Pope responds - Yaxel Lendeborg

blueblood2767

Redshirt
Nov 18, 2025
35
36
18
if this is true $7-$ million- then you know players don't want to be at UK. Hell, we couldn't lure a coach here. UK had to settle on Pope. He was most likely the only coach that wanted to be here. Pretty Sad.
 

notFromhere

Heisman
Sep 7, 2016
22,810
67,789
113
They've been talking about him since the end of last year. What else you got?

You're not that stupid. No one was talking about him here nor near as much anywhere as they are now. If you don't get that he's saying something to make himself look good and get even more attention, no one can help you.

Are "they" in the room with you now...?
 

preacherfan

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2003
29,130
4,843
113
Um, your last sentence said, " nobody knows why he did it but people do this stuff All the time."

Sounds like an answer about, no?
yeah, that was poorly worded on my part. I was only intending to say that if he did lie, this is possibly why he would do that.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,897
20,333
103
I liked Popes statement here... he basically said dont believe everything you hear without directly calling the kid a liar.

I like the idea out there that Kentucky does offer that much ridiculous money for the goofs that actually believe it, whoch should be nobody... but if the next Anthony Davis comes along, I hope he thinks we pay that much.
What’s the harm in calling the kid out here, respectfully at least. It’s not like he’s going to play here. A comment such as “yeah we made him what I thought was a really nice offer to play here but unfortunately for us he chose to go elsewhere. Not sure where the 7-9 million figure came from as that is not what was on the table but it was a substantial amount he passed on, but 7-9 million? Not even close.” See that’s not hard
 

AMTGSLB

Sophomore
Mar 17, 2026
125
113
43
You're not that stupid. No one was talking about him here nor near as much anywhere as they are now. If you don't get that he's saying something to make himself look good and get even more attention, no one can help you.

Are "they" in the room with you now...?
Yes, some of they are in fact in this thread. You can go back to threads last year and see your claim is a lie.

He's already a premier player on a top team and was in the conversations for NPOY. He is also a first rounder. How much better is he going to look or more attention is he going to get?


You're making no sense and looking delusional as ****.
 

AMTGSLB

Sophomore
Mar 17, 2026
125
113
43
Oh, IDK...to drive up his number if he comes back...to drive up his draft stock....to get Michigan to give him more than UK in what was likely a close bid....Its not Rocket Science Bro
Why would he come back? He's a senior.

He is already a potential lottery pick. 1st round at worst.

The bidding ended last summer. Why lie now?
 

rick64

Heisman
Jan 25, 2007
25,070
34,943
113
Why not just say something like "we don't disclose the details of the NIL deal proposals with potential players".
 
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Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,322
55,376
100
Lol...how many people have personally attacked on here. I didn't even do anything but call to attention your ability to comprehend what you read, which again was showcased with your response. You do way worse....way worse.
Yeah, you didn’t personally attack him. He said that same crap to me before, when I did no such thing. Fact is, he just dislikes Pope and has from the beginning. It’s really weird, how some of our fans have this mindset. Also, he was always a Cal nut hugger. Idc what he says.
 
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Shaudylo

Heisman
Apr 2, 2011
11,532
25,948
112
At this point it doesn’t matter how Pope responds to anything fans are going to have a problem with it because he is struggling right now .

Winning cures everything . Disappointment keeps people constantly criticizing him no matter the situation .
 

dynastydreamuk

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2010
1,900
1,508
113
What’s the harm in calling the kid out here, respectfully at least. It’s not like he’s going to play here. A comment such as “yeah we made him what I thought was a really nice offer to play here but unfortunately for us he chose to go elsewhere. Not sure where the 7-9 million figure came from as that is not what was on the table but it was a substantial amount he passed on, but 7-9 million? Not even close.” See that’s not hard

I like what you said here and agree... but for some reason all this NIL stuff has to be kept secret. We literally dont have any idea of real numbers anybody is being paid, its all conjecture. So I tend to believe for some reason numbers details can't be given.
 

CatBearPig

All-Conference
Apr 26, 2024
888
1,957
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If someone offered you 7 million would you say they offered 7-9? If they offered 9 million would you say they offered you 7-9? It’s clearly a nonsensical BS claim.
 

UKGrad24

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Apr 2, 2024
3,054
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if this is true $7-$ million- then you know players don't want to be at UK. Hell, we couldn't lure a coach here. UK had to settle on Pope. He was most likely the only coach that wanted to be here. Pretty Sad.
? We never offered anyone, and I mean seriously offered anyone but Drew and Pope. You really think Hurley was given serious offers? He literally can’t leave he just won back to back at UConn, the area he and his wife are from. He wouldn’t leave unless it was for the NBA. If Barnhart made an offer it was simply lip service to pretend he was looking at great coaches. He wasn’t.

Drew was his pick, when that didn’t work the boosters went all in on Pearl. Matt Jones has contacts that confirmed this and before he did a couple of guys connected said it very clearly. They wanted Bruce Pearl and so did many in their circle.

Matt went to bed thinking it was Pearl. I thought it was Pearl for like 5 days. The guy retired for the job most likely. Mitch kills it and goes for Pope who is a control hire. Kentucky could get much, much better coaches than Pope. It’s a blue blood program that makes you absolutely famous and rich lol.
 

anon1777473514

Heisman
Jul 30, 2024
6,464
12,943
113
I don’t have issue with this deflection.

Confirming it would be a bad look for him and the school.

Calling the kid a liar would be worse. A middle aged man who works exclusively with college age kids can’t outright call a college kid a liar and attack the kid’s character and expect to build future good relationships with other college age players.
Bingo. This is the correct answer.
 
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KYFOSSIL

Heisman
Jan 13, 2005
8,461
11,702
62
Yeah, you didn’t personally attack him. He said that same crap to me before, when I did no such thing. Fact is, he just dislikes Pope and has from the beginning. It’s really weird, how some of our fans have this mindset. Also, he was always a Cal nut hugger. Idc what he says.
Yep. The guy is a serious ******* and has been for a while.
 

Seth_C

All-American
Mar 12, 2017
4,724
8,527
96

Kentucky's Pope sounds off on Lendeborg's claim, doesn't rebut it​


Thats the headline. Someone please get Pope some media training lol.
He can’t rebut it. Seriously. He can’t say “this player everyone knows I recruited, he’s a liar.” He can’t. He’s in an absolutely impossible situation. He said everything short of that he could. He called on responsible media to investigate and report. He cannot openly call a form recruit a liar.
 

Seth_C

All-American
Mar 12, 2017
4,724
8,527
96
It is pretty simple. Pope answers with a yes or, a no.

Tactful? I didn't hear anything tactful at all. Pope did everything but answer the question. Why not just be truthful? He could have said yes or no.
No, he straight up cannot. Some of you are complete dipshits. This wasn’t a media outlet reporting on rumors. This was a former recruit outright stating numbers. You want Pope to directly call him out as a liar? Do you ever want us to get a recruit? Pope can’t do that. He can’t. It would be suicide.
 

Loucatfan30

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2024
957
1,203
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What’s the harm in calling the kid out here, respectfully at least. It’s not like he’s going to play here. A comment such as “yeah we made him what I thought was a really nice offer to play here but unfortunately for us he chose to go elsewhere. Not sure where the 7-9 million figure came from as that is not what was on the table but it was a substantial amount he passed on, but 7-9 million? Not even close.” See that’s not hard
Yea just speak plain truth and the issue is resolved. Speak riddles and now AP is doubling down on their story.
 

Loucatfan30

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2024
957
1,203
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At this point it doesn’t matter how Pope responds to anything fans are going to have a problem with it because he is struggling right now .

Winning cures everything . Disappointment keeps people constantly criticizing him no matter the situation .
Just speak plain truth. It is easy for most people.
 

Loucatfan30

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2024
957
1,203
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If someone offered you 7 million would you say they offered 7-9? If they offered 9 million would you say they offered you 7-9? It’s clearly a nonsensical BS claim.
I think the variance was the NIL part from the actual advertising they do. I think the guarantee is the low end. So if you are Pope and you didn't do it just come out and say you didn't. Problem is he probably lied to other agents and players about what they could do so he would be proven to be a liar if he came out and defended himself. Why else can he not answer the actual statement made.
 

UKortho

Heisman
Oct 13, 2015
5,197
10,142
77
Wait there are people that liked his response 😳

That was terrible lol. Man the media sees him as a soft target and they know he’ll get clicks. Pope just gives it to them.

This guy is about to get ran out.

He just keeps getting worse. He is a nationwide laughingstock and will continue to embarrass us every time he opens his mouth. No one respects the dork.

He could have said no comment, he could have told the truth/ but he made a dumb comment about the media.
 
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LargeMarge

Redshirt
Feb 12, 2026
32
34
18
? We never offered anyone, and I mean seriously offered anyone but Drew and Pope. You really think Hurley was given serious offers? He literally can’t leave he just won back to back at UConn, the area he and his wife are from. He wouldn’t leave unless it was for the NBA. If Barnhart made an offer it was simply lip service to pretend he was looking at great coaches. He wasn’t.

Drew was his pick, when that didn’t work the boosters went all in on Pearl. Matt Jones has contacts that confirmed this and before he did a couple of guys connected said it very clearly. They wanted Bruce Pearl and so did many in their circle.

Matt went to bed thinking it was Pearl. I thought it was Pearl for like 5 days. The guy retired for the job most likely. Mitch kills it and goes for Pope who is a control hire. Kentucky could get much, much better coaches than Pope. It’s a blue blood program that makes you absolutely famous and rich lol.
Retired for the job? Come on bruh. He just stepped down 6 months ago 💀 you didn't know Pearl was wanted til Matt said it and now you runnin with it. Quit pretending 🤣🤣🤣
 

Loucatfan30

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2024
957
1,203
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? We never offered anyone, and I mean seriously offered anyone but Drew and Pope. You really think Hurley was given serious offers? He literally can’t leave he just won back to back at UConn, the area he and his wife are from. He wouldn’t leave unless it was for the NBA. If Barnhart made an offer it was simply lip service to pretend he was looking at great coaches. He wasn’t.

Drew was his pick, when that didn’t work the boosters went all in on Pearl. Matt Jones has contacts that confirmed this and before he did a couple of guys connected said it very clearly. They wanted Bruce Pearl and so did many in their circle.

Matt went to bed thinking it was Pearl. I thought it was Pearl for like 5 days. The guy retired for the job most likely. Mitch kills it and goes for Pope who is a control hire. Kentucky could get much, much better coaches than Pope. It’s a blue blood program that makes you absolutely famous and rich lol.
Correct. Anybody saying different is not paying attention to the facts.
 
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Loucatfan30

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2024
957
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Retired for the job? Come on bruh. He just stepped down 6 months ago 💀 you didn't know Pearl was wanted til Matt said it and now you runnin with it. Quit pretending 🤣🤣🤣
So you think Matt Jones is lying about his sources said? We were getting Pearl if not for Mitch's end around with Eli.
 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
3,054
7,594
100
He just keeps getting worse. He is a nationwide laughingstock and will continue to embarrass us every time he opens his mouth. No one respects the dork.

Oh yea. And they know he’s easy and Kentucky fans read lol. He gives them tons of material There was just a hilarious article on SI (no not a fan it’s a sham of what it used to be) about him. And one thing they continued drive home was “BBN is not happy”. Speaking directly to this fan base. They can use his amateur hour routine for clicks and this is only going to get worse.

I remember being here saying Gillispie needed to go, it was similar but worse actually. The place backed the guy until the last hour even with the articles about his antics in full bloom. It’s amazing to me the guy clearly is well above his abilities here. It’s easier to see than Gillispie’s was.
 
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sk73

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2013
3,223
3,285
113
No, he straight up cannot. Some of you are complete dipshits. This wasn’t a media outlet reporting on rumors. This was a former recruit outright stating numbers. You want Pope to directly call him out as a liar? Do you ever want us to get a recruit? Pope can’t do that. He can’t. It would be suicide.
I think you are making the recruiting process too complicated. It seems that you are saying that if Pope says yes or no, that we will never get a recruit. Name a recruit we have now please.
I really haven't seen a video of Yaxel making the money statement. If you have, can you pass it on?
 

Loucatfan30

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2024
957
1,203
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Legit question: Your beef with Pope seems ultra personal.

You constantly discredit his character. Did he do something to you or is it just you being mad Cal’s not here anymore?

You have had a vendetta against him from day 1. You were crushing him at all times last year too.

I am not flaming you. Genuinely curious.
I don't know about ukbb4ever but beef with Pope not personal. I don't think it is helpful people standing up for his character when none of us know him at all. I know at least one player that he has misled about their role on the team. I am sure there are others. That speaks to his character. My issue is he didn't do anything in his past coaching life to indicate he can do this job. He has not done much since he has been here to make me feel as if this is true Ky basketball. We got rid of Cal to get back to the top. I think they said today on TV the Duke record the last 2 years in 65 wins and 5 losses. That is the standard we should be judged against. Pope could NEVER get us the that level.
 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
3,054
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Retired for the job? Come on bruh. He just stepped down 6 months ago 💀 you didn't know Pearl was wanted til Matt said it and now you runnin with it. Quit pretending 🤣🤣🤣
I’ve already explained to posters I’ve known or some that are trustworthy my position and how it happened, where it comes from, I’ve said it in private. I’m not going to do it here. But yes I was told by some that would know, and Matt also said he went to bed thinking it was Pearl. The Pearl retirement is really all you need to know. That wasn’t for congress or the senate lol

This is kind of comical. It’s the same responses people had when it was brought to attention that Mitch blocked Calipari. “yea right, Cal was hired by Mitch” yada yada….Dumbass stupid nonsenses it’s the same crap. This board repeats the past consistently it’s wild. Pearl likely wanted the father son duo for the first in history, he gets Kentucky, he gets his ship, story lines for that family forever. And he gets to uptake Calipari doing it, which Pearl wouldn’t be able to resist. All of that is too much.

But you’re free to sit over there and think you get it. Won’t stop ya.
 

Loucatfan30

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Apr 11, 2024
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I figure it was a lie, my guess UK made him a decent offer and Michigan topped it, why he is lying it only known to that ki
Sure that is what you think. IF that is what happened then respond as such. Don't hide out like a P***Y.
 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
3,054
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I don't know about ukbb4ever but beef with Pope not personal. I don't think it is helpful people standing up for his character when none of us know him at all. I know at least one player that he has misled about their role on the team. I am sure there are others. That speaks to his character. My issue is he didn't do anything in his past coaching life to indicate he can do this job. He has not done much since he has been here to make me feel as if this is true Ky basketball. We got rid of Cal to get back to the top. I think they said today on TV the Duke record the last 2 years in 65 wins and 5 losses. That is the standard we should be judged against. Pope could NEVER get us the that level.
It’s the same deal they do with Calipari “you just hate Cal” that we heard ad nauseam non stop when you didn’t worship him. They changed the way they say it which I’m glad, it became such a cringe line. you jUsT hAtE cOw!!! Omg it was bad.

Now it seems to be “what do you have against Pope! You’re always on him!!” Yea he’s losing in record fashion and can’t recruit and is pretty awful at this job but no reason to have anything against him at all.
 
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Loucatfan30

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Anyone who believes we offered that kid $7M-$9M is drunk or just stupid
Anyone that believes that we can be embarrassed by a kid and not respond because we don't want to hurt the kids feelings is worse than stupid. He didn't respond plainly because the truth does not fit our best narrative. If you get in a tit for tat argument then the truth comes out and the thing he is hiding is worse than the accusations leveled against us.
 

Loucatfan30

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Apr 11, 2024
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It’s not personal at all. He was one of my favorite players on the ‘96 team.

I really don’t know how anyone could dislike Pope on a personal level.

And it has nothing to do with Cal. I said from the time I started posting here that it was time for Cal to go.

Nor did I crush him last year. Until the forfeit against Alabama in the SEC.

It’s purely UK basketball. Pope is not the guy. I guess it does become personal at some point when UK basketball has been such a huge part of my life since I was old enough to know what it was.

And I was glad we hired Pope. I’m not one of those against him from day 1.

I actually thought he would kill it here. The reason I thought Cal should go was because of the players first. I wanted a guy that was program first.

Pope is that in spades. But he’s the wrong one.

I can’t understand how anyone watching doesn’t see that.

As far as who to believe in this case I do know that Pope had a blank checkbook. I know he was not handcuffed by JMI.

And Pope did not say it wasn’t true.

I base my opinion on what I know. And it’s just that. An opinion.
There is no program first any more. It is players first and last. Not having someone that knows this is a HUGE ISSUE.
 

Loucatfan30

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Critical thinking is apparently a thing of the past.

Pope's answer was basically if he comments or refutes one stupid rumor, then he will be expected to respond to all of them. Of which there are a lot surrounding this program with this fanbase. No problem whatsoever with this answer
Another way of saying the truth hurts more than the perception of the truth. So I will try to word salad my way around it like I always do.
 

Loucatfan30

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Apr 11, 2024
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Wait there are people that liked his response 😳

That was terrible lol. Man the media sees him as a soft target and they know he’ll get clicks. Pope just gives it to them.

This guy is about to get ran out.
Lets all hope he gets ran out!
 
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