The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Lendeborg Named AAC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference
3/12/2024 11:00:00β―AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM β After a standout debut season in Birmingham, UAB men's basketball forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named AACΒ Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference, the American Conference announced on Tuesday.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. Β
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.Β
POWER UP
UAB Athletics is excited to officially compete in the American Athletic Conference and needs Blazer Nation to Power Up byΒ becoming a 2024Β 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 onΒ TwitterΒ andΒ Instagram.
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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.
Β
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.
Β
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.
Β
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. Β
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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.
Β
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.
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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.
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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.Β
POWER UP
UAB Athletics is excited to officially compete in the American Athletic Conference and needs Blazer Nation to Power Up byΒ becoming a 2024Β 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 onΒ TwitterΒ andΒ Instagram.
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