Earlier this April, the No. 12 UCLA men’s basketball team made a major addition by signing New Mexico transfer Donovan Dent to a grant-in-aid agreement. Head coach Mick Cronin praised him, saying, “We are continuing to build out our roster for next season, but signing Donnie is a huge piece for our program.” As the Bruins prepare for their exhibition matchup against UC Irvine, Dent’s arrival has given UCLA fans a reason to believe in a stronger season ahead. Even UCLA has something to share on this occasion.

UCLA Men’s Basketball shared the exciting news on X: “Congratulations to Donovan Dent on being named to the preseason watch list for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.” Now in its 23rd year, the award celebrates the nation’s top floor leaders, players who can run the offense, create plays, and handle the ball like Hall of Famer Bob Cousy. For Mick Cronin and UCLA fans, this is a milestone moment, as the Bruins have never had a player claim this honor before.

Dent joined UCLA this summer after three standout seasons at New Mexico, where he earned Mountain West Player of the Year honors in 2025 and was a first-team all-league selection. “I have known him since he led Corona Centennial to a state championship. He has established himself as one of the premier guards in all of college basketball…, ” Cronin had said earlier this year when announcing his transfer. Dent certainly lived up to that praise at New Mexico, averaging 20.4 points and 6.4 assists as a junior.

Over his three college seasons, playing over 100 games, Dent has put up impressive numbers: 13.5 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game, with a 50.3% shooting rate from the field and 36.8% from three. He has scored at least 10 points in 67 games and 20 or more points in 27 contests. A lot of these numbers come from his admiration for NBA guard Kyrie Irving, who is currently recovering from injury.

Dent also has seven career double-doubles, all in points and assists, and last season he recorded four point-assist double-doubles, including a career-high 11 assists in a single game. He also had a career-best 40-point performance in a 78-71 win against VCU in December 2024. Dent’s accolades go beyond college.

In high school at Centennial, he won the John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year, was the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year, CIF co-Player of the Year with Jared McCain, and a third-team MaxPreps All-America honoree. Now at UCLA, he’s officially on the radar for one of college basketball’s most prestigious individual awards. 

The Bob Cousy Award will narrow the preseason watchlist to 10 in January, then five in February, with the winner announced at the 2026 Final Four in Indianapolis. With fan voting also playing a role, Dent’s senior season could already be shaping up as a historic one for him and UCLA.

Bruins gear up for preseason showdown

The No. 12-ranked Bruins are entering the 2025-26 season with high expectations, though some analysts, like CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, feel the top-12 rating might be a bit generous.

Norlander noted, “Mick Cronin’s style combined with Donovan Dent’s speed and savviness might make for one of the better team-ups between first-time coach-and-player combos this season. Dent… might be the most valuable transfer in 2025-26.” With key returners like Tyler Bilodeau, Eric Dailey Jr., Skyy Clark, and the new transfers, including Dent, UCLA is aiming to turn preseason hype into on-court results.

While UCLA has a strong history against UC Irvine, going 9-2 all-time with their last win in 2017, the Anteaters are still a tough opponent as the preseason favorites in the Big West Conference. This exhibition is a glimpse of how the Bruins plan to integrate five transfers, rely on returning leaders, and set the stage for the regular season opener against Eastern Washington on November 3.

UCLA men’s basketball is gearing up for its second and final preseason exhibition game this Tuesday, October 28, when the Bruins host UC Irvine at Pauley Pavilion at 7 p.m. PT, presented by Wescom Financial. Fans can catch the action on Big Ten Plus. This matchup follows UCLA’s first exhibition win against San Diego State on October 17, a 67-60 victory where Donovan Dent already made his mark with 18 points.

Playing at Pauley Pavilion for the first time this season, the Bruins will look to continue building chemistry and showcase the mix of returning talent and fresh faces. Fans should watch closely for Dent’s impact, along with the rest of UCLA’s talent, as the team tries to push past last season’s ceiling and make noise in the national rankings.