UTEP Starting Forward Tydus Verhoeven Enters the Transfer Portal

The UTEP men's basketball program saw another member of the frontcourt enter the transfer portal on Thursday, as starting forward Tydus Verhoeven elected to leave the program as a graduate transfer, per Verbal Commits.

In addition, the Miners saw JUCO transfer Adam Hess enter the transfer portal. Verhoeven and Hess join Efe Odigie and Vuk Vulikić as four members in the transfer portal so far. The NCAA transfer portal already has over 1,000 players electing to leave their program.

Verhoeven was UTEP's best rim protector and anchored the frontcourt's defense through many stretches this year. He started all 24 games at the forward position alongside Bryson Williams in 2020-21, averaging 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. His playing time jumped up in a major way from his sophomore to junior year, going from 13.7 minutes last season to 24.6 minutes per game this year. In addition, the shot-blocker (21 blocks in 2020-21) became a better passer this year and finished with 26 assists.

Though he wasn't known as a true offensive option at this program, Verhoeven proved he could score at an efficient clip with a .627 field goal percentage. Defense was his strong point, where he ranked 18th in C-USA for defensive plus/minus (1.4).

Verhoeven will elect to go to his third program in four years, having spent a season at Duquesne. In the A-10 Conference as a freshman (2018-19), Verhoeven led the league in blocked shots (71) and blocked shots per game (2.2).

UTEP's forwards now include Kristian Sjolund and incoming transfer Keith Fisher III. The status of senior Bryson Williams returning or going pro is still to be determined.

Hess, a 6-foot-5 guard from Salt Lake Community College, struggled to get off the bench this season, appearing in only eight games off the bench for the Miners. He will look for an expanded role elsewhere. His career-high outing came against Texas Permian Basin where he scored 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting.