SDSU's BJ Davis, UCSD's Hudson Mayes Find New Homes in Big East, Mountain West

Former Aztecs and Tritons stars land lucrative deals with Creighton and New Mexico after entering the transfer portal.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:33am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, capturing the dynamic movement and competition of the sport.The transfers of standout guards BJ Davis and Hudson Mayes reflect the evolving landscape of college basketball, where players seek new opportunities to showcase their talents.San Diego Today

San Diego State's BJ Davis and UC San Diego's Hudson Mayes have found new homes after entering the transfer portal, with Davis committing to Creighton in the Big East and Mayes heading to New Mexico in the Mountain West. Both players are expected to command significant NIL deals worth over $1.5 million, taking advantage of the Big East's more generous revenue sharing compared to the Power Five conferences.

Why it matters

The transfers of Davis and Mayes highlight the shifting landscape of college basketball, where top players can now command lucrative NIL deals to play at programs outside the traditional Power Five conferences. This trend could reshape the competitive balance of the sport in the coming years.

The details

BJ Davis, who was a key reserve for San Diego State last season, will join former Aztecs teammate Miles Byrd at Creighton in the Big East. Davis was initially scheduled to visit Auburn and Oklahoma State, but opted for the Big East instead. Meanwhile, Hudson Mayes, an honorable mention all-Big West selection as a freshman at UC San Diego, will head to New Mexico in the Mountain West after receiving offers from several power conference schools.

  • Davis committed to Creighton on Tuesday afternoon.
  • Mayes entered the transfer portal two months ago and received offers in the mid-six figures.

The players

BJ Davis

A former reserve guard at San Diego State who is transferring to Creighton in the Big East for his final season of eligibility.

Miles Byrd

The Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year last season, who is also transferring from San Diego State to Providence in the Big East.

Hudson Mayes

An honorable mention all-Big West selection as a freshman at UC San Diego, who is transferring to New Mexico in the Mountain West.

Eric Olen

The new head coach of the New Mexico Lobos, who recruited Mayes to join his program.

Derrick Mayes

The father of Hudson Mayes, who played college football at Notre Dame and in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.

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What they’re saying

“Coming into the portal, I obviously had pretty much every power (conference) and every other conference trying to get me to commit there. They were throwing me different offers. I kept money out of my decision and made a basketball decision.”

— Hudson Mayes, Transfer Guard

What’s next

Davis and Byrd will face off against each other in Big East play next season, while Mayes will look to make an immediate impact at New Mexico.

The takeaway

The transfers of Davis and Mayes demonstrate the growing power of NIL deals in college basketball, as top players can now command lucrative contracts to play at programs outside the traditional power conferences. This trend could lead to increased parity in the sport in the coming years.