Donovan Dent

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Donovan Dent

| image =

| caption =

| number =

| position = Point guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 185

| team = UCLA Bruins

| league = Big Ten Conference

| birth_date = {{bda|2003|12|2}}

| birth_place =

| high_school = Centennial {{avoid wrap|(Corona, California)}}

| college =

New Mexico (2022–2025)
UCLA (2025–present)

| highlights =

Mountain West Player of the Year (2025)
First-team All-Mountain West (2025)
Second-team All-Mountain West (2024)
California Mr. Basketball (2022)

}}

Donovan Dent (born December 2, 2003) is an American college basketball point guard for the UCLA Bruins of the Big Ten Conference. He previously played for the New Mexico Lobos, earning conference player of the year honors in the Mountain West in 2025.

High school career

Dent attended Centennial High School in Corona, California. As a senior, Dent averaged 16.2 points and 6.6 assists per game, leading Centennial to a 33–1 record and a state championship.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-20 |title=Boys' basketball player of the year: Donovan Dent of Corona Centennial |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2022-03-20/donovan-dent-corona-centennial-boys-basketball-player-of-year |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-03 |title=Centennial’s Donovan Dent is the IE Varsity boys basketball player of the year |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2022/04/02/centennials-donovan-dent-is-the-ie-varsity-boys-basketball-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}} As a result, he was named California Mr. Basketball and the John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year.{{Cite web |last=Flores |first=Ronnie |title=Mr. Basketball 2022: Making A Dent |url=https://www.calhisports.com/2022/04/14/mr-basketball-2022-making-a-dent/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Cal-Hi Sports |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Centennial High Athlete Receives 2022 John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year Award |url=https://www.cnusd.k12.ca.us/c_n_u_s_d_c_o_n_n_e_c_t_i_o_n/johnwoodenplayeroftheyear |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=www.cnusd.k12.ca.us |language=en-US}} A four-star recruit, he committed to play college basketball at the University of New Mexico.{{Cite web |last=Grammer |first=Geoff |date=2021-09-15 |title=Lobos look 'Inland' once again for latest hoops recruit |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/news/local/article_476a85ec-fff2-5ccd-96a1-21f12022057b.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Albuquerque Journal |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-16 |title=Donovan Dent says yes to New Mexico basketball |url=https://www.krqe.com/sports/local-sports/donovan-dent-says-yes-to-new-mexico-basketball/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=KRQE |language=en-US}}

College career

After playing a role as a reserve during his freshman year, Dent had a breakout season as a sophomore.{{Cite web |last=Grammer |first=Geoff |date=2023-12-11 |title=Lobos' super sophomore Donovan Dent continues to crush California competition |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/sports/article_3bfd0832-988b-11ee-bbc4-f7df451dcc9d.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Albuquerque Journal |language=en}} Against Colorado State, Dent hit the game-winning layup to defeat the Rams, 68–66.{{Cite web |last=Webber |first=Will |date=2024-02-22 |title=Dent's game-winning play for Lobos makes social media splash |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/sports/dents-game-winning-play-for-lobos-makes-social-media-splash/article_abc2c588-d1fe-11ee-8c1b-6788bddbc297.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Santa Fe New Mexican |language=en}} He finished his sophomore campaign averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 assists per game, while being named to the Second-team All-Mountain West.{{Cite web |last=Grammer |first=Geoff |date=2024-11-03 |title=Mountain West coaches heap praise on Donovan Dent as he leads Lobos into season |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/sports/mountain-west-coaches-heap-praise-on-donovan-dent-as-he-leads-lobos-into-season/article_9c17dc9c-9a42-11ef-9a81-b36f3792af7f.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Albuquerque Journal |language=en}}

During his junior season, Dent emerged as the Mountain West Conference's leading scorer.{{Cite web |last=Grammer |first=Geoff |date=2025-01-13 |title=Around the Mountain: UNM's Dent, honored again with a weekly award, is making case for Player of the Year |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/sports/article_8dfb461a-d21b-11ef-b1ce-bb77b68dc099.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Albuquerque Journal |language=en}} Against VCU, he scored a career-high 40 points leading the Lobos to a 78–71 victory.{{Cite web |last=Webber |first=Will |date=2024-12-18 |title=Lobos' Dent puts up career-high 40 points in 78-71 win over VCU |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/sports/lobos-dent-puts-up-career-high-40-points-in-78-71-win-over-vcu/article_af88cd46-bdb9-11ef-af12-5360b0008e68.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Santa Fe New Mexican |language=en}} After standout performances against Fresno State and UNLV, Dent was named the Mountain West Player of the Week for the third time of the season.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-28 |title=Donovan Dent Earns Mountain West Player of the Week Honors |url=https://www.krqe.com/sports/local-sports/donovan-dent-earns-mountain-west-player-of-the-week-honors/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=KRQE |language=en-US}} He finished his junior season averaging 20.5 points and 6.4 assists per game and was named the Mountain West Player of the Year.{{Cite web |last=Heisen |first=Aaron |date=2025-03-29 |title=Inside look at why Donovan Dent is transferring to UCLA |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2025/03/29/inside-look-at-why-donovan-dent-is-transferring-to-ucla/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Daily News |language=en-US}} He also received honorable mention from both the Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association for their All-America teams.{{Cite web |title=Associated Press All-America Team |url=https://apnews.com/article/ap-allamerica-mens-basketball-teams-3c18f2c7fe8e56ff1c912df512b70836|date=March 18, 2025|work=AP News}}{{cite press release|title= USBWA unveils 2024-25 Men's All-America Team |date=March 19, 2025|url= https://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2025/03/19/usbwa-unveils-2024-25-mens-all-america-team |work=United States Basketball Writers Association|access-date=March 19, 2024}}

After the season, Dent entered the transfer portal.{{Cite web |last=Champion |first=Brandon |date=2025-03-25 |title=New Mexico star enters transfer portal days after loss to Michigan State |url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2025/03/new-mexico-star-enters-transfer-portal-days-after-loss-to-michigan-state.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=mlive |language=en}} On March 28, 2025, he announced his decision to transfer to the University of California, Los Angeles, to play for the Bruins.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-29 |title=UCLA lands MWC Player of Year Dent from portal |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/44448712/donovan-dent-commits-ucla-portal-new-mexico-exit |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-29 |title=UCLA finds its Dylan Andrews replacement in former New Mexico standout Donovan Dent |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2025-03-28/ucla-mens-basketball-donovan-dent-transfers |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}