The Auburn Tigers are making their second Final Four appearance in program history under head coach Bruce Pearl. The last time Auburn reached this stage was during the 2018-2019 season when they fell to the eventual national champions, the Virginia Cavaliers. Now, as they prepare for a critical showdown against the Florida Gators, Auburn has also received a major recruiting development.
According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Auburn is among the frontrunners in the pursuit of highly sought-after transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, a standout power forward from the UAB Blazers. The Tigers join Alabama, Kentucky, and Michigan as the top contenders for Lendeborg, who is currently ranked as the best overall player and power forward in the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Rankings.
Lendeborg had an impressive season with UAB, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. His contributions helped UAB advance to the AAC Tournament final, though the team ultimately fell short in their NCAA Tournament bid after an 84-72 loss to Memphis.
Despite Auburn’s strong interest, recruiting efforts will face a temporary hurdle due to the NCAA’s dead period from April 3 to April 10, which prevents in-person visits. As of now, has not scheduled any official visits, leaving his decision-making process open-ended.
Meanwhile, Auburn is gearing up for a high-stakes rematch against Florida. The Gators previously defeated the Tigers 90-81 during the regular season, but this upcoming contest holds significantly greater weight. Auburn punched its ticket to the Final Four by securing a hard-fought 70-64 victory over Michigan State. However, the win was not without its challenges, as star forward Johni Broome suffered an injury scare. Broome left the game after injuring his elbow but later returned in the second half. He sustained the injury while attempting to block a shot, landing awkwardly on both his ankle and elbow.
As Auburn prepares for its biggest game of the season, the team remains focused on the task ahead while also keeping an eye on the recruitment battle for Lendeborg. His potential addition could provide a significant boost to the program moving forward. For now, the Tigers aim to avenge their regular-season loss and advance to the national championship game.
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