UAB’s LENDEBORG NAMED TO NAISMITH WATCH LIST

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - October 31, 2024

Yaxel Lendeborg said he was surprised by Wednesday’s news that he was one of 50 college basketball players selected to the Naismith Men’s Player of the Year preseason watch list.

“Yeah, it’s surprising, for sure,” said the 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior. “I actually found out coming out of the weight room. I saw that and almost teared up, you know, but I was happy. If I was at home, I would cried, for sure. But, yeah, I teared up a little bit. I still feel it's surreal, just the fact that I’m being noticed now is something really special to me.”

Efrem “Butta” Johnson, who was seated next to his teammate, was asked if he was surprised by the news.

“Nah, I don’t think so,” Johnson said. “I think that even though Yax just started playing basketball not too long ago and all this stuff, you know, in his eyes this is like very surreal. For me and some of the other guys on this team, we know Yax is very capable of being on that list at the end of this year, having a big name in college basketball. He’s getting better each and every day. He’s putting in the work, he’s been a good leader. Eventually, the whole world is going to see what he’s capable of and I’m proud of him.”

It’s the second time in three seasons that the Blazers were represented on the Naismith preseason. Jordan “Jelly” Walker was included on the list prior to the 2022-23 season. Both were also the conference preseason player of the year – Lendeborg in the AAC and Walker in C-USA – and coming off a NCAA Tournament appearance.

Lendeborg, who transferred to UAB from Arizona Western, is coming off an impressive first season as a Blazer. He he set school and AAC records for single season rebounds (370) and broke the UAB record for double-doubles with 19. He averaged 13.8 points and 10.6 rebounds, making him one of just seven players in the country to return after averaging a double-double, and was selected as the AAC Defensive Player of the Year.

“I think it’s another step in his journey,” UAB head coach Andy Kennedy. “What an incredible journey from where he started to where he’s at now, leading into his final campaign. You won’t find a bigger Yaxel Lendeborg fan in the country than me. I’m around the kid every day. I’ve seen the work that he's put in and I know he's put himself in position to be on a list as prestigious as the Naismith Preseason Player of the Year watch list. For our program, it's a second time in three years we’ve had a guy on that. Jelly Walker was on it, completely different type player. (He was a) diminutive guard, scorer. Now we’ve got a frontcourt guy, which shows you that UAB can provide a platform for all type players.”