Former UCLA guard commits to LSU for fifth NCAA season

Former UCLA guard Donovan Dent announced his commitment to LSU for the 2026-27 season on Friday. The decision comes after Dent received another year of NCAA eligibility.

The 6-foot-2 guard appeared in 35 games for the Bruins last season and helped UCLA finish 24-12 while reaching the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. He averaged 13.3 points, 7.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. His 7.6 assists ranked among the best marks nationally.

Dent shot 40.8% from the field and 25.4% from three-point range during his only season in Westwood. Though his shooting numbers dropping to a career-low 40.8% from the field, he remained one of the nation’s most productive playmakers. During one seven-game stretch, he recorded 77 assists while committing only six turnovers.

A fifth season for Dent became possible following legal action involving players from the 2022 recruiting class. Dent was among 73 athletes in California granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, allowing him to pursue another season of college basketball. He had initially announced his retirement in May after not receiving an invitation to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, but reversed that decision after court rulings opened the door to an additional season.

Dent transferred to UCLA after spending three seasons at New Mexico. During his junior season with the Lobos, he averaged 20.6 points and 6.4 assists per game and was named Mountain West Player of the Year. In 2024-25, he was one of two Division I players to average at least 20 points and five assists per game.

With the Tigers, Dent will reunite with former UCLA teammate Skyy Clark, who announced his commitment to LSU on Aug. 12. Clark averaged 11.5 points per game for UCLA last season and gives the program another familiar backcourt option.

Dent becomes one of the biggest additions for head coach Will Wade, who returned to the Tigers after the dismissal of Matt McMahon following the 2025-26 season. LSU has gone 60-70 over the past four seasons and missed the NCAA Tournament in each of those years.

The Tigers’ roster remains unsettled, with several international recruits still awaiting NCAA eligibility decisions, but Dent’s arrival gives Wade an experienced guard with a proven record of production.

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