Yaxel Lendeborg Reveals Kentucky Offered $7M-$9M in CBB Transfer Portal, Explains Michigan Decision

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg was the top player available in last year's transfer portal and chose the Wolverines over Kentucky. But it wasn't because the Wildcats didn't make him an extremely lucrative offer.

"They started the number with $7-9 million," he told the Associated Press. "They were pretty much going off on the route like we'll pay him anything to get here."

Lendeborg said his decision was about much more than money.

"I was raised without it and I went my whole life without it," he noted. "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 [Michigan head coach Dusty May] was he didn't talk about money at all. It was all about making me better and helping me achieve my goals."

It's hard to imagine any regrets about that decision (outside of the folks in Kentucky, of course).

Lendeborg, 23, averaged 14.6 points, seven rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. He led Michigan to a 31-3 record and a No. 1 seed at this week's NCAA tournament, alongside being named the Big Ten Player of the Year.

But the UAB transfer's impact on the Wolverines has gone beyond the stat sheet.

"The thing that's been most impressive about Yaxel is how great of a teammate he is, and how much he's embraced our culture and the way things are done here," May told the AP.

Even if it cost him a few bucks.