Yaxel Lendeborg, 6'9, 240, PF, Michigan, Sr.

• Comp: Kenneth Faried / Onyeka Okongwu / David West

• Ceiling: ALL-STAR

• Floor: Out of League

• Last year's stats: PTS(17.7) REB(11.4) AST(4.2) BLK(1.8) STL(1.7) FG%(52.2) 3P%(35.7)

• Best rebounder in the class

• Scrappy defender

• Physical, bruising athlete

• Good at stretching out to the 3 and spacing the floor

• Underrated passer

• Very reliable scorer from the post

• Has shown he can be apart of a winner

• Expectation: Borderline ALL-STAR; Could be an ALL-STAR on a bad team, but could be a top tier roll player on a winning team

STAYING IN COLLEGE

• Best rebounder in the class

• Scrappy defender

• Physical, bruising athlete

• Good at stretching out to the 3 and spacing the floor

• Underrated passer

• Very reliable scorer from the post

• Comp: Kenneth Faried / Onyeka Okongwu / David West

• Ceiling: ALL-STAR

• Floor: Out of League

• Expectation: Borderline ALL-STAR

• What to Expect: Could be an ALL-STAR on a bad team, but could be a top tier roll player on a winning team

• For more go check out my Instagram @thefingerreport

Yaxel is a stud who can do a bit of everything on the court. He’s an older prospect but is still fairly young in terms of basketball experience and his rate of improvement has been awesome. He just keeps getting better and better and rounding out his game. I was super high on him last year and thought he could've been a first-rounder, and now my point is proven. Has been an integral part of a dominant defense at Michigan. Was one of the highest-impact switch defenders in the country. Has the build to stop bumps from stronger bigs and can also comfortably check shifty point guards. Was incredible at ball pressure this season, and what he lacks in vertical pop, he makes up for in mobility. He really excelled as a connecting passer this year. Improving his jumper is a must, as higher efficiency as a dynamic shooter and more consistent, physical rim pressure could help him carve out a bigger role at the next level. Leveling up to better competition and performing well have lightened some of that concern, but he still needs to continue on that path.

NBA Comp: Aaron Gordon, PJ Washington

Strengths: Rebounding, Physicality, Interior Scoring, Playmaking, Basketball IQ, Defense,

Weaknesses: 3pt Shooting, Perimeter Defense, Iso Scoring, Ball Handling, Age,

Draft Range/10-15, Role/Traditional 4, Ceiling/DPOY, Floor/Out of League, Expectation/Starter, Position/PF

Yaxel Lendeborg — Scouting Report (AVC Film Breakdown) Position: Forward School: Michigan Height: 6'9" Weight: 240 lbs

Overview

When I studied Yaxel Lendeborg on film, I came away extremely impressed with how complete and mature his game already looks. Compared to many prospects in this class, he doesn’t feel like a long-term project. Instead, he looks like someone who could realistically step into an NBA rotation fairly quickly.

Part of that comes from his physical profile. At 6'9" and around 240 pounds, he already has legitimate NBA size and strength. But what really elevates his evaluation for me is how well he understands the game. He consistently makes smart decisions with the ball, reads the floor well defensively, and plays with a level of composure that you don’t always see from younger prospects.

If I were building a roster from scratch and looking for a player who could fill a versatile forward role immediately, Lendeborg would be near the top of that list.

Versatility and Decision-Making

One of the most appealing aspects of Lendeborg’s game is his ability to do a little bit of everything offensively.

He’s not a primary ball-handler, but he has enough handle for his size to keep the offense flowing. When the ball finds him, he tends to make quick, intelligent decisions rather than holding the ball and disrupting the rhythm of the offense.

Players who can operate as connective pieces within an offense are extremely valuable, and Lendeborg shows strong instincts in that role.

Physical Tools and Finishing

Physically, Lendeborg already looks like an NBA player. His strength stands out immediately when you watch him play.

He runs the floor well in transition, finishes through contact, and uses his body effectively to create advantages near the rim. There were several moments on film where he simply overpowered defenders or beat them down the floor with his athleticism.

When he plays aggressively, he becomes a very difficult matchup because he combines size, strength, and mobility.

Offensive Skill Foundation

While offense may not be his strongest selling point yet, Lendeborg still shows a solid offensive foundation.

He has enough ball-handling ability to attack closeouts and initiate basic actions, and there are flashes of shooting potential that suggest his jumper could become a reliable part of his game with some mechanical adjustments.

If that shot becomes consistent, it would significantly expand his offensive value because it would allow him to function as a spacing forward in modern NBA lineups.

Defensive Awareness and Rotations

Defensively, Lendeborg is extremely impressive.

What stands out most is his awareness. He reads the floor very well and consistently positions himself correctly as a help defender. His help-side rotations around the rim are particularly strong—he seems to anticipate plays before they fully develop.

There are multiple possessions where he rotates at exactly the right moment to disrupt drives or contest shots without overcommitting.

Defensive Discipline

Another thing I really like about his defensive game is his discipline.

He doesn’t leave his feet unnecessarily and rarely overreacts to offensive moves. Instead, he stays balanced, waits for the right moment, and relies on positioning and timing to defend effectively.

That type of defensive patience is something you usually see from experienced players.

Physical Versatility

Because of his strength and mobility, Lendeborg also has the tools to guard multiple positions.

He’s strong enough to handle bigger forwards and potentially some small-ball centers, but he also moves well enough to survive on the perimeter in switching situations. That positional flexibility is extremely valuable in modern defensive schemes.

Shot Selection

One area that could use refinement is his shot selection.

There are moments where he settles for difficult or low-percentage attempts, which can hurt his overall efficiency. Improving his shot selection and consistently taking higher-value attempts would help maximize his offensive impact.

This is less about ability and more about decision-making within specific situations.

Off-Ball Offensive Activity

Another area where I’d like to see more growth is his off-ball movement.

Given his athleticism and feel for the game, he could generate even more easy scoring opportunities by cutting more aggressively when defenders lose track of him. Players with his physical tools can be extremely effective when they consistently attack open space.

Developing that habit could make him an even more dangerous offensive player.

NBA Projection

When I project Lendeborg to the NBA level, I see a player who has a clear pathway to contributing early in his career.

The combination of size, strength, defensive instincts, and basketball IQ makes him one of the more plug-and-play forwards in this class. While some prospects require years of development, Lendeborg already has many of the traits that NBA teams value in role players.

He projects as a versatile rotation forward who can defend multiple positions, make smart decisions with the ball, and provide physicality and energy.

Because of that readiness and versatility, I’m extremely comfortable ranking him high on my board. Players with his combination of maturity, physical tools, and basketball IQ are difficult to find, and that makes him a very appealing prospect for teams looking for immediate contributions.

very solid player. amazing rebounder

not the best shooting, but the 85% ft gives me hope. increased volume this year

mid range/contact shots

Amazing defense

should be a plug and play role player for a good team a la tristan da silva

late lotto

Low End: Kyle Kuzma Median: Obi Toppin High End: Pistons Blake Griffin Pros: Rebounding, touch/feel, scoring, defense, motor Cons: Age, shooting Verdict: Shooting has massively improved this season and passing feel is great, still feel the same way about him disappearing. Potentially, might be a good thing that he's such a positive impact even when he doesn't feel like he's doing so.

Rebounding machine with great post-scoring and good feel to find open players around him. Yaxel should enter the league as an impactful role player who can connect the dots on offense while also guarding multiple positions. There are shooting concerns with Yaxel, but they should not matter in a scaled down role in the league. The questions begin with his upside projection as not only is he an older player, but he just isn't assertive enough with his scoring ability to the point where he can sometimes 'disappear' during offensive sets before showing up again for a rebound. A player like Lendeborg is more likely to be a role player, but the ceiling is certainly tantalizing.