The Mountain West Conference has seen a flurry of movement in the transfer portal this offseason, with 81 players from the league electing to explore new destinations. Of those, 47 have already secured transfers, reshaping rosters across the ten‑team circuit.
Who Gained and Who Lost
Grand Canyon emerged as one of the clear winners. The program managed to keep star guard Makaih Williams after he initially entered the portal, while also adding productive transfers such as Blake Barkley, Micah Tucker and Jaden Zimmerman. The team also lost big man Dennis Evans, who saw limited minutes last season, but the incoming talent is expected to bolster the frontcourt.
Hawaii faced the challenge of losing several key scorers but answered with a wave of seven Division‑I transfers, among them Marcus Adams Jr. and Bol Dengdit. The influx of experienced players should help the Rainbow Warriors maintain competitiveness in the conference.
Nevada also posted a net positive. The Wolf Pack retained its top two returners, Elijah Price and Vaughn Weems, and supplemented the roster with several Division‑I transfers. The moves aim to preserve the team's depth while adding fresh talent.
Conversely, several programs posted significant losses. Air Force, despite retaining most of its roster, could not offset the departure of key players and ended up with a net loss. San Jose State saw 13 players enter the portal, including star guard Colby Garland, weakening the squad considerably. UC Davis added only one Division‑I transfer and lost pivotal contributors Nils Cooper and Marcus Wilson, while UNLV lost first‑team All‑Mountain West honoree Dravyn Gibbs‑Lawhorn to Texas Tech. UTEP saw 12 players leave and only six Division‑I transfers arrive, creating uncertainty for the Miners.
New Mexico and Wyoming were viewed as neutral. The Lobos kept Jake Hall and his brother Dax but lost several frontcourt pieces, whereas the Cowboys retained a strong core of returning players and added modest transfer talent.
Looking Ahead
The ripple effects of these moves will be felt throughout the conference. Teams that successfully integrated transfers, such as Grand Canyon, Hawaii and Nevada, could see immediate improvements in depth and scoring. Programs that lost key talent without adequate replacements may struggle to maintain their previous win totals. As the new season approaches, coaches will be evaluating how these roster changes translate into on‑court performance, making the upcoming schedule one of the most anticipated in recent Mountain West history.