Mark Pope had a chance to address one of the biggest NIL stories in college basketball this week. He chose the exit ramp instead.
Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg told the Associated Press that Kentucky offered him between “$7 to 9 million” in the transfer portal last offseason. “They were pretty much going off on the route like we’ll pay him anything to get here,” Lendeborg said.
The claim made national headlines and followed Pope straight into his pre-tournament press conference. But it’s his answer that has drawn scrutiny from fans around the country.
Mark Pope was asked about a quote from Yaxel Lendeborg that he was offered between $7-9 million by Kentucky
He doesn’t answer the question and does media commentary instead pic.twitter.com/nS1BNqW9i6
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 19, 2026
Pope Sidesteps the Question
Asked directly about the reported offer ahead of Kentucky’s first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against No. 10 seed Santa Clara, Pope deflected toward the media.
“That’s the circus that comes with Kentucky,” he said. “That’s all part of what makes Kentucky so great… If anybody wants clicks, they can just say any crazy thing, or write any crazy thing, or click any crazy thing about Kentucky and they are going to get clicks.”
He kept going. “There’s been such blurred lines between all media. I don’t think anybody differentiates between social media with someone in their underwear in their basement that has nothing to do vs. the most noted journalist in the world… The line gets blurred together and then we just start reporting what everyone else is reporting.”
“I know that you guys have to come out of here with a headline, and I’m not going to give it to you.”
He never denied the offer. He never confirmed it. He just talked around it.
The Problem With That Response
The media critique might have held water if this story originated from a rumor or an anonymous source. It didn’t. Lendeborg said it himself, on the record, to the Associated Press.
The Athletic’s Sam Venecie called it out directly:
“This is so misguided from Pope that it’s not even funny, it’s moronic. This isn’t just some unnamed report from a questionable media member. Yaxel Lendeborg literally said himself to the AP that he was offered 7-9M. What are you even talking about, dude?”
This is so misguided from Pope that it's not even funny, it's moronic. This isn't just some unnamed report from a questionable media member. Yaxel Lendeborg literally said himself to the AP that he was offered 7-9M.
What are you even talking about, dude? https://t.co/ciViFnfmCk
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 19, 2026
When the “irresponsible report” is a first-person account from the player himself, the basement blogger argument doesn’t survive contact with reality.
Why Lendeborg Said No
Lendeborg’s reasoning for walking away was disarmingly straightforward.
“I was raised without it and I went my whole life without it,” he said. “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 Dusty was he didn’t talk about money at all. It was all about making me better and helping me achieve my goals.”
It proved to be the right call. Lendeborg averaged 14.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, won Big Ten Player of the Year, and anchored a Michigan team that went 31-3 and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the Midwest Region.
A Painful “What-If” for Kentucky
Kentucky spent big trying to fill the void. Kam Williams, Jaland Lowe, Mouhamed Dioubate, Denzel Aberdeen, and Jayden Quaintance arrived and then unraveled. Lowe lasted nine games before shoulder surgery. Quaintance played two before his knee gave out again. ESPN’s Dick Vitale pegged the roster’s cost at roughly $22 million.
The return: a 21-13 record, a 2-5 finish to close the SEC season, and a No. 7 seed in March Madness.
NIL was supposed to give Kentucky the tools to compete at the highest level. Instead, Pope is answering uncomfortable questions about a player who turned down their best offer and thrived because of it. That’s the story no amount of media deflection can spin away.
