Those who follow Dominican basketball need to be aware of Yaxel Lendeborg, the new star in USA college basketball who was on the Michigan Wolverines team that on 6 April 2026 won the 2026 NCAA tournament. Lendeborg, a 6’9″ forward, played a pivotal role in Michigan’s championship run, particularly on the defensive end where he averaged 2.1 blocks per game during the tournament.
Yaxel Lendeborg delivered 13 points in the final game the Michigan Wolverines played against the UConn Huskies 69-63 on 6 April 2026 to win the NCAA Division I men’s basketball national championship. This victory marked Michigan’s first national title since 1989 and ended a 37-year championship drought for the program.
Lendeborg is only the fourth Dominican to be on a winning team. The others are:
• Charlie Villanueva: The first Dominican to achieve the feat, Villanueva was a key contributor to the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies during their 2004 title run. He averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds that season before being selected 7th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft.
• Al Horford: The most decorated of the group, Horford led the Florida Gators to back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007. Horford’s dominance in the paint earned him a spot in the 2007 All-Tournament team and cemented his legacy as a generational Dominican talent.
• Eloy Vargas: The last Dominican player to cut down the nets before Lendeborg, Vargas was a member of the 2012 Kentucky Wildcats under John Calipari. While often playing a rotational role, his presence provided critical depth for a team that featured future NBA stars like Anthony Davis.
Looking ahead: The NBA Draft
Lendeborg’s stock has risen sharply following his postseason performance. Currently projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, scouts have praised his “motor” and ability to switch defensively across multiple positions. If drafted, he would continue the strong tradition of Dominican representation in the league, joining the ranks of currently playing Al Horford and Karl-Anthony Towns.
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El Dia
CDN
Yahoo Sports
8 April 2026