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INDIANAPOLIS — Yaxel Lendeborg had come to terms with his future. Pursuing higher education wasn’t in his plans.
“I was employed at a warehouse,” the standout forward from Michigan shared on Friday. “I was settling into that routine, thinking this would define my life. I didn’t have any dreams or ambitions beyond it.”
But his mother, Yissel Raposo, had other plans. She insisted he enroll in junior college.
Fast forward six years, the 6-foot-9 senior from Pennsauken, N.J., is gearing up for the Final Four.
Before long, he’s expected to be an NBA draft pick, with a potential to be chosen in the lottery.
It has been a wild journey.
Three years at Arizona Western College, two years at UAB, and now this past season at Michigan. In high school, Lendeborg admittedly “slacked off all four years.”
“I had no confidence in myself when I went to JUCO,” he recalled. “I didn’t want to go anyway, so it was like I was just wasting time. The journey has really felt like a dream, every step of the way. I went through so much. Mentally, it was definitely draining. There were many times I wanted to give up, I wanted to quit.”
Raposo wouldn’t let him. At Arizona Western, Lendeborg developed into a junior college All-American. Initially, he committed to St. John’s under former coach Mike Anderson. But when Anderson was fired, he decommitted and landed at UAB. There, he was one of the top mid-major players in the country. After his second season there, in which he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 blocks, Lendeborg entered the transfer portal while putting his name into the NBA Draft.
He would’ve likely been a late first-round pick, but he didn’t feel ready to make the jump. He also wanted the opportunity to play for the Wolverines.
Lendeborg felt a bond with Michigan coach Dusty May. May spent plenty of time building a relationship with Lendeborg, even though it was very much up in the air if he would get to coach him.
“He was with me throughout the whole process,” Lendeborg said. “That meant a lot to me.”
He couldn’t have imagined a season like this. Lendeborg has led Michigan to a 35-3 record, was an Associated Press first-team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. He added Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player last weekend.
“Everything has been falling into place so far,” said Lendeborg, averaging 21 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and shooting 50 percent from 3-point range in the NCAA Tournament. “We have two more wins and everything will be perfect.”