Yaxel Lendeborg has already earned more money than he ever imagined as March Madness begins, allowing him to pay his mother’s bills and buy her a new car. But the Michigan forward could have been even richer.
The 6’9”, 240-pound Wolverines standout, born in Puerto Rico to Dominican parents, was a prime target in the transfer portal last year, and Kentucky was prepared to make him the highest-paid player in college basketball.
“They started the number at $7 to $9 million,” Lendeborg told The Associated Press. “They were pretty much going to pay me whatever to get me here.”
Instead, he chose to play for Dusty May and the Wolverines, despite the UAB alum saying he would have earned roughly three times more money had he played for Mark Pope and the Wildcats. Lendeborg’s decision highlights a growing trend in college athletics, where athletes are weighing financial opportunities against development and fit within a program.
“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 due to the fact that 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.”
So far, it’s working out wonderfully for both Lendeborg and Michigan. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year, leading the Wolverines to a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament, which begins Thursday. The program is aiming for its second national championship, and first since 1989.
Lendeborg, 23, represents a positive outcome of the transfer portal, providing a pathway for progression after stops at a junior college in Arizona and a four-year program at UAB. His journey is a testament to perseverance and a focus on long-term goals over immediate financial gain.
While those following college basketball this season have witnessed Lendeborg’s on-court impact, many may be unaware of his unique story – and the pain that fuels him each day.
A Journey From Puerto Rico to Ann Arbor
Born in Puerto Rico, Lendeborg moved to the Dominican Republic and then Ohio before spending the latter part of his childhood in New Jersey. His early sporting passion was baseball, but video games initially held more appeal than academics. That changed after a frank conversation with his mother, Yissel Raposo.
Raposo challenged him to complete ten college courses in a year to earn his high school diploma. He rose to the occasion, improving his academic standing enough to play organized basketball during the final eleven games of his senior season. His mother then successfully advocated for his acceptance into Arizona Western College. After three years at the junior college level, including a COVID-shortened season, he transferred to UAB and flourished.
Last year, Lendeborg joined Larry Bird as one of only two Division I basketball players to record 600 points, 400 rebounds, and 150 assists in a single season. This season, leading a talented and transfer-laden Michigan team, his numbers are still impressive: he averages 14.6 points, seven rebounds, and over three assists per game, leading the team in scoring.
“If he’s on the court, you’ve got an advantage,” said Michigan coach Dusty May, as reported by the Associated Press.
Lendeborg recently totaled 53 points in two victories over rival Michigan State. Spartans coach Tom Izzo acknowledged Lendeborg’s impact, stating he lived up to the hype: “He handled the ball, he passed the ball, he shot.”
Off the court, Lendeborg is also a respected teammate, often wearing his teammates’ jerseys during warm-ups as a gesture of appreciation. “The most impressive thing about Yaxel is how good of a teammate he is and how he’s adapted to our culture and the way things are done here,” May said.
Despite being able to afford his mother’s travel to games, she has only attended a few due to a recent diagnosis of appendiceal cancer just before the season began. “She’s doing well,” Lendeborg said. “She has three chemo sessions left and then she’ll be done with treatment.”
Lendeborg will never forget, nor take for granted, his mother’s unconditional love, which transformed his life. “A lot of times when I think about it, it gets me emotional,” he said quietly, seated in a chair at the Crisler Center under the Michigan national championship banner from 1989. “I always felt out of place, especially under the lights. It’s been a dream.”
A dream his mother envisioned. “Yaxel never believed in himself as a kid,” she said in a phone interview Monday. “I always talked to him with optimism, telling him he had talent and could succeed in basketball. I’m so happy and proud that he now knows that too.”
Michigan will initiate its NCAA Tournament run on Thursday as a No. 1 seed, with Lendeborg leading the charge. The Wolverines will look to secure their second national championship, and first since 1989. The story of Yaxel Lendeborg is a reminder that success isn’t always measured in dollars, but in the pursuit of dreams and the unwavering support of family.
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