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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. After starting his career in JUCO, he played two seasons at UAB.
With the Blazers, he was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He also led his conference in rebounding each season on campus.
The forward buoyed that production into a major payday.
Yaxel Lendeborg transferred to Michigan.
He was projected to be a late first-round NBA Draft selection after the 2024-25 season. Instead, he spurned a professional career to play for the Wolverines.
Michigan made it worth his while. His NIL valuation sat near $2.5 million prior to season’s start. Most believe the program paid him close to the $3 million payday he would’ve raked in as an NBA rookie.
The exact number is unclear. Some experts have handicapped the total at $5 million.
That move has paid dividends for both sides. Lendeborg is one of the sport’s best players. Michigan is one of the sport’s best teams.
The Wolverines won a Big Ten title in the regular season. They earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament as a result. Lendeborg averaged 14.6 points to lead the team. He also chipped in 7.0 boards and 3.2 assists.
The big man is a two-way threat. He’s earned his NIL salary in Ann Arbor. He claims, however, to have had a much more lucrative offer.
The transfer rejected Kentucky.
Yaxel Lendeborg spoke with the AP ahead of Michigan’s March Madness opener. He says the Wildcats promised to make him much wealthier.
“They started the number with $7 to 9 (million). They were pretty much going off on the route like we’ll pay him anything to get here.”
-Yaxel Lendeborg
Lendeborg paints a picture of a desperate Kentucky team. This is a program that spent a reported $22 million on its roster in 2025-26.
That $7-9 million salary would’ve been 2x more than what most believe Lendeborg is being paid at Michigan. Throughout the process, though, he’s expressed that NIL was not the main factor in his recruitment.
“I was raised without it, and I went my whole life without it. 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?”
-Yaxel Lendeborg
Still, some are skeptical that he’d leave upwards of $5 million on the table to reject Kentucky for Michigan. The Wildcats’ supposed offer would’ve made him college basketball’s highest paid player.
Whether you believe the claims or not, Yaxel Lendeborg is a Michigan Wolverine. He is getting paid handsomely to play in Ann Arbor.
The marriage has been perfect for both sides thus far. They’ll look to make a run to the national championship this March.