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.
MORE: Duke-Michigan rivalry: Record, Final Four history and revisiting the ‘Fab 5’ chapter
Cameron Boozer vs. Yaxel Lendeborg stats comparison
Table of Contents
| 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 |
MORE: Duke beats Michigan in Final Four preview
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.
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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.
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.
MORE: Did the NCAA Tournament committee get it right during their annual ‘bracket preview’?
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.
