In a raucous D.C. showdown that lived up to its billing as a potential National Championship preview, No. 3 Duke outlasted top-ranked Michigan 68-63. Both programs demonstrated exactly why they are expected to be the last teams standing in April, turning a regular-season test into a high-level display of March-ready prowess.
The main event of this matchup was the heavyweight battle in the paint between Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, both of whom led the way for their respective squads. Lendeborg continued his evolution into a superstar, finishing with a game-high 21 points while blending his established defensive identity with a more polished offensive game that kept the Wolverines within striking distance until the final buzzer.
On the other side, the Duke freshman sensation solidified his standing as the presumptive National Player of the Year by logging 18 points 10 rebounds and seven assists. Regarding individual matchups, the contest between Boozer and Lendeborg proved to be every bit as intriguing as promised, with Boozer’s late-game three-pointer ultimately providing the cushion Duke needed to secure the win.
The Sporting News followed this battle between future first-round picks was the defining feature of the night, leaving fans eager for a potential rematch when Duke and Michigan likely meet again with even higher stakes on the line.
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Cameron Boozer vs. Yaxel Lendeborg stats comparison
| Player | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | BLK | STL | TO |
| Yaxel Lendeborg | 21 | 7-15 | 3-9 | 4-6 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cameron Boozer | 18 | 6-10 | 1-2 | 5-7 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 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 |
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Cameron Boozer draft projection
Widely regarded as a leading candidate to be selected within the top three picks of the 2026 NBA Draft, Cameron Boozer has spent his freshman season at Duke solidifying his place in a consensus “Big Three” alongside Darryn Peterson of Kansas and AJ Dybantsa of BYU. While Peterson and Dybantsa often wow scouts with their raw athletic ceilings and scoring flurries, Boozer is frequently cited as having the highest floor in the class due to a level of statistical dominance rarely seen from a first-year player.
Most major outlets currently position Boozer at overall pick number three, yet his performance in Saturday’s win over No. 1 Michigan highlighted why some evaluators view him as a contender for the top spot. He entered the night averaging 22.8 points and 10 rebounds per game — marks that put him in elite company with past Duke legends like Zion Williamson. Tonight, his poise was the difference; he didn’t just rack up points but acted as a primary engine for the Blue Devils’ offense, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Unlike many freshmen who struggle with consistency, Boozer has scored at least 17 points in every conference game this season and leads Duke in nearly every major statistical category. While some critics question his vertical explosiveness compared to Dybantsa, his ability to facilitate for others — evidenced by his 7 assists against Michigan’s length — suggests a level of basketball IQ that makes him a can’t-miss prospect. As the draft cycle intensifies, the debate between the flashy scoring of his peers and Boozer’s nightly double-double reliability remains the central storyline for NBA front offices.
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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.
That professional readiness was on full display in Washington, D.C., as Lendeborg essentially carried the Wolverine offense for long stretches of the first half. Facing a Duke frontcourt anchored by the projected number one overall pick in Cameron Boozer, Lendeborg finished with 21 points and 7 rebounds, outscoring his younger counterpart despite Michigan’s narrow defeat. His ability to navigate Duke’s length and score 17 of his points in the paint or at the free-throw line highlighted the physical maturity that has NBA scouts viewing him as a rotation-ready asset.
For a player who will be 23 years old by draft night, tonight’s performance served as the ultimate proof of concept. While Boozer’s ceiling remains the talk of the draft, Lendeborg’s floor was arguably the highest of any player on the court. His improved perimeter shooting, though uncharacteristically cold tonight like much of the Michigan roster, has allowed the Wolverines to run a massive lineup that features three players over 6-foot-9. This versatility, combined with the defensive instincts that made him a two-time Conference Defensive Player of the Year at UAB, suggests that while he may be an older prospect, his transition to an NBA bench — or even a starting role — could be virtually seamless come June.
Where is Cameron Boozer from?
Boozer is from Miami, Florida, but he was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, while his father, Carlos Boozer, was playing for the Utah Jazz. He attended Christopher Columbus High School, the same school that produced this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza.
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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.
