The Transfer Portal is in full swing since officially opening on Monday morning and Tuesday saw one of the biggest additions. After three brilliant seasons at New Mexico, Donovan Dent announced his intention to transfer just a few days after leading the Lobos into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Originally from Riverside, California, Dent arrived in Albuquerque in 2022, joining Richard Pitino’s program as part of his first official recruiting class. His freshman year saw him carve out a solid role as a backup, starting a pair of games while averaging 5.6 points and 2.3 assists per game during a 22-win season for the Lobos.
BREAKING: New Mexico guard Donovan Dent, the Mountain West POY, is entering the transfer portal, he told @On3sports.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 25, 2025
The 6-2 junior averaged 20.6 points and 6.4 assists per game this season. Shot 41% from three. Will consider a possible return to New Mexico.… pic.twitter.com/9ZUl4VTsRM
These last few seasons are where Dent has really come alive as a full-time starter in New Mexico’s backcourt. He was paramount in the Lobos’ success last season, as New Mexico won the MWC Tournament and returned to the Big Dance for the first time in nearly a decade. Dent averaged more than 14 points per game and became a reliable shot maker, but his junior year is where he really made his money.
He averaged 20.4 points and 6.4 assists per game as a junior, leading the Mountain West in scoring while making nearly 41% of his 3-point attempts. Dent was named MWC Player of the Year, helped lead the Lobos back to the NCAA Tournament, and put up 21 points and 6 assists in their upset win over Marquette in the Tournament’s first round.
The former California Mr. Basketball was New Mexico’s first conference player of the year in over a decade and helped deliver the program’s first Tourney win in thirteen seasons. With Pitino’s coaching future in doubt, as he’s been connected to a few jobs already, it’s not a shock to see Dent moving into the Transfer Portal, with little left to prove at the mid-major level.
The Transfer Portal has already been filled to the brim with talent from around the country but Dent is a name that floats to the top. He’s an excellent distributor, is a quick guard who can score from all over the court, and he’s trending in a great direction as a future pro, especially with his improved shot making this past season. Nearly every power conference program in the nation is going to show at least some interest in him and someone will land a very talented senior point guard for this upcoming season.