Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg Seeks Revenge Against Alabama After Transfer Portal Snub Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg is approaching the Sweet 16 matchup against Alabama with a mix of determination and unresolved feelings over his recruitment history. During a press conference on Thursday, Lendeborg revealed that the Crimson Tide, his third-round opponent, had been a top target for him after leaving the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) last year. Despite his hopes, Alabama did not recruit him, a decision that left him feeling “a little bit” hurt, though he emphasized there was no lingering resentment. Lendeborg’s journey began when he entered the transfer portal after two seasons at UAB, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s 2024 NCAA tournament run. He had hoped Alabama would show interest, but the Crimson Tide’s lack of outreach frustrated him. “Once I entered the transfer portal out of UAB, I was hoping to get recruited by Alabama. And when I didn’t, it kind of hurt me a little bit,” he said, adding that the rejection “bothered me” but did not lead to bitterness. Instead, he joined the No. 1-seeded Wolverines, now facing Alabama in the Sweet 16. The matchup carries personal weight for Lendeborg, who described the game as an opportunity for “extra motivation.” He acknowledged the emotional stakes but clarified that his focus remains on the team’s performance. “Not in the sense where I’m like, ‘This is what you guys missed out on,’ but like, you guys could have at least called,” he said. “There’s no bad blood. Maybe I didn’t fit the system.” Alabama head coach Nate Oats confirmed the team had reached out to Lendeborg but admitted the recruitment process was brief. “We did make a call. It never got very deep,” Oats said.#alabama_crimson_tide #michigan_wolverines #yaxel_lendeborg #nate_oats #university_of_alabama_birmingham
