We are still a couple of months away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with UAB SR PF Yaxel Lendeborg, who talked about being a great rebounder and his expectations for this season.
You were born in Puerto Rico but moved to Ohio at age 2: how did you 1st get into basketball? Basketball runs in my family. I was a bigger fan of baseball growing up, but my friends eventually convinced me to play basketball with them and I had fun.
You were a 2-time NJCAA All-American at Arizona Western College: what made you choose UAB? Assistant coach Ryan Cross recruited me very heavily and it felt like family here. They put their trust in me and have not let me down yet.
You play for Coach Andy Kennedy: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is a players’ coach: he was a great player himself and is a hard coach but knows when to lay off. He taught me how to be the best version of myself and stay on track with what I need to do because he knows how to get the best out of me.
You led the NJCAA in 2023 with 429 REB and set a school record last year with 370 REB: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? What started it for me was watching videos of Dennis Rodman. It is all about timing for me.
Last year you averaged 13.8 PPG/10.6 RPG/2.1 BPG and were named conference DPOY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? Coach was pressuring me to be what I could be, but I did not really see it until the season came around. His belief in me really helped me out.
Take me through the 2024 postseason:
In the AAC tourney title game you had 14 PTS/16 REB in a win over Temple en route to being named conference tourney MVP: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was a do-or-die moment for us. We had a rough year, but we all came together in that tourney and played as if we had nothing to lose. You should have seen the faces we were making in the locker room: it felt like a brotherhood and was something that I loved to see.
In the NCAA tourney you scored 11 PTS in a 4-PT loss to San Diego State: what did you learn from your postseason run that you think will help you this season? I learned that there is a different level of competition in the NCAA tourney: you need to play smart and not be overly aggressive. I will cool off my nerves a bit and trust my teammates more this year.
Later that month you announced that you would be returning to school: how close did you come to leaving, and why did you decide to stay? I felt the whole time that I was going to stay because I did not have a good reason to leave a place that believed in me. I promised more than what I gave so I will do it again next year.
Both of your parents played basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? My dad: he was 1 of the greats in the Dominican Republic. My mom was also good and played for her country as well.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I want to win POY this year and make it back to March Madness, go back-to-back in the conference tourney, and hopefully make the Sweet 16.