A year ago, Aidan Mahaney was viewed as one of the best players in the 2024 transfer portal. He had averaged around 14 ppg in two years at Saint Mary’s, shooting around 40% from three-point range. He went to UConn but unfortunately, never got things going.
Mahaney averaged just 4.5 ppg in 12 mpg, shooting under 38% from the field and not being in the main rotation for key games. As expected, the junior guard left for the portal again. But this time, his options were more limited. After getting interest from programs such as Fresno State and Florida Atlantic, Mahaney made his next move.
UC Santa Barbara is one of the top teams in the Big West annually. They went 21-13 this past season and finished 5th in the standings. Like with many mid-major teams, the Gauchos lost plenty of production but also brings back key pieces such as 6’6 wing Jason Fontenet (9.9 ppg and 6.0 rpg) and Colin Smith (8.7 ppg) are joined by not only Mahaney but also a couple other transfers.
Miro Little is a former top-50 prospect out of high school who started at Baylor before playing at Utah this past season. He started 12 of 33 games, producing 5.3 ppg and 2.9 apg. Moving down to the Big West could allow him to break out and alongside Mahaney could be a featured backcourt duo in the conference.
The other newcomer to the roster is Hosana Kitenge, a 6’7 forward who missed all of the past season at Louisiana. In the year prior, he averaged 11.9 ppg and 6.5 rpg as an all-league performer. The Big West lost a ton of frontcourt stars, so a healthy Kitenge can be a factor.
UC Santa Barbara will have plenty of potential for next season but the newcomers, led by Mahaney won’t have an easy go of it in the Big West, which is still a good conference. But on paper, the Gauchos have a good shot at competing for the title.