Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg turned down Kentucky offer to be college basketball’s highest-paid player

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. “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?”

Lendeborg was named Big Ten Player of the Year while leading Michigan to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines open play Thursday with aspirations of winning their first national championship since 1989. This is the first time in the past two where the Wolverines are favored to make the make the Final Four. 

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Lendeborg joined Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Bird as the only Division I players to record at least 600 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in a season at UAB. While his numbers dipped slightly this year, he still leads Michigan with 14.6 points per game and contributes seven rebounds and more than three assists.

For Lendeborg, the opportunity not the money proved to be the biggest reward. He'll now try to bring home a title to Ann Arbor. 

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