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No. 1 Michigan and No. 3 Duke chose to give the nation a potential preview of the two teams expected to compete for the final in April. Both programs aim to make significant noise during March Madness, and this game will serve as a crucial test of their prowess.
The main event of this matchup is the heavyweight battle in the paint between Duke's Cameron Boozer and Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg.
Lendeborg has evolved into a star, blending his established defensive identity with a more polished offensive game in Michigan’s offense.
The Duke freshman is frequently mentioned in discussions for national awards. Regarding individual matchups, the contest between Boozer and Lendeborg is among the most intriguing to watch in this event.
The Sporting News compares the future first-round picks as Duke takes on Michigan.
MORE: Duke-Michigan rivalry: Record, Final Four history and revisiting the 'Fab 5' chapter
Cameron Boozer vs. Yaxel Lendeborg stats comparison
| Player | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | BLK | STL | TO |
| Yaxel Lendeborg | 16 | 6-9 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cameron Boozer | 9 | 3-5 | 0-1 | 3-4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cameron Boozer vs. Yaxel Lendeborg season stats
| Player | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | BLK | STL | TO |
| Yaxel Lendeborg | 14.4 | 50% | 30.6% | 82.9% | 7.5 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Cameron Boozer | 22.8 | 58.2% | 39.4% | 76.8% | 10.0 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
Cameron Boozer draft projection
Boozer is widely regarded as a leading candidate to be selected within the top three picks of the 2026 NBA Draft. As an exceptional freshman at Duke University, he is presently recognized as a member of a consensus "Big Three" alongside Darryn Peterson from Kansas and AJ Dybantsa from BYU).
Most major outlets currently position Boozer at overall pick number three; however, some evaluators regard him as a strong contender for the first overall selection, owing to his high baseline performance and statistical dominance.
MORE: Michigan-Duke ticket prices set a record for sporting event
Yaxel Lendeborg draft projections
Lendeborg is anticipated to be selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, with rankings generally situating him between the late lottery (pick 10–14) and the mid-first round (pick 15–20).
Following his withdrawal from the 2025 draft to enroll at Michigan as a graduate transfer, he has reinforced his reputation as a "plug-and-play" prospect capable of immediate contribution at the NBA level.
Where is Cameron Boozer from?
Where is Yaxel Lendeborg from?
Lendeborg is originally from Puerto Rico, before his family moved to the Dominican Republic briefly. He was then raised in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
English (US)