Michigan claims 2026 Big Ten Player, Coach, and Defensive Player of the Year Awards

Share

Tweet

Print

Email

Michigan’s historic 19-1 run through the Big Ten netted a few more accolades today when the conference announced this year’s All-Big Ten honorees. The Wolverines claimed Player of the Year from both panels, Coach of the Year from the media, and Defensive Player of the Year from the coaches.

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg took home Big Ten Player of the Year honors from both the coaches and the media. Lendeborg was also named the All-Big Ten First Team by both coaches and media.

Lendeborg is Michigan’s first Big Ten Player of the Year since Nik Stauskas (2013-14) and Trey Burke (2012-13). Before that, the Wolverines hadn’t had a Player of the Year since Glen Rice in 1988-89.

Wolverine head coach Dusty May took home Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, but only from the media. The coaches voted for Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg as the Coach of the Year.

Michigan’s most recent Big Ten Coach of the Year winners were Juwan Howard (2020-21) and John Beilein (2013-14), who coincidentally also shared the award with a Nebraska coach (Tim Miles).

Junior center Aday Mara took home Defensive Player of the Year honors and was joined by Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. on the five-man All-Defensive team.

Michigan’s three All-Big Ten Defensive honors match how many the program has had in the last 20 years combined: Zavier Simpson (2018-19), Jordan Morgan (2012-13) and Ekpe Udoh (2007-08).

Morez Johnson Jr. was named All-Big Ten Second Team by the media and All-Big Ten Third Team by the coaches. Aday Mara was an All-Big Ten Third Team player according to both panels.

Freshman guard Trey McKenney was named to the All-Freshman team.

Wolverine point guard Elliot Cadeau earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media. Will Tschetter was Michigan’s recipient for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Here’s the full list of 2025-26 All-Big Ten honors:

2025-26 All-Big Ten Men’s Basketball Honors
As selected by Big Ten Coaches

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aday Mara, Michigan

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Keaton Wagler, Illinois

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
Braden Frager, Nebraska

COACH OF THE YEAR
Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska

HOWARD MOORE ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sharif Chambliss, Wisconsin

FIRST TEAM
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Braden Smith, Purdue

SECOND TEAM
Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Nick Boyd, Wisconsin

THIRD TEAM
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
Aday Mara, Michigan
Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
Hannes Steinbach, Washington
John Blackwell, Wisconsin

HONORABLE MENTION
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State
Cade Tyson, Minnesota
Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska
Rienk Mast, Nebraska
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Donovan Dent, UCLA

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
David Mirkovic, Illinois
KEATON WAGLER, Illinois
Trey McKenney, Michigan
Braden Frager, Nebraska
Hannes Steinbach, Washington

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Kylan Boswell, Illinois
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Aday Mara, Michigan
Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska

2025-26 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Jake Davis, ILL; Conor Enright, IND; Bennett Stirtz, IOWA; Collin Metcalf, MD; Will Tschetter, MICH; Carson Cooper, MSU; Bobby Durkin, MINN; Rienk Mast, NEB; Nick Martinelli, NU; Bruce Thornton, OSU; Sean Stewart, ORE; Josh Reed, PSU; Liam Murphy, PUR; Jahmichael Davis, RU; Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA; Terrance Williams II, USC; Zoom Diallo, WASH; Isaac Gard, WIS.

Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS

2025-26 All-Big Ten Men’s Basketball Honors
As selected by Media Voting Panel

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Keaton Wagler, Illinois

COACH OF THE YEAR
Dusty May, Michigan

FIRST TEAM
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
YAXEL LENDEBORG, Michigan
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Braden Smith, Purdue

SECOND TEAM
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Nick Boyd, Wisconsin

THIRD TEAM
Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana
Aday Mara, Michigan
Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
Hannes Steinbach, Washington
John Blackwell, Wisconsin

HONORABLE MENTION
Kylan Boswell, Illinois
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State
Cade Tyson, Minnesota
Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska
Rienk Mast, Nebraska
John Mobley Jr., Ohio State
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Tariq Francis, Rutgers
Donovan Dent, UCLA

Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS