In yet another back-breaker for mid-major schools, New Mexico Star guard Donovan Dent has officially entered the transfer portal. The superstar won Mountain West Player of the Year honors for his incredible play in leading New Mexico to an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. Immediately upon his name entering the portal, big-name programs from all across the country will be reaching out to get Dent to play for their school. Why is Dent such a hot commodity? What kind of schools will be the favorites to land a player of Dent’s caliber? Let’s dive in.
New Mexico Star, Mountain West POY Donovan Dent Enters Transfer Portal
An Elite, Experienced Guard
In what is considered by many to be the best mid-major conference in basketball, Dent made the competition look far weaker than it was. Dent averaged 20.4 points, 6.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. He stuffed the stat sheet on both sides of the ball and affected the game every minute he was on the floor. While scoring 20.4 points per game, he managed to shoot 49% from the floor and 40.9% from three. That kind of efficiency is rare in a guard as small as Dent, something major programs will undoubtedly be drawn towards.
Dent also provides rare experience in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, he led New Mexico to a surprising Mountain West Championship run that earned them a spot in the NCAA Tournament. This year, he stepped up even further, dominating the competition and helping build an at-large resume. They upset Marquette in the first round. With an increased pressure to win now, Dent’s experience as a guard in the NCAA Tournament will increase his transfer intrigue.
Every Program Will Want Donovan Dent as a Transfer
Do you need a guard who can pass the ball around for easy buckets? Donovan Dent is your answer. Do you need a guard who can get his own shot and hit it at an elite rate? Dent has that ability. Do you need a guard who will control the possession on offense in a tight game? He can do that, too. Do you need a guard who will play gritty defense to spark a late run in a tight game? You guessed it, Dent. Ultimately, Dent is the perfect transfer guard for virtually every team. Whether you have a great guard already, he should be a target.
So, where will he go? I would look for frontcourt-heavy teams or teams with a lot of guards leaving. North Carolina will lose a lot of players, including possibly Elliot Cadeau. While they have plenty of holes to fill, they will undoubtedly reach out to the Lobo transfer. I’d also look at key rebuilding teams. Villanova, with their new coach, and Virginia, with Ryan Odom, are championship-caliber programs that could use a star like Dent to become the new face of the program. If Rich Pitino lands a big-time job Dent could follow his coach.
The Last Word
Overall, Donovan Dent will be arguably the highest-rated transfer in the country. Whether he goes to a blue blood or not, he will immediately change whatever program he entered. While the small conferences keep losing their stars, the talent showing up in the transfer portal is elite. If you thought there were constant changes in college basketball now, just wait until next year.
Photo credit: © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
