College basketball — like other college sports — is currently in a 12-round heavyweight with the transfer portal. Except, it’s getting thoroughly bludgeoned, with multiple former college basketball players going pro and then, well, returning to college basketball.
It’s a dilemma that’s spiraled out of control faster than one could blink. That problem hasn’t quite infiltrated the Mountain West. But we lose sight of the returning stars, those who made strong contributions and decided to stay instead of leave — which well within the player’s right regardless of the side of the coin that was flipped.
Who are the Mountain West’s top returnees heading into the 2026-27 season? Let’s examine one from each returning team!
Air Force: Kam Sanders
Sanders stepped foot on campus and was immediately Air Force’s best player. The combo guard averaged 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds while setting the Academy record for most assists by a freshman in a single season with 121. He must limit his turnovers and improve his efficiency from inside the arc, where he shot just 40.5 percent. But I was quite encouraged with his production and leadership despite a tumultuous season for the Falcons.
Grand Canyon: Makaih Williams
Skinny: Grand Canyon was one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in Division-I last year, knocking down just 31.8 percent from 3-point range, a bottom-65 mark. Williams, however, was arguably GCU’s best volume 3-point shooter despite shooting sub-34 percent from distance. He was their second-leading scorer and is expected to be one of GCU’s top bucket getters once again in 2026-27.
Nevada: Elijah Price
Skinny: Price is one of Nevada’s two main pillars returning for a second season — the other being guard Vaughn Weems. Price, a former Fresno State transfer, blossomed in his first season with the Wolf Pack last year, earning All-Mountain West honors while making the All-Defensive team. Price’s shooting touch was hit-and-miss on the interior, but he still averaged 12.8 points on 56.5 percent true shooting, to go along with 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. He even flashed some growth from beyond the arc (35.5 percent), albeit on low volume.
New Mexico: Jake Hall
Skinny: I’m not a(lways a) betting man, but if I were, I’d expect Hall to be the clear frontrunner for the Mountain West Player of the Year. He was an All-Conference first team honoree and was the conference’s freshman of the year, averaging 16.4 points on a conference-best 43.8 percent from 3-point range. Hall doesn’t possesses elite athleticism or change of pace, but he moves well off-ball, has a lightning quick release and is quite cerebral with his on-ball reps.
San Jose State: JaVaughn Hannah
Skinny: The Spartans don’t have a ton of returning production. Still, lost in the sauce was that Hannah was sidelined for all but two games last year after dealing with a lingering calf injury. He was still anointed SJSU’s team captain before the season and is three years removed from being the MAC’s Sixth Man of the Year award with Western Michigan. In three seasons with the Broncos, the two-way guard averaged 9.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
UNLV: Tyrin Jones
Skinny: Jones, a hyper-athletic big, emerged in Josh Pastner’s rotation as a freshman, leading the Mountain West in blocks (2.2 per game). He’s an outstanding shot blocker and was a key vertical spacer on the interior. Jones also averaged 11.9 points and 5.0 rebounds and has legitimate pro potential if he gets stronger and continues to develop the rest of his skillset.
Wyoming: Nasir Meyer
Skinny: Meyer was another freshman who flew under the radar last year. The 6-foot-7 guard started in all but eight of his 31 games, averaging 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on 46.3 percent shooting and 35.2 percent from 3-point range. His fluidity, secondary burst and body control through contact were quite impressive last season, and I’m looking forward to seeing him build off it as a sophomore.