Eric Olen lets results speak as UNM adds Hudson Mayes, regains Chris Howell
Photo of UCSD transfer and UNM commit Hudson Mayes, courtesy of Hudsonmayes Instagram
Actions speak louder than words—and Eric Olen is building next year’s UNM men’s basketball roster like a man who doesn’t need to say much at all right now.
On a day that underscored the program’s momentum entering week 2 of the transfer portal, the Lobos added an explosive 6-foot-5 guard in Hudson Mayes from UC San Diego.
Mayes is a rising two-way player whose late-season surge and physical edge add a dynamic guard that can score at the rim, defend and rebound.
Mayes was All-Big West Honorable Mention for the Tritons as a true freshman last season. While he averaged 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on the year, Mayes started 12 of UCSD’s final 13 games. During that stretch, he posted two double-doubles in points and rebounds and three 20-point games.
He was named the Big West Player of the Week on Feb. 16 after an 18 point 12 rebound performance vs. UC Davis, followed by a career-high 24 points vs. UC Riverside.
There are a lot of exciting parts of Mayes’ game, as his highlight reel shows he’s got high level explosiveness coupled with a 6-foot-5, 200 pound frame that can blow past defenders and elevate at the rim. Mayes was also a 79% free throw shooter, shooting nearly 4 attempts per game.
Mayes only took 31 3-point shots last season for the Tritons but did shoot 35%.
He also looks to be a high caliber defender who can guard the other team’s best permiter threat, while also using his 6-foot-5 frame to rebound on both the offensive and defensive end. Olen loves guards who can rebound, as UNM’s second and third leading rebounders last season were Deyton Albury and Luke Haupt. Mayes’ rebounding ability as a guard will be both a welcomed and necessary contribution as the Lobos may not strike gold on a 23-year old rebounding specialist like they did with Tomislav Buljan last season.
Mayes was a 3-star prospect out of Redondo Union High School in Los Angeles, California. He that was recruited by Olen at UC San Diego, but originally committed to Central Michigan before decomitting and signing with the Tritons in April 2025. Mayes averaged Averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and two steals per game as a senior.
New Mexico won a recruiting battle for Mayes after he received high-major interest from Power 4 programs like Baylor, Syracuse, and Notre Dame.
“I turned down several offers from teams, at-large (NCAA) tournament teams that I kind of just decided to go with my gut,” Mayes told USA Today. “I believe next year New Mexico can be an NCAA Tournament team.”
Chris Howell Returns
Tuesday brought more good news for Lobo hoops; senior guard Chris Howell was granted a medical redshirt for an extra year of eligibility following an oblique injury that limited him to 11 games in 2025-26.
The NCAA’s criteria for a hardship waiver required that Howell play in less than 30% of UNM’s games, and that 30% must have come in the first half of he season.
After Howell went down against FGCU on Dec. 14, UNM kept him out the rest of the season in the hopes that he would be granted another year.
Howell’s initial waiver submission was denied by the Mountain West, but an appeal to the NCAA was granted as UNM played 6 additional contests in the Mountain West Tournament and in the NIT.
Howell offers verteran leadership and playmaking ability that will help connect another group of mostly new players in 2026-27. He averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 assists per game last season across eleven starts.
Lobo Women Add Lindenwood Transfer
Amy Eagan isn't done raiding her old roster. The new UNM women’s basketball coach tapped the Lindenwood pipeline once again, securing a commitment from junior guard Gracy Wernli to increase the Lady Lobos roster to 5 commits for 2026-27.
Wernli appeared in 14 games for Coach Eagan last season before suffering a season ending injury. She averaged 7.2 points and 2.1 per game and shot 36% from the 3-point line. Wernli also played for Eagan her sophomore season where she started and played in all 33 games, averaging 9.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 86% from the free throw line.
UNM’s roster for next season includes three returners from Mike Bradbury’s team last year in Drew Jordon, Laila Abdurraquibb and Kaia Foster to go along with fellow Lindenwood transfer Valerie Norwood.
