Yaxel Lendeborg, a highly regarded transfer, has been generating significant buzz in the transfer portal, and now, Kentucky is among the schools that have reached out to him. Lendeborg, who stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 240 pounds, hails from New Jersey and was initially an unranked recruit in the class of 2021. He spent time at Arizona Western Junior College, earning two-time JUCO All-American honors before transferring to UAB for the 2024-25 season.
During the past season at UAB, Lendeborg showcased impressive stats, averaging 17.7 points on 52.2% shooting (including 35.7% from beyond the arc), 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game. His performance has positioned him as one of the top players in the portal this cycle.
Kentucky, under coach Mark Pope, offers a compelling draw with its successful system and robust NIL opportunities, making it a challenging destination for any other program. However, the competition is fierce, as Lendeborg is attracting interest from numerous powerhouse programs. Additionally, he’s drawing attention from the NBA, with some mock drafts predicting he could be selected in the late first round. This potential professional opportunity could be hard to pass up if he believes his path leads there after further evaluations.
