Utah forward Keanu Dawes enters transfer portal

Dawes was a key contributor for the Utes in Alex Jensen's first season as head coach.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:05pm

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Utah forward Keanu Dawes has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report. Dawes, who was one of the few holdovers from the end of the Craig Smith era, averaged 12.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists for Utah in Alex Jensen's first year as head coach.

Why it matters

Dawes was a key contributor for the Utes last season, leading the team in rebounds and finishing third in scoring. His decision to enter the transfer portal is a significant loss for Utah as they look to build on their performance in Jensen's inaugural campaign.

The details

Dawes, a 6-foot-9 forward, had several standout performances for Utah last season, including a 22-point, 12-rebound game against Kansas and 21-point outings against Eastern Washington and BYU. His decision to enter the transfer portal comes as the window for NCAA men's basketball players to do so opens on April 7 and closes on April 21.

  • Dawes entered the transfer portal on March 29, 2026.
  • The NCAA transfer portal for men's basketball opens on April 7, 2026 and closes on April 21, 2026.

The players

Keanu Dawes

A 6-foot-9 forward who was one of the few holdovers from the end of the Craig Smith era at Utah and a key contributor for the Utes in Alex Jensen's first season as head coach, averaging 12.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Alex Jensen

The head coach of the Utah Utes men's basketball team, in his first season leading the program.

Craig Smith

The former head coach of the Utah Utes men's basketball team, whose tenure ended prior to the 2025-26 season.

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What they’re saying

“Dawes was a key contributor for the Utes last season, leading the team in rebounds and finishing third in scoring. His decision to enter the transfer portal is a significant loss for Utah as they look to build on their performance in Jensen's inaugural campaign.”

— Joe Coles, Author

What’s next

The NCAA transfer portal for men's basketball opens on April 7, 2026 and closes on April 21, 2026, so Dawes will have a two-week window to finalize his decision on where he will continue his college basketball career.

The takeaway

Dawes' decision to enter the transfer portal is a blow to the Utah Utes men's basketball program as they look to build on their performance in Alex Jensen's first season as head coach. The team will need to quickly identify and recruit a replacement for Dawes' production in the frontcourt.