Michigan basketball star says he received stunning offer to play at Kentucky

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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.

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Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg celebrates the team's Big Ten Championship by cutting down a piece of net following their win over Michigan State in Ann Arbor, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

"They started the number with $7 (million) to $9 (million)," he told The Associated Press in a story published Monday night. "They were pretty much going off on the route like we’ll pay him anything to get here."

Instead, he chose to play for Dusty May instead of Mark Pope.

"I was raised without it and I went my whole life without it," Lendeborg said. "Anything was going to make me super, super happy at the time.

"I was thinking long term. What if I mess up my career because I chased the money instead of a future? Another big reason why I went with Dusty was he didn't talk about money at all. It was all about making me better and helping me achieve my goals."

Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg  looks to pass as Purdue Boilermakers guard Gicarri Harris defends during the Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship at United Center on March 15, 2026. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)

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