Kentucky Receives Encouraging News on Yaxel Lendeborg Following Meeting with Mark Pope
A well-regarded analyst suggests that Lendeborg may reach a decision in the coming days.
While Indianapolis has brought its share of struggles for Kentucky, Chicago might serve as a place of opportunity for the Wildcats. Historically, positive outcomes have emerged there, and another could be on the horizon following a meeting between head coach Mark Pope and standout transfer Yaxel Lendeborg.
According to KSR’s Jacob Polacheck, Lendeborg entered the transfer portal on Monday and promptly sat down with Pope. Kentucky wasted no time in engaging with the highly sought-after player, who has just one year of college eligibility left.
Last season at UAB, Lendeborg put up impressive numbers, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game over 37 contests. He played an average of 33.6 minutes per game while shooting 52.2% from the field, 35.7% from beyond the arc, and 75.7% from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, Joe Tipton of On3 has reported that Kentucky is among the leading programs in pursuit of Lendeborg. Tipton also mentioned, “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Yaxel pick a college by this weekend,” which bodes well for Kentucky, given that they’ve already met with him face-to-face.
It’s important to note that Lendeborg is also testing the NBA Draft waters. Even if he commits to a school in the near future, his final decision regarding where he will play next season may not be set in stone until May.
That said, if Kentucky is prepared to secure his commitment now, it likely indicates their confidence that he will ultimately remain in the college game for another year.
