By Mallory Mattingly
University of Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg thanks God for his unlikely journey to starting for the No. 3-ranked Wolverines.
According to Sports Spectrum, Lendeborg struggled with grades in high school, which made him ineligible to play basketball. He spent the first three years of his college career at Arizona Western Community College, then transferred to the University of Alabama-Birmingham to play two seasons. He will finally finish his career with the Wolverines this season.
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On Friday night, Lendeborg celebrated a “Players Era title with his Michigan teammates Friday night, holding the enormous ring he received for being named tournament MVP.”
The athlete scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds to record a double-double in Michigan’s dominant win over Gonzaga.
“We know we’re capable of national championships,” Lendeborg told the media after Friday’s victory. “As long as we continue to grow together, we’re going to be the best in the country and nobody will be able to stop us.”
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While at UAB, Lendeborg became vocal about his faith in Christ.
“This still doesn’t feel real to me, but I thank God every day for helping me and guiding me through this new chapter in my life,” he told the UAB media team after earning All-American Conference first-team selection and being named the league’s defensive player of the year for both years at UAB.
In a recent interview with MLive.com, Lendeborg reflected on his journey to Michigan, especially those high school days when he was unsure if he would get to live out his dream. He continued to give thanks to God for landing in Michigan.
“It’s all a blessing to be honest with you,” he expressed. “All glory to God and thank you to my mom as well for helping me out and digging me out of the hole that I was in.”
Lendeborg sports three crosses tattooed on his left shoulder, which symbolize Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.
“I pray before games to let Him know I believe,” he said. “And I’m always grateful for what He’s done for me.”
Lendeborg also shares his faith on social media.
“God’s been writing my story, I’m just here for the journey ✞,” he wrote on Instagram.
Lendeborg is ready to use his final year of NCAA eligibility to glorify God and help bring the Wolverines a National Championship. Michigan will have the week off before it hosts Rutgers on Saturday for the Big Ten Conference opener.
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