Yaxel Lendeborg says Kentucky offered him $7-9 million to transfer there instead of Michigan

Yaxel Lendeborg has been everything Michigan basketball wanted — and then some. In making his pitch for Lendeborg to win Big Ten Player of the Year earlier this month, Wolverines coach Dusty May said, “... he’s done everything.

He’s outperformed his contract; he’s outperformed all expectations up to this point. " "Outperformed his contract" raised a few eyebrows, but such is life in college sports' new era. Armour: Big Ten poised for another year of March sadness without men's title But according to a recent interview , the Michigan All-American, who did eventually win Big Ten Player of the Year , could have had a much larger contract.

Lendeborg told the Associated Press he received a more lucrative offer from Kentucky when he was deciding where to transfer from UAB. "They started the number with $7 (million) to $9 (million)," he said. "They were pretty much going off on the route like, ' We’ll pay him anything to get here.

' " Lendeborg was the most highly sought-after transfer candidate ahead of the 2025-26 season following his senior year at UAB, where he averaged 17. 7 points and 11. 4 rebounds per game.