The Candy 16 is about for the 2025 males’s NCAA match, however a number of the greatest information in faculty basketball is occurring off the courtroom. 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 title.
Donovan Dent led the New Mexico Lobos to a win within the NCAA match only a few days in the past. Now he’s getting into the switch portal for his remaining season of eligibility, the place he’s sure to be one of many prime obtainable gamers available on the market. Dent is reportedly contemplating a return to New Mexico, however he’s set as much as have an extended checklist of suitors and draw prime NIL {dollars} from the largest packages within the sport.
We ranked Dent because the thirtieth greatest participant in March Insanity this 12 months. The 6’2 guard is without doubt one of the quickest gamers within the nation with the ball in his palms, exhibiting off large passing imaginative and prescient and improved scoring contact. Dent can beat defenders off the dribble and make performs for his teammates, together with his 35.8 % help fee rating within the top-25 of DI. He turned a rattling good scorer this season, too, averaging 20.4 factors per recreation as a good rim finisher with a stable floater and an improved three-point stroke. Dent hit 40.9 % of his threes 12 months, albeit on solely 66 makes an attempt. Nonetheless, his three-point quantity and accuracy are each trending in the fitting route, 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 taking pictures in opposition to Michigan State in a spherical of 32 loss two days later.
Dent has such a coveted talent set for the school recreation as a pure level guard who can get his group taking part in at an excellent quick tempo whereas distributing the ball to his teammates and scoring effectively 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 packages are searching for level guard assist.
The place may Dent land? Listed below are a couple of wild guesses:
Kentucky Wildcats: Lamont Butler and Koby Brea are out of eligibility after this 12 months. Kerr Kriisa may 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 actually make room for Dent in the event that they wish to.
North Carolina Tar Heels: North Carolina is traditionally recognized 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 group nonetheless taking part in within the NCAA match this 12 months. Toppin faces an enchanting stay-or-go NBA Draft choice, 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 massive boys may completely throw their weight round on this recruitment. Alabama wants to switch Mark Sears, and Florida may need to switch Walter Clayton Jr. The SEC at all times pays up, and Dent is a good match within the league’s up-tempo model 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 choice can be about what’s most vital to him in a brand new program, and the way a lot they will pay him. He’s set as much as do very effectively for himself after an incredible junior 12 months for New Mexico.