Not all teams are created through the transfer portal.

The UAB basketball program officially announced the signing of Arizona Western duo Yaxel Lendeborg and Marquis Hargrove to a star-studded JUCO class that includes three of the top 10 players in the nation.

Lendelborg is a two-time NJCAA ALL-American and was named the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in helping lead Arizona Westen to the NJCAA Divison I Region I title. He was named ACCAC Freshman of the Year for the 2021-2022 season.

The New Jersey native clocks in a 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds and averaged a double-double the past two seasons for the Matadors. Lendelborg started four of 14 games played during the NJCAA’s COVID season (2020-2021) and played in every game his redshirt freshman season while averaging 12 points, 11 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks.

Lendelborg improved on those numbers this past year and finished as Arizona Western’s leading scorer (17.2 ppg) and the NJCAA’s leading rebounder (13 rpg). He added 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game and had the third-best shooting percentage (72.7 percent) in the NJCAA.

“Yaxel is a big, long, versatile athlete who is going to add real value to our front court next season.” UAB head coach Andy Kennedy said, “He can impact the game in so many ways with his ability to dribble, pass and shoot. Yax is also an excellent defender who rebounds the ball at a very high rate.”

Hargrove, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard, was second in scoring behind Lendeborg this past season for Arizona Western and signed with the latter during the same recruiting cycle. He played 13 games during the COVID 2020-2021 season, earning an extra year of eligibility and averaging 7.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 steals, and started four games in his second season while averaging 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 31 total games. In his final season, the Sacramento, California native started all 33 games, shot 47.1 percent overall and 37.9 percent from distance and averaged 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals.

“Marquis is a great addition to our program.” Kennedy said, “His ability to make shots and create opportunities for others through his feel for the game will be a tremendous addition to our backcourt.”

Lendelborg and Hargrove join a JUCO class that includes — according to JUCOrecruiting.com — second-ranked Christian Coleman (South Plains College) and sixth-ranked Alejandro Vasquez. Additionally, UAB signed prep standout KJ Satterfield, who attended the same prep school as Vasquez and former UAB great Jordan “Jelly” Walker, and Ole Miss’ James White and UNA’s Daniel Ortiz.

The Blazers lost six seniors from a team that finished the 2022-2023 season at 29-10 overall — setting the program record for wins in a season — and runner-up to North Texas in the NIT. Rongie Gordon and Tyler Bertram entered the transfer portal following the season and Eric Gaines is currently testing the NBA waters while retaining his eligibility.