The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540586
44 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2025 2025-26 BASKETBALL PREVIEW he is. His numbers speak for themselves, but he's a pass-first guy. He wants his teammates to have success. That's been a blessing for us. Usually when your best players are unselfish, it's really great for the team. "His imprint was on every single game. Every time we played them … he finished up with 12 rebounds, 15 points. I was like, I don't remember him getting that many rebounds. But his impact, offensively and defensively, every time we played them — he was at the top of the scouting report. That was important to us. "He's grown, drastically. His biggest step is being able to play without the ball. At UAB, they depended on him a lot to handle the ball and make plays, but he's becoming a better player without the ball." With it, he can deliver in a number of ways, noted assistant coach Justin Joyner. "He's an elite processor and passer," Joyner observed. "You know he can re- bound the basketball, he's good defen- sively, he's good around the rim, you know he can make threes. But the abil- ity to pass and really process the game, make tough decisions look simple, has been really impressive to me. "He can really process the game and make plays. I think we'll use him simi- larly to Danny [Wolf] in terms of the 4/5 pick-and-roll. Having Elliot is going to give us a little more of a push in transi- tion. Obviously, we can put the ball in his hands. He's really good at creating penetration, good around the rim and making plays for other guys." "I just want to be able to help my team, however I can, do the best I can," Lendeborg said, regarding his versatil- ity. "Rebounding, passing, that's some- thing I love to do. Obviously, I'm in- creasing my shooting and my defense. I want to try to be the best all-around player in college basketball." "Yaxel is as much of a guard as any- one on our roster," May confirmed. "His versatility is unique. He voluntarily started picking up guarding 94 feet on point guards, and he's done it as well as anybody on our roster." GETTING TO KNOW YOU May did not approach the portal's No. 1 offering as a supplicant, Lendeborg Lendeborg was rated the No. 1 player in the college basketball transfer portal last spring when he transferred to Michigan to play for Dusty May. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY