The Candy 16 is about for the 2025 males’s NCAA match, however among the largest information in school basketball is going on off the court docket. The teaching carousel is already in full swing with Indiana, Texas, NC State, Iowa, and extra filling their openings. The switch portal is already popping, too, and now it has its first headline identify.
Donovan Dent led the New Mexico Lobos to a win within the NCAA match just some days in the past. Now he’s coming into the switch portal for his ultimate season of eligibility, the place he’s sure to be one of many prime out there gamers in the marketplace. Dent is reportedly contemplating a return to New Mexico, however he’s set as much as have an extended record of suitors and draw prime NIL {dollars} from the most important applications within the sport.
We ranked Dent because the thirtieth finest participant in March Insanity this 12 months. The 6’2 guard is among the quickest gamers within the nation with the ball in his palms, displaying off large passing imaginative and prescient and improved scoring contact. Dent can beat defenders off the dribble and make performs for his teammates, along with his 35.8 p.c help charge rating within the top-25 of DI. He grew to become a rattling good scorer this season, too, averaging 20.4 factors per sport as an honest rim finisher with a strong floater and an improved three-point stroke. Dent hit 40.9 p.c of his threes 12 months, albeit on solely 66 makes an attempt. Nonetheless, his three-point quantity and accuracy are each trending in the proper path, which makes him even harder to cowl given his quickness off the bounce.
Dent had 21 factors, six assists, three rebounds, and two blocks (with eight turnovers) as No. 10 seed New Mexico defeated No. 7 seed Marquette within the first spherical of the 2025 NCAA match. He completed with 14 factors and 6 assists on 7-of-18 capturing towards Michigan State in a spherical of 32 loss two days later.
Dent has such a coveted ability set for the school sport as a pure level guard who can get his staff enjoying at a brilliant quick tempo whereas distributing the ball to his teammates and scoring nicely himself. We noticed a number of gamers crack $1 million within the switch portal final 12 months with Johnell Davis at Arkansas, Oumar Ballo at Indiana, and Coleman Hawkins at Kansas State (who reportedly landed $2 million). Dent ought to be inside that vary given what number of applications are on the lookout for level guard assist.
The place might Dent land? Listed below are just a few wild guesses:
Kentucky Wildcats: Lamont Butler and Koby Brea are out of eligibility after this 12 months. Kerr Kriisa might return to Lexington, however he can play off the ball, too. Kentucky has a pair of elite freshmen guards coming in with Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis, however they will definitely make room for Dent in the event that they wish to.
North Carolina Tar Heels: North Carolina is traditionally identified for enjoying quick, and Dent is a perfect match to push an up-tempo system. UNC wants a degree guard with RJ Davis set to graduate, and head coach Hubert Davis ought to be working with a mixture of urgency and desperation after a poor season. UNC ought to have extra NIL {dollars} to work with, and Dent is an apparent goal.
Texas Tech Crimson Raiders: Dent’s former teammate JT Toppin transferred to Texas Tech after his profitable freshman 12 months, and had an incredible sophomore season for a staff nonetheless enjoying within the NCAA match this 12 months. Toppin faces a captivating stay-or-go NBA Draft resolution, and he’d possible have nice issues to say to Dent about his expertise in Lubbock no matter what he chooses.
Alabama and Florida: The SEC large boys might completely throw their weight round on this recruitment. Alabama wants to exchange Mark Sears, and Florida might need to exchange Walter Clayton Jr. The SEC all the time pays up, and Dent is a good match within the league’s up-tempo fashion of play.
The chances for Dent are countless. I wouldn’t be shocked if he ended up at Texas, Arizona, Louisville, St. John’s, or UConn, both. His resolution will probably be about what’s most essential to him in a brand new program, and the way a lot they will pay him. He’s set as much as do very nicely for himself after an incredible junior 12 months for New Mexico.
