As the college basketball offseason reaches its midpoint, most Division I programs have locked in their rosters for the upcoming 2026‑27 campaign, with only a handful of late‑breaking NBA draft withdrawals left to sort out.
Former Utes Still Searching for Homes
Four former Utah players remain in the transfer portal, each carrying a distinct statistical footprint from their time in Salt Lake City. Obomate Abbey, who logged 2.5 points, 2.2 assists and 1.6 rebounds in a single season, is joined by Josh Hayes, who contributed 2.8 points and 2 rebounds before exiting, Jahki Howard, who appeared in six games with modest totals, and Jacob Patrick, whose season was cut short by injury after he averaged 7.2 points and 1.4 rebounds.
The narrative shifts when seven former Utes secure new destinations, four of them pledging to power‑conference programs. Their commitments span institutions such as the University of North Carolina, Weber State, McNeese State, the University of Kansas, Mississippi State, Morgan State and West Virginia University, collectively accounting for roughly 63.7 % of Utah’s scoring output in the 2025‑26 season.
Coaches and analysts alike are watching how these moves will reshape the competitive balance across conferences, especially as the early entry withdrawal deadline looms on May 27. The final destinations of the remaining portal players could still tip the scales for several mid‑major programs looking to bolster their lineups before the next season begins.