US EditionYaxel Lendeborg tells AP Kentucky offered him $7 to 9 million before he chose Michigan
Lendeborg prioritized team culture and family support over a $7 million-plus offer from Kentucky, becoming Michigan's Big Ten Player of the Year this season.
- Yaxel Lendeborg chose Michigan over Kentucky despite reported offers starting at $7 to 9 million, becoming the top transfer portal prospect last year to prioritize culture over cash.
- Dusty May emphasized culture when recruiting; Lendeborg said the Michigan coach 'didn't talk about money at all,' contrasting with Kentucky's aggressive financial approach to the transfer portal.
- Named Big Ten Player of the Year, Lendeborg averages a team-high 14.6 points with 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists as Michigan enters the NCAA Tournament as a one-seed.
- His earnings have allowed him to pay his mother's bills and buy her a new ride, though Yissel Raposo continues appendix cancer treatment with three more chemo sets remaining.
- The transfer portal enabled Lendeborg's rise from junior college through a mid-major stop to Big Ten stardom, illustrating how the mechanism rapidly reshapes college basketball trajectories and player compensation.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Michigan basketball star says he received stunning offer to play at Kentucky
Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball star Yaxel Lendeborg suggested in a recent interview he could have been raking in the cash if he chose to play elsewhere.Lendeborg was among the top players in the transfer portal entering the 2025-26 season as he was set to leave the UAB Blazers. He eventually committed to Michigan, but he said he was offered major money to play for the Kentucky Wildcats.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"The…
Michigan Basketball Transfer Claims To Have Taken 50% Pay Cut To Reject Desperate Kentucky
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan Wolverines Yaxel Lendeborg has been one of the most impactful transfers in college basketball this season. The Michigan forward has helped the Wolverines secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The veteran recently spoke on that transfer decision with the Associated Press. He claims to have accepted a major pay cut to play in Ann Arbor. Lendeborg was one of the most sought-after players on the market this offseason.…
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