Grand Canyon basketball seeks continuity with numerous transfers

With 11 newcomers, most of those coming out of the transfer portal, it’s taking time for Grand Canyon’s men’s basketball team to come together as Mountain West competition ramps up.

The Lopes (10-6 overall, 3-2 conference) are in the midst of their toughest four-game stretch in a conference much tougher than what they were used to in the Western Athletic Conference, where they won four tournament titles and automatic NCAA Tournament berths in the past five years.

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GCU just returned from New Mexico (14-3, 5-1), where a tight game in the second half turned into a blowout loss on paper, 87-64.

On Jan. 17, in a 12:30 p.m. home game that is being nationally televised by FS1, they take on 23rd-ranked Utah State (15-1, 6-0), which just beat Nevada in conference play.

GCU Lopes guard Jaden Henley (10) looks to pass the ball as Colorado State Rams guard Brandon Rechsteiner (2) defends at GCU Arena in Phoenix, on Jan. 3, 2026.

After this, the Lopes are home again on Jan. 21, to take on Mountain West co-leader San Diego State (12-4, 6-0), which suffered one of its losses to top-ranked Arizona.

After San Diego State, the Lopes travel to Reno to take on Nevada (12-5, 4-2) on Jan. 27.

GCU is going to have to start beating some of these better teams in the conference if they will have any chance at an at-large tournament berth.

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The Lopes will need to maintain consistency, with all of the new players staying on the same page.

“It’s a great growth period for us,” coach Bryce Drew said.

Drew, during his sixth season in Phoenix, has more newcomers via the transfer portal than any of his previous GCU teams. Most are fifth-year seniors, aided by an extra year of eligibility due to the 2020 Covid pandemic that impacted NCAA games.

More college basketball teams now are filled with 22-to-24-year-olds who have made multiple college jumps. GCU leading scorer Jaden Henley played at Minnesota, DePaul and UNLV prior to joining the Lopes.

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“Luckily, here at Grand Canyon, there…

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Publish date : 2026-01-15 23:12:00

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