QUEENS, N.Y. (Nov. 15, 2022) – St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Anderson received a commitment from highly-touted junior college transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, who is set to join the program for the 2023-24 campaign. The 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward comes to St. John’s after earning NJCAA Third Team All-America honors at Arizona Western College last season.

A native of Pennsauken, N.J., Lendeborg was named the 2022 Arizona Community College Athletic Association (ACCAC) Player of the Year. He led Arizona Western College averaging 12.0 points and a conference-best 11.0 rebounds per game over 31 appearances in 2021-22. Lendeborg scored in double-figures 23 times while recording double-digit rebounds in 22 contests.

“Yaxel is an experienced player who we are thrilled to welcome to the St. John’s Basketball family,” said Anderson. “He is versatile, plays with energy and can have an immediate impact for our team on both ends of the court. Yaxel’s development over the past two years is what has impressed me most. His character and basketball ability make him a perfect fit for our program.”

The First Team All-ACCAC selection helped lead Arizona Western College to a 26-5 overall record, including an 18-2 conference mark, and advance to the 2022 ACCAC Region I championship game. Lendeborg led the Matadors with 17 points and 13 rebounds in the title contest against Cochise.

Lendeborg suited up for the Matadors in 14 games during an abbreviated 2020-21 season due to COVID. He averaged 6.1 points and led the team with 7.1 rebounds per contest. Prior to Arizona Western, Lendeborg lettered at Pennsauken High School where he played in all 11 games as a senior in 2019-20, helping the team to a 10-1 record.