Grade

10th Overall Pick - 15th Overall Pick

2026 Draft Class

Yaxel Lendeborg

Michigan

6'9"

240lbs

May 29, 2026

Executive Summary

Yaxel Lendeborg projects as a high-impact two-way forward whose versatility, leadership, and basketball IQ make him one of the most complete team-oriented players in the class. He can guard multiple positions, facilitate offense as a secondary creator, control tempo, and consistently make winning plays without needing the ball in his hands. His offensive game is built on strength, physicality, cutting, and efficient decision-making rather than shot creation, while his defensive versatility allows him to take on difficult assignments across the floor.

Strengths

Game IQ / Poise, Defense (perimeter), and Character

Weaknesses

Offense (perimeter), Shooting, and Transition

Full Scouting Report

15px

Game IQ/Poise:

Pros:

•Coordinates defense

•Patient

•Helps direct offense

•Controls the tempo

Cons:

•Can get filtered out of the half-court offense

Athleticism/Frame:

Pros:

•Very laterally quick for his size

•Dominant athlete that can fill almost any role on both sides

•Strong

•High stamina

Cons:

•Dealt with lingering injuries

Character:

•Team player

•On the court leader

•Played through injury

•Vocal on both sides

•Unselfish

Shooting:

Pros:

•Good shot selection

•Is a threat from deep

•Release is faster than it seems

Cons:

•Not a perennial shooter

•Doesn’t have any mid-range

Playmaking:

Pros:

•Good decision maker

•Facilitator/secondary initiator

•Good pic & roll ball handler

Cons:

•Can struggle to create individually

Offense (perimeter):

Pros:

•Takes open space, good cutter

•Good off ball movement for big

Cons:

•Can be unconfident

Offense (inside):

Pros:

•Offensive rebound threat

•Doesn’t shy away from contact, finishes through it

Cons:

•Relies on strength and size

Defense (perimeter):

Pros:

•Very versatile; guards 1-5

•Comfortable switching everything

•Active hands

•Takes the toughest assignment, whoever is the hottest

Cons:

•Weak closeouts, gets beat on closeouts

Defense (inside):

Pros:

•Always gets his hands on the ball

•Good help defense and paint presence

•Doesn’t foul

Cons:

•Focusses on staying vertical and not fouling too much

Transition:

Pros:

•Doesn’t need to outlet pass

•Comfortable with pushing the pace

•Easily leaks out

•Hustles back for chase downs

Cons:

•Can’t beat defenders with speed, relies on size and strength

Player comp:

•Ceiling: OG Anunoby; All Defense

•Floor: Kyle Anderson; off the bench “glue” guy

Archetype:

•versatile 2-way star

Teams:

•Warriors, Heat, Mavericks, Bucks

•Will be able to find his place on most teams

Rating:

•Game IQ/Poise: 8.4/10

•Athleticism/Frame: 8.3/10

•Shooting: 7.4/10

•Playmaking: 8.4/10

•Offense (perimeter): 6.8/10

•Offense (inside): 8.1/10

•Defense (perimeter): 8.4/10

•Defense (inside): 7.9/10

•Transition: 7.8/10

•Intangibles/Character: 9.1/10

Games watched:

•vs TCU, vs Wisconsin, vs Nebraska, vs Duke, vs Alabama (sweet 16), vs Tennessee (elite 8)

Matthew Jewell

Head NBA Scout and Analyst View Full Bio

I am a sports analyst and research assistant for the WSU Sports Management department with a central focus on the NBA. I break down players, teams, and schemes through film study and data to deliver sharp, in-depth scouting reports, and team evaluations. I’m born and raised in Castro Valley, California and am currently seeking a degree in Data Analytics with a focus in Sports Management.

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