Hudson Mayes, an All-Big West Conference guard from UC-San Diego, has entered the NCAA transfer portal and signed with New Mexico. He received numerous offers and interest from various programs before making his decision.
Finally, Hudson Mayes got a solid nightâs sleep.
The All-Big West Conference honorable mention selection out of UC-San Diego and, most notably this month, NCAA transfer portal entrant had lost track of days, let alone the âhundredsâ of phone calls and texts from potential basketball suitors.
On Tuesday, Mayes made official the next step in his blossoming college basketball career â and spoke about the choice exclusively to USA TODAY Sports.
The 6-5, 200-pound rising sophomore guard has signed with Eric Olenâs New Mexico program. Olen guided the Lobos to 26 wins and an NIT semifinals appearance in his debut, 2025-26 season at the helm.
âIt felt like absolutely forever. If you asked me how long ago, I would tell you two months ago not officially one week in the portal,â Mayes, the Tritonsâ No. 2 scorer at 11.1 points per game, told USA TODAY Sports after he ended a recruitment that also included Baylor, Notre Dame and Syracuse among top contenders. âI tried not to let myself get too stressful with it. My agent (NBA certified agent KJ Smith of Range Sports) told me once you do enter, youâre going to get hundreds of texts and calls.
âI wasnât thinking about the portal; I was trying to help us win the Big West (tournament). But there were too many opportunities that we heard about and knew from trusted sources that were real. My dream has always been to play the highest level of college basketball and get to the highest level of college basketball. I told coach Olen (Monday afternoon), and I slept great last night.â
The son of former Notre Dame All-America wideout and Green Bay Packers Super Bowl champion Derrick Mayes, grandson of Naismith Hall of Famer and former ABA star Roger Brown, Hudson Mayes started 12 of San Diegoâs final 13 games, scored in double figures in the seasonâs last 10 games and helped the Tritons close with eight wins in their final 11 games.
Multiple Power conference programs âoffered significant moneyâ and âmultiple six figures.â Olenâs New Mexico program offered an immediate chance to compete for a starting role â and the familiarity of having already been recruited by Olen and multiple members of the Lobos staff from their previous time at San Diego.
UC San Diego guard Hudson Mayes committed to New Mexico out of the transfer portal.
UC San Diego guard Hudson Mayes committed to New Mexico out of the transfer portal.
âComing into the portal, I obviously had pretty much every Power Five Conference and every other conference trying to get me to commit there,â Mayes said. âThey were throwing me different offers. I kept money out of my decision and made a basketball decision.
âWe were prepared for that, for the money, but we knew this was going to be a decision that we would have to make based on relationships and whatâs best basketball-wise and whatâs the best path.â
Olen doubled down on the Lobos program's ability to stand toe-to-toe with the sport's more renowned program.
"New Mexicoâs rich with tradition and we want to continue that here and that just starts with building really good basketball teams," Olen told USA TODAY Sports Tuesday afternoon by phone. "Itâs a great place to play college basketball, up there with the best home environments anywhere in the country and we believe in what this place can be.
"We think New Mexico basketball is a national brand, we want to be relevant on that stage and Hudson helps us do that."
With three yearsâ eligibility remaining, Mayes hasnât given his New Mexico decision a moment of doubt â even as teams pressed for a final opportunity to woo the versatile combo guard who led San Diego with 5.7 rebounds per game.
âI turned down several offers from teams, at-large (NCAA) tournament teams that I kind of just decided to go with my gut,â Mayes said. âI believe next year New Mexico can be an NCAA Tournament team.â
What prompted Hudson Mayes to enter the NCAA transfer portal?
Hudson Mayes entered the NCAA transfer portal to explore new opportunities after a successful season at UC-San Diego.
Which college basketball program did Hudson Mayes sign with?
Hudson Mayes signed with the New Mexico basketball program, coached by Eric Olen.
What were Hudson Mayes' achievements at UC-San Diego?
Hudson Mayes was recognized as an All-Big West Conference honorable mention during his time at UC-San Diego.
How did Eric Olen perform in his first season as head coach at New Mexico?
In his debut season, Eric Olen led New Mexico to 26 wins and an appearance in the NIT semifinals.
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