New Headline: Michigan's Lendeborg Cheers on Duke's 'Absolutely Shockingly High' Bid
Wildcats came with a big bank.
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg turned down Kentucky offer to be college basketball’s highest-paid player originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg could have become the highest-paid player in college basketball last offseason.
Instead, he chose a different path. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward revealed that Kentucky offered him an NIL package worth nearly eight figures when he entered the transfer portal after a breakout season at UAB. While he won't say the exact figure, it's pretty significant.
“They started the number with $7 to 9 (million),” Lendeborg told The Associated Press . “They were pretty much going off on the route like we’ll pay him anything to get here. ” The offer would have made him one of the richest players in the NIL era.
But Lendeborg ultimately chose Michigan and Dusty May, seeking development over the massive payday. Needless to say, the bet on himself paid off thus far. “I was raised without it and I went my whole life without it,” Lendeborg said.