Pennsauken, New Jersey has averaged 13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game during his first season of Division I basketball after transferring from Arizona Western. He is one of only 15 players nationally averaging a double-double and he will join Cameron Moore as the second Blazer to average a double-double in a season.
In conference play, Lendeborg stepped it up to another level. He averaged 16.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, leading the conference in both rebounding and blocked shots.
His 16 double-doubles on the year trail only Elijah Millsap's 17 double-doubles during the 2009-10 season for the most in program history for a single season.
Beginning with the Blazers' final non-conference game against UNC Asheville, the junior forward scored at least 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in three straight games. He trails only Zach Edey with five 20-point, 15-rebound double-doubles this year.
In UAB's win over No. 20 Florida Atlantic, Lendeborg had 17 points and 21 rebounds. His 21 rebounds are the second most in a single game in UAB history and third most in American Conference history.
Lendeborg has 322 rebounds this season, ranking fourth in UAB history for a single season. He is just eight boards away from breaking the program record of 329 set by Trey Jemison during the 2022-23 season.
He has also broken into the top 10 of the UAB single season blocks records. Lendeborg ranks 10th in program history with 65 blocks this year.
NOTES
UP NEXT
The Blazers will face either Memphis or the winner of the Wichita State-Rice game in the American Conference Tournament on Friday, March 15 at 2 p.m. CT at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
POWER UP
UAB Athletics is excited to officially compete in the American Athletic Conference and needs Blazer Nation to Power Up by becoming a 2024 Blazer Boosters member. Join Blazer Boosters today as UAB student-athletes complete for championships, graduate with honors, and make a difference in our community.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
The 6'9" junior from Pennsauken, New Jersey has averaged 13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game during his first season of Division I basketball after transferring from Arizona Western. He is one of only 15 players nationally averaging a double-double and he will join Cameron Moore as the second Blazer to average a double-double in a season.
In conference play, Lendeborg stepped it up to another level. He averaged 16.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, leading the conference in both rebounding and blocked shots.
His 16 double-doubles on the year trail only Elijah Millsap's 17 double-doubles during the 2009-10 season for the most in program history for a single season.
Beginning with the Blazers' final non-conference game against UNC Asheville, the junior forward scored at least 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in three straight games. He trails only Zach Edey with five 20-point, 15-rebound double-doubles this year.
In UAB's win over No. 20 Florida Atlantic, Lendeborg had 17 points and 21 rebounds. His 21 rebounds are the second most in a single game in UAB history and third most in American Conference history.
Lendeborg has 322 rebounds this season, ranking fourth in UAB history for a single season. He is just eight boards away from breaking the program record of 329 set by Trey Jemison during the 2022-23 season.
He has also broken into the top 10 of the UAB single season blocks records. Lendeborg ranks 10th in program history with 65 blocks this year.
NOTES
- Lendeborg is UAB's first Conference Defensive Player of the Year since William Lee in 2016-17.
- UAB has had a first team All-Conference performer in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12.
- Lendeborg joins Cameron Moore and Squeaky Johnson as the only Blazers to earn first team All-Conference honors and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
- Second player in UAB history to average a double-double (Cameron Moore).
- Trails only Zach Edey of Purdue with five 20-point, 15-rebound performances this season.
- One of two players in UAB history with 400+ points, 300+ rebounds and 50+ blocks in a season, joining Cameron Moore.
- One of two players in UAB history with 50+ assists and 50+ blocks in a season, joining William Lee.
- One of three players in UAB history with 300 rebounds and 60 blocks in a single season, joining Trey Jemison and Cameron Moore.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will face either Memphis or the winner of the Wichita State-Rice game in the American Conference Tournament on Friday, March 15 at 2 p.m. CT at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
POWER UP
UAB Athletics is excited to officially compete in the American Athletic Conference and needs Blazer Nation to Power Up by becoming a 2024 Blazer Boosters member. Join Blazer Boosters today as UAB student-athletes complete for championships, graduate with honors, and make a difference in our community.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
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