Mountain West coaches heap praise on Donovan Dent as he leads Lobos into season

Before Donovan Dent ever played a regular-season game for the UNM Lobos, Richard Pitino had already seen enough.

“I think that Donovan Dent is the point guard of the future for this program,” Pitino told the Journal on Oct. 21, 2022, after the then freshman point guard shined in the preseason Cherry/Silver scrimmage in the Pit against upperclassmen like Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr.

Two seasons later, the future is now for Dent, who as a junior is the unquestioned leader of the Lobo basketball team that kicks off its season Monday night in the Pit against Nicholls State.

Now, it’s opposing coaches around the Mountain West who have seen enough.

“He’s an elite point guard,” said San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher. “I mean, I’ve always known he was an elite finisher. Even when I watched him in high school, I’m like, ‘Man, this kid really finishes at the rim.’ He makes hard layups look easy, almost like a Kyrie (Irving), you know?

“And then, he’s an elite passer. I mean, elite passer. So, he’s as good a point guard as a college basketball. He’s dangerous.”

Dent, who was voted last month to the preseason All-Mountain West team, gave a glimpse of being the man last season when House and Mashburn were hurt in nonconference play. And it was more than impressive. By season’s end, Dent had averaged 14.1 points and 5.4 assists per game, was one of just three Division I players in the country to have multiple 10 assists/0 turnover games and was voted by both media and coaches to the All-Mountain West 2nd team.

Now, there is no sharing the workload. The Lobos are no longer a three ball-dominant guard team.

This is Dent’s team.

So what does that mean, exactly?

“I think (I’ll show) just more of a maturity role,” Dent told the Journal in the latest episode of the Talking Grammer Podcast. “Just taking that next step and leading on the court. For my team, playing a lot harder on the defensive side of the ball. Last year, they saw a lot of the offensive side of me and all that because we had House. I didn’t have to guard the ball as much.”

Dent’s ability to expand his game each year since he led one of the best high school teams in the country at Corona (California) Centennial High School is what impresses those around the league.

As a freshman, Dent made just four 3-pointers and even had teams like Wyoming opting to entirely back off of him on the perimeter to take away his ability to drive with no fear of his outside shot. Last season, Dent hit 15-of-40 3-pointers (37.5%) and noticeably stretched out his mid-range game. Now, Dent says, thanks to the confidence Pitino has instilled in him from Day 1 about shooting, there isn’t an open shot he will pass up.

“What great players do is they adapt and the evolve,” said Sundance Wicks, the first-year Wyoming head coach who as an assistant two years ago had the scouting report on Dent that called off all defenders. “And so for him to be able to adapt and change his game ... He’s that kid. He’s a humble, hungry kid and he’s continued to evolve his game. He deserves every accolade that’s going to come his way because he’s a damn good player.”

As for his playing peers? He’s earned their respect, too.

“He’s got one of the best feels for the game in his league, just the way he creates off the dribble and gets downhill is really special,” said Colorado State guard Jalen Lake. “He’s been a really tough cover, just a great player.”

The first Mountain West team that will get to see Dent this season as the lead dog instead of being one of three lead guards will be San Jose State on Dec. 4.

Spartans head coach Tim Miles said he fears the best is yet to come from Dent, and offered up a rather bold comparison.

“He reminds me of Damian Lillard,” said Miles, referring to the NBA star. “Dame wasn’t Dame (when he was at Weber State), right? He was a college kid. But (Dent’s) got that electricity, he’s got that change of pace. He’s got that game to him. He’s got a cool attitude, a cool way about him, too, you know?

“Certainly he’s going to improve as an outside shooter and all those things. I think he’s a terrific, terrific guard. I think he’s got a chance to be player of the year in our league.”