The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Lendeborg, Vasquez Earn American Conference Honors
3/11/2025 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – The American Conference released its men's basketball postseason honors on Tuesday morning and UAB forward Yaxel Lendeborg and guard Alejandro Vasquez were each recognized.
Lendeborg was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season while also earning unanimous first team All-Conference honors. Alejandro Vasquez earned second team All-Conference recognition.
Senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg led the Blazers in scoring (17.1), rebounding (10.5), assists (4.1), blocks (1.8) and steals (1.6). He broke his own program record for double-doubles in a season with 20 and he has scored over 20 points in 13 games this season. Lendeborg became the first Blazer to surpass the 300-rebound mark in two seasons. In the Blazers' win over Florida Atlantic, he reached the 1,000 point mark for his career, becoming just the fifth Blazer to reach 1,000 points in just two seasons, joining Andy Kennedy, Robert Shannon, Robert Vaden and Jordan "Jelly" Walker.
Lendeborg has been recognized as a Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Top Five Finalist, earned American Conference Player of the Week honors two times and was also recognized as the Lute Olson National Player of the Week.
Alejandro Vasquez has averaged 11.4 points per game in his second season as a Blazer. He leads the team with eight games of 25 points or more over the last two seasons. Vasquez matched his career high of 29 points in the Blazers' win over Wichita State and added 26 in UAB's win over Charlotte. He has reached double figures in 16 games this season. Vasquez stepped up his game during conference play, averaging 12.3 points per game.
Player of the Year
PJ Haggerty, R-So., G, Memphis
Coach of the Year
Penny Hardaway, Memphis
Amir Abdur-Rahim, South Florida - Honorary
Newcomer of the Year
Dain Dainja, R-Sr., F, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year
Yaxel Lendeborg, Sr., F, UAB
Freshman of the Year
Matas Vokietaitis, C, Florida Atlantic
Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award
Tre Carroll, R-Jr., F, Florida Atlantic
Most Improved Players
Tre Carroll, R-Jr., F, Florida Atlantic
Moulaye Sissoko, Sr., F, North Texas
Sixth Man of the Year
Brenen Lorient, Jr., F, North Texas
All-Conference First Team
Yaxel Lendeborg, Sr., F, UAB*
RJ Felton, Sr., G, East Carolina*
C.J. Walker, Gr., F, East Carolina
Dain Dainja, R-Sr., F, Memphis*
PJ Haggerty, R-So., G, Memphis*
Tyrese Hunter, Sr., G, Memphis
Brenen Lorient, Jr., F, North Texas
Atin Wright, Sr., G, North Texas*
Rowan Brumbaugh, R-So., G, Tulane
Xavier Bell, Sr., G, Wichita State
All-Conference Second Team
Alejandro Vasquez, Sr., G, UAB
Tre Carroll, Florida Atlantic
Kaleb Glenn, So., F, Florida Atlantic
Baba Miller, Jr., F, Florida Atlantic
Jamille Reynolds, Sr., F, South Florida
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Gr., G, Temple
Primo Spears, UTSA
Kaleb Banks, Jr., F, Tulane
Dwon Odom, Gr., G, Tulsa
Corey Washington, Jr., F, Wichita State
All-Newcomer Team
Dain Dainja, R-Sr., F, Memphis*
Tyrese Hunter, Sr., G, Memphis
Atin Wright, Sr., G, North Texas
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Gr., G, Temple
Rowan Brumbaugh, R-So., G, Tulane
All-Freshman Team
Matas Vokietaitis, C, Florida Atlantic*
CJ Brown, G, South Florida*
Aiden Tobiason, G, Temple
Kam Williams, G/F, Tulane*
Ian Smikle, F, Tulsa
* denotes unanimous selection
UP NEXT
The Blazers will face the winner of the UTSA-East Carolina game on Friday, March 14 in the Quarterfinals of the American Conference Tournament.
BLAZER BOOSTERS
As we launch into the 2025 giving year, we encourage you to further your support across UAB Athletics and help the Blazers reach new heights in the American Athletic Conference. For more information on ways to show your generosity to Blazer student athletes through the Blazer Scholarship Fund, capital initiatives, and sport specific giving go to blazerboosters.com or call us at (205) 996-9969.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Lendeborg was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season while also earning unanimous first team All-Conference honors. Alejandro Vasquez earned second team All-Conference recognition.
Senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg led the Blazers in scoring (17.1), rebounding (10.5), assists (4.1), blocks (1.8) and steals (1.6). He broke his own program record for double-doubles in a season with 20 and he has scored over 20 points in 13 games this season. Lendeborg became the first Blazer to surpass the 300-rebound mark in two seasons. In the Blazers' win over Florida Atlantic, he reached the 1,000 point mark for his career, becoming just the fifth Blazer to reach 1,000 points in just two seasons, joining Andy Kennedy, Robert Shannon, Robert Vaden and Jordan "Jelly" Walker.
Lendeborg has been recognized as a Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Top Five Finalist, earned American Conference Player of the Week honors two times and was also recognized as the Lute Olson National Player of the Week.
Alejandro Vasquez has averaged 11.4 points per game in his second season as a Blazer. He leads the team with eight games of 25 points or more over the last two seasons. Vasquez matched his career high of 29 points in the Blazers' win over Wichita State and added 26 in UAB's win over Charlotte. He has reached double figures in 16 games this season. Vasquez stepped up his game during conference play, averaging 12.3 points per game.
Player of the Year
PJ Haggerty, R-So., G, Memphis
Coach of the Year
Penny Hardaway, Memphis
Amir Abdur-Rahim, South Florida - Honorary
Newcomer of the Year
Dain Dainja, R-Sr., F, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year
Yaxel Lendeborg, Sr., F, UAB
Freshman of the Year
Matas Vokietaitis, C, Florida Atlantic
Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award
Tre Carroll, R-Jr., F, Florida Atlantic
Most Improved Players
Tre Carroll, R-Jr., F, Florida Atlantic
Moulaye Sissoko, Sr., F, North Texas
Sixth Man of the Year
Brenen Lorient, Jr., F, North Texas
All-Conference First Team
Yaxel Lendeborg, Sr., F, UAB*
RJ Felton, Sr., G, East Carolina*
C.J. Walker, Gr., F, East Carolina
Dain Dainja, R-Sr., F, Memphis*
PJ Haggerty, R-So., G, Memphis*
Tyrese Hunter, Sr., G, Memphis
Brenen Lorient, Jr., F, North Texas
Atin Wright, Sr., G, North Texas*
Rowan Brumbaugh, R-So., G, Tulane
Xavier Bell, Sr., G, Wichita State
All-Conference Second Team
Alejandro Vasquez, Sr., G, UAB
Tre Carroll, Florida Atlantic
Kaleb Glenn, So., F, Florida Atlantic
Baba Miller, Jr., F, Florida Atlantic
Jamille Reynolds, Sr., F, South Florida
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Gr., G, Temple
Primo Spears, UTSA
Kaleb Banks, Jr., F, Tulane
Dwon Odom, Gr., G, Tulsa
Corey Washington, Jr., F, Wichita State
All-Newcomer Team
Dain Dainja, R-Sr., F, Memphis*
Tyrese Hunter, Sr., G, Memphis
Atin Wright, Sr., G, North Texas
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Gr., G, Temple
Rowan Brumbaugh, R-So., G, Tulane
All-Freshman Team
Matas Vokietaitis, C, Florida Atlantic*
CJ Brown, G, South Florida*
Aiden Tobiason, G, Temple
Kam Williams, G/F, Tulane*
Ian Smikle, F, Tulsa
* denotes unanimous selection
UP NEXT
The Blazers will face the winner of the UTSA-East Carolina game on Friday, March 14 in the Quarterfinals of the American Conference Tournament.
BLAZER BOOSTERS
As we launch into the 2025 giving year, we encourage you to further your support across UAB Athletics and help the Blazers reach new heights in the American Athletic Conference. For more information on ways to show your generosity to Blazer student athletes through the Blazer Scholarship Fund, capital initiatives, and sport specific giving go to blazerboosters.com or call us at (205) 996-9969.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
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