The 2026 College Basketball transfer portal is officially open and Magoon Gwath has entered into it for the second year in a row. Except this time around there seems to be a more permanent feeling around it.
At the end of last season Gwath was coming off an exciting redshirt freshman year in which he was a very big component to the Aztecs success. On the court for the Aztecs he earned Mountain West defensive player of the year and though SDSU fought against inconsistency, the dynamics Magoon added to the team was truly special.
The exciting finishes at the rim, the ‘Blocked By Gwath’ PA shouts after each devastating defensive play, and the long range threes got the Aztecs faithful riled up every-time to see Magoon get up off the bench and enter into the game. We were all Gooooooooooooning.
However the late season injury derailed the normal process. He missed many games down the stretch but rested enough to give a valiant effort against North Carolina in the first four play in game of the NCAA Tournament. It proved to be a too much of a task for the team to put it all together against a scorching hot Tar Heels that night.
The season’s freak misfortunes surely couldn’t carry over into 2026, right? No way with all the talent returning for on paper one of the most exciting team’s ever?
Well, we all know how the story goes. The 7 footer got a late jump to this season after rehabbing his eventual off season knee surgery. The whole process surely was not ideal for the young man or the program, but it all was perceived to be a blessing in disguise for the team.
Had Magoon been fully healthy last season there’s a high probability his game would’ve earned a serious go at it in the NBA draft, but far more likely a big money deal in a power conference program. Magoon did what we all hoped by exiting the portal and returned for his sophomore season.
After battling through physical setbacks to his hip, team expectations not being met, it was anything but a straight line towards improvement this season for Magoon.
This 2025-2026 season he averaged just under 9 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, hit on 51.9% field goals, and 43.5 % from 3-point distance. Magoon averaged around 19 minutes per game, almost a full 5 minutes less from the year prior. It was definitely a challenging season, but one that the young man pulled together down the stretch.
In the Mountain West Conference tournament Magoon exceeded his season averages in the three games played but especially against New Mexico, proving to be a difference maker on both sides of the court and against physical opposition.
The Aztecs missed out on the NCAA Tournament and refused to enter into any post season play. The wheels of SDSU’s off season roster moves have been in full motion early ever since. Through it all Gwath wasn’t the quickest name to appear on the portal news ticker.
There felt to be maybe some hesitation in leaving San Diego, the program that looked out for the young man through so many injuries. And with that brings the difficulty in forecasting Magoon Gwath’s future at SDSU.
Arriving to campus as a true freshman, Gwath was coming off two leg injuries that required patience and development regardless. With the injury setback at the end of the redshirt freshman season and the spilling over into this past year, the legitmate question is what is the appropriate investment into an injury prone but highly talented young player.
From the SDSU point of view, the defensive pedigree is tremendous for coach Brian Dutcher & staff’s culture and strategy. But at what price? SDSU has been listed as one of, if not the top revenue earners for their roster in the previous Mountain West Conference. With the move to the Pac-12 this off season that number should increase wether through NIL for the player separately, or through university revenue share directly.
From Magoon’s perspective having an experienced and refined game in these upperclassmen seasons is very valuable. The big men of the NCAA will be earning top dollar, especially if you can stretch the defense as Gwath can with his three point range.
Another factor to keep in mind is the emergence of the big men from around the international ranks. European pros who now are being classified as freshman in the NCAA’s game are capitalizing top dollar for their respective college now. Magoon being a part of that share may only have these next two seasons of college ball to cash in on his eligibility.
At this stage Gwath is crystal balled to sign with Kentucky, which isn’t a shocker given the familiarity with Lamont Butler. But have to find it curious that Miles Byrd was also rumored to have tons of interest from the Wildcats of the SEC as well.
In the end if Gwath is to stick to his plans of leaving for a different destination his time will likely be summed up like a farm system prospect battling through youthful growing pains before maturing to the big show. Similarly to Byrd, if Magoon can lock in with a supporting cast, where he can blend in and he get a full season of injury free performances, we may be seeing his full talents on display for a long and deep tournament run next year.
For SDSU the loss would be immense. With rumors of Pharoah Compton next on the list to officially enter in and with Miles Heide already good as gone, the Aztecs clearly will be on their way towards a major overhaul of this program’s identity moving forward.
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