Yaxel Lendeborg to Michigan; Kentucky contacts Alabama’s Mouhamed Dioubate

The transfer portal is heating up, and with the college hoops season almost over, the Kentucky Wildcats have been active in trying to round out the roster for the 2025-26 season.

With players like Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe already joining Jasper Johnson and Co. in Lexington, Mark Pope has been trying to figure out what’s next for his squad, and UAB big man Yaxel Lendeborg was among the names to keep an eye on.

However, Lendeborg has officially committed to the Michigan Wolverines, ESPN reported. The 6-foot-9 Lendeborg was a strong prospect, ending as a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year and having been the AAC Tourney MVP as well. He averaged 17.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game this season.

Kentucky and Auburn were both strong contenders for the UAB star, so at the very least, it should be seen as a positive that he won’t be facing the Cats several times next season.

Lendeborg is testing the NBA Draft waters and may very well stay in the draft, so there’s a chance he doesn’t make it to a college campus this fall.

One big man still available is Alabama Crimson Tide forward Mouhamed Dioubate, who Kentucky reportedly reached out to on Friday, per KSR’s Jacob Polacheck.

Set to be a junior with two seasons of eligibility remaining, Dioubate averaged 7.2 points on 61.7% shooting (46.2% from deep on 0.7 3-point attempts per game), 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 16 minutes per game this past season. He logged significant minutes at the 3 and 4 spots, so he’ll give someone depth at multiple spots.

Someone to monitor.