UTEP basketball is turning the page on the 2023-24 season and is now prepared to enter year four of the Joe Golding era, following a promising run to the CUSA championship game. The Miners, who lost three of their top five scorers to graduation, have been active in the transfer portal early in the offseason. They’ve reached out to a plethora of guards and forwards, most coming from fellow mid-major schools.  

We’ll evaluate the top five names UTEP has reportedly contacted, with all this information coming from The Portal Report.  

Chicago State G Jahsean Corbett 

Miner fans got a good look at Corbett when he dropped 23 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to UTEP. The 6-foot-7 Orlando, Florida, native averaged 15.4 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game this season. He shot an efficient 45% from the field and 29% from three-point range. Corbett is an experienced guard that can play almost any position on the court. His athleticism on defense makes him a perfect fit for Golding’s system. He’s played and started in every game (92) since he was a freshman. If Golding and his staff can land Corbett, a backcourt of him, David Terrell, and Otis Frazier would give opponents nightmares.  

Other teams to reach out: Miami, Mississippi State, UAB, Virginia Tech, Duquesne, Utah State, Bowling Green, Loyola Chicago, Illinois State, UMBC, Cal Baptist  

Wyoming G Brendan Wenzel 

Yet another name UTEP fans are familiar with, Brendan Wenzel was a former UTEP signee under Rodney Terry in 2019. He requested a release from his NLI before he joined the team and ended up at Utah for a year. He transferred to Wyoming in 2021, where he has played since. He has appeared in 89 games for the Cowboys the last three seasons, starting in 66 of them. Wenzel averaged 11.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting a solid 37% from beyond the arc. Standing at 6-foot-7, Wenzel brings a lot of the same traits Corbett does to the table. They’re both athletic guards that can stretch the floor, but Wenzel’s ability to shoot the ball from deep so efficiently makes him a valuable asset in the portal.  

Other teams to reach out: SMU, TCU, Houston, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Clemson, Virginia Tech, St Mary’s, Minnesota, Penn State, Boston College, UAB, Longwood, McNeese State, VCU, New Mexico, UNLV, Utah State, LMU, Tulane. 

North Dakota G Tyree Ihenacho  

Tyree Ihenacho averaged 14.5 points and 5 rebounds, but the stat that stands out to me is his 3.9 assists per game. The 6-4 guard can distribute the ball at a high rate, while also being able to create shots for himself. He also put up a steal per game, which is an indication of his good perimeter defense. UTEP lacked in the point guard department at times last year, and Ihenacho can help with that. However, players like him are a hot commodity in today’s game.  

Other teams to reach out: George Washington, Georgia State, St. Thomas, UNC Wilmington, Northern Illinois 

Texas A&M-Commerce F Jerome Brewer Jr. 

Stretch four’s are wanted everywhere in college basketball. One of UTEP’s only big men that could shoot the ball, Jon Dos Anjos, is graduating this year. Insert Brewer, who shot 29% from deep and 4 attempts per game. He averaged 13.8 PPG and 4.7 RPG this season for Lions. He stands at 6-9 and is also a very good interior defender, averaging just over one block per game. Brewer is one of the few big men that UTEP has reached out to so far, which should tell you something about the caliber of player he is.  

Other teams to reach out: St. John’s, BYU, Arizona State, George Mason, VCU, UAB, St. Bonaventure, George Washington, La Salle, Louisiana Tech, St. Joseph’s, McNeese State, Iona, Towson, Louisiana, UTSA 

Oregon G Brennan Rigsby  

The only power five transfer UTEP has reached out to, Rigsby recently played 43 minutes in the Ducks round of 32 loss to Creighton in the NCAA tournament. The former JUCO product averaged 6 PPG this season for Oregon and also shot 35% from three. It’d be interesting to see Rigsby be one of the top three scoring options for a squad. Rigsby would most likely play the role fans expected for Baylor Hebb last year. A sharp shooting guard that can hold his own defensively.