Yaxel Lendeborg joined the Michigan Wolverines for the 2025-26 season. After playing two seasons with UAB, he was a hot prospect entering the transfer portal last year.
During an interview with AP, Lendeborg revealed that the Kentucky Wildcats had reached out to him with a lucrative offer.
“They started the number with $7 to 9 (million), Lendeborg said as per AP News. “They were pretty much going off on the route like we’ll pay him anything to get here.”
However, despite the money, Yaxel Lendeborg decided to join the Michigan Wolverines. He revealed that the reason behind this decision was that he wanted to have a successful future in this profession.
“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.”
Yaxel Landeborg began his collegiate journey with Arizona Western in 2020. In 2023, he transferred to play for the UAB Blazers and spent two seasons with them. In 72 games, he averaged 15.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
This season, Landeborg has played in 33 games for Michigan. He averaged 14.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 3.3 apg and was named the 2026 Big Ten Player of the Year. They lost to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament finale, but qualified for the NCAA Tournament with a 31-3 (19-1 Big Ten) record.
Yaxel Lendeborg injury update
During the Big Ten Tournament loss to Purdue, Yaxel Lendeborg suffered an injury to his left ankle. This raised questions about his availability for their NCAA Tournament opener.
But according to 247Sports’ Alejandro Zuniga, the 2026 Big Ten Player of the Year is expected to be healthy for their upcoming game.
“Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg told me he has a low-ankle sprain and expects to play in the Wolverines’ NCAA Tournament opener,” Zuniga tweeted.
Against the Purdue Boilermakers, Lendeborg scored 20 points with five rebounds and one assist. He also converted eight of the 14 field goals attempted.
This season is head coach Dusty May’s second year with the program. During his 2024-25 debut campaign, he led the team to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament, where they suffered a 78-65 loss to the Auburn Tigers. Can the Wolverines establish themselves as a national championship contender this season?
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