It is Yaxel Lendeborg's world, and we are just living in it! The Michigan Wolverines' best player had a monster day in the Round of 32 vs. the Saint Louis Billikens on Saturday afternoon. His game-high 25 points helped carry the Wolverines to an easy 95-72 second-round victory. For a guy that injured his ankle around this time a week ago, Lendeborg looks to be charging full steam ahead to the Sweet 16.
When he went up for the jam on Quentin Jones, his mother Yissel Raposo loved every second of it.
Yaxel Lendeborg's mom absolutely LOVING that poster. pic.twitter.com/0PipZCdE0L
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 21, 2026
Michigan looks to be so strong and powerful heading into the Sweet 16. Dusty May's program has been one of the best teams all season long. With a huge rest and travel advantage in their next game, look for Lendeborg to do some more high-flying acrobatics over either Alabama or Texas Tech next weekend in Chicago. Knowing her son is the best forward in the country, Raposo should be so proud.
Two games into their NCAA Tournament run and Michigan is feeling like a real national title contender.
Yaxel Lendeborg gets his mom out of her chair with this amazing dunk
Clearly, Lendeborg made the right decision for himself to transfer from UAB to Michigan. Yes, he was supposedly being courted hard by the likes of Kentucky, but he is only four games away from being crowned a national champion. Teaming up with an emerging rockstar at head coach in May has made him a household name already. With each passing win, more and more people are learning his name.
So with a trip to Chicago on the horizon, and potentially another to Indianapolis coming if Michigan takes care of business next week to close out the Midwest Region, The Legend of Yaxel Lenderborg has plenty of runway to grow. Not since 1989 has Michigan won a national championship. While it has sent four teams to a national championship since that fateful season, now is the time to go fix things.
To tie a bow on this, Lendeborg picked Michigan because he entrusted May to help him grow as a player and as a person. For him to be able to put it all on display against a strong A-10 team like Saint Louis in front of his mother, who would not love that? At this time, it is all about rest, recovery, and preparation for a player like Lendeborg on a team like Michigan. He was Saturday afternoon's big star.
Lendeborg and Michigan made the most of their trip to Buffalo, but will they do the same in Chicago?