Trending Now - Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg Declines $7-9 Million Offer From Kentucky

WHO:

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball player

Dusty May, head coach of Michigan Wolverines

Mark Pope, head coach of Kentucky Wildcats

Dick Vitale, ESPN broadcaster

Yissel Raposo, Lendeborg's mother

WHAT:

Lendeborg received an offer from Kentucky Wildcats between $7 million to $9 million to play basketball.

Lendeborg chose to play for Michigan instead of Kentucky.

Lendeborg is averaging 14.4 points and 7 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 season.

Michigan earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Kentucky has a record of 21-13 for the 2025-26 season.

Lendeborg was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.

WHERE:

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kentucky, United States

United Center, Chicago, Illinois (location of the Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship)

WHEN:

Lendeborg's interview with The Associated Press was published on March 16th, 2026.

Michigan won the Big Ten Championship on March 8th, 2026.

The NCAA Tournament begins on March 19th, 2026.

WHY:

Lendeborg chose Michigan for long-term career considerations rather than immediate financial gain.

Lendeborg was motivated by his upbringing and his mother's influence on his education and basketball career.

HOW:

Lendeborg's mother encouraged him to take 10 community college classes in one year to graduate from high school.

Lendeborg transferred from UAB to Michigan after playing at a junior college in Arizona and a mid-major program in Alabama.

(UPDATED March 17, 2026 17:25 UTC)

Yaxel Lendeborg, a standout player for the Michigan Wolverines, has turned down a lucrative offer from the Kentucky Wildcats, reportedly between $7 million and $9 million, to continue his basketball career in Ann Arbor. The Big Ten Player of the Year is averaging 14.4 points and 7 rebounds per game this season, helping Michigan secure the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, which kicks off on March 19. Lendeborg's decision was influenced by his upbringing and the encouragement of his mother, who played a significant role in his education and basketball journey.