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New Mexico enters the 2026–27 season with one of the most productive returning young backcourts in college basketball and a legitimate opportunity to compete for the Mountain West championship.

Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette combined to average 27.0 points per game as freshmen. According to New Mexico, that is the highest combined scoring average among any returning pair of freshmen in the country. Their production is supported by more than scoring. Hall established himself as one of the nation’s most dangerous perimeter shooters, while Tenette provided ball control, pace, playmaking and defensive activity.

New Mexico returns only three players from last season’s 26-win team: Hall, Tenette and veteran guard Chris Howell. However, the entire coaching staff returns for Eric Olen’s second season, and the Lobos retained the three players most connected to their perimeter identity.

That distinction matters.

This is not complete roster continuity. It is targeted retention of an established backcourt, supported by a coaching staff that has already defined how it wants the Lobos to play.

New Mexico also added size, experience and additional scoring around its returning guards. The result is a roster that should have the shooting, versatility and role balance required to remain near the top of the Mountain West.

A Winning Foundation Was Established

New Mexico finished Olen’s first season with a 26–11 overall record and a 13–7 mark in Mountain West play. The Lobos finished third in the conference and advanced to the NIT semifinals despite entering the season without a returning player or coach.

The Lobos averaged 81.2 points per game and finished with a scoring margin of plus-10.3. New Mexico shot 46 percent from the field, produced 15.1 assists per game and committed only 10.5 turnovers. The Lobos also forced 13.6 turnovers per contest and held opponents to 30.2 percent shooting from the three-point line.

Those numbers established a clear identity.

New Mexico wants to play with pace without becoming careless. The Lobos value perimeter shooting, quick decisions, defensive activity and lineup versatility. Retaining Hall and Tenette gives the program two young guards who have already operated successfully within that structure.

Jake Hall: The Shooting Engine

Hall enters his sophomore season as one of the most accomplished returning guards in the Mountain West.

The 6-foot-4 guard started all 37 games and averaged 16.4 points per game as a freshman. He scored 605 points, setting New Mexico and Mountain West freshman scoring records, and made a school-record 117 three-pointers.

Hall was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-Mountain West and First-Team NABC All-District. He recorded 30 double-figure scoring games, 12 games with at least 20 points and nine performances with five or more made three-pointers. His 117 made threes were also the fourth-most ever by a Division I freshman.

The statistics explain why Hall must be the first name identified when discussing New Mexico’s championship potential.

His value begins with shooting gravity. Defenders cannot consistently leave him to provide help in the paint. His presence stretches the floor, creates driving lanes and forces defensive rotations before he receives the basketball.

Hall is effective spotting up, relocating after passes and finding open areas in transition. He does not have to dominate the ball to control the way a defense positions itself.

His next developmental step will be handling the increased attention that follows a record-setting freshman season. Opponents will attempt to deny him touches, chase him over screens and force him to attack hard closeouts.

Improved creation off the dribble, finishing through contact and passing after drawing a second defender would give Hall additional counters when teams attempt to remove his three-point opportunities.

He does not need to change his identity. He must continue expanding it.

Uriah Tenette: The Organizer and Pace Controller

Tenette’s freshman production was impressive, but his decision-making may be even more important to New Mexico’s outlook.

The 5-foot-11 guard appeared in 36 games and made eight starts. He averaged 10.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists while recording 104 assists against only 34 turnovers.

His 3.06 assist-to-turnover ratio established a New Mexico freshman record and ranked as the fourth-best single-season mark in program history. Tenette also set a New Mexico freshman record with 52 steals and made 44 three-pointers. His 10.6 points per game ranked second nationally among freshmen listed under 6 feet.

Tenette gives the Lobos a guard who can create pace without losing possession control.

He advances the ball, changes speeds and gets New Mexico into its offense. His ability to play quickly while limiting turnovers is essential to the Lobos’ offensive identity. Playing fast is only valuable when possessions remain organized.

Tenette also brings a different form of pressure than Hall.

Hall stretches defenses away from the basket. Tenette applies pressure by attacking openings, getting downhill and forcing defenders to contain him in space. When Tenette reaches the paint, Hall becomes even more dangerous as a relocation and kick-out option.

Tenette must continue developing his perimeter consistency and finishing against length. Defenses may attempt to go under ball screens and encourage him to become a higher-volume outside shooter.

If his three-point shooting becomes more dependable, defenders will have fewer options when deciding how to guard New Mexico’s primary ball-screen actions.

Why the Backcourt Works

Hall and Tenette complement one another because their primary responsibilities do not conflict.

Hall is the floor-spacer and high-volume perimeter scorer.

Tenette is the organizer, possession controller and point-of-attack creator.

Hall can influence a possession without controlling the basketball. Tenette can control the basketball without needing to take every shot. That balance gives New Mexico natural role clarity.

Together, they produced 987 points, 161 made three-pointers, 164 assists and 82 steals as freshmen.

The next step is consistency under increased expectations.

Both guards will enter the season with established reputations. Opponents will have a full year of film and a better understanding of New Mexico’s offensive tendencies. Hall and Tenette will have to demonstrate that their production can remain effective when defenses are specifically designed to slow them.

That challenge will provide the next measurement of their development.

Chris Howell: The Veteran Connector

Howell is the third returning player from last season’s roster.

The 6-foot-6 graduate guard started New Mexico’s first 11 games before missing the remainder of the season because of injury. He averaged 5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

His value goes beyond his scoring average.

Howell gives New Mexico an experienced secondary ball-handler, perimeter defender and connective passer. During the 2024–25 season at UC San Diego, he started all 35 games, helped the Tritons reach the NCAA Tournament and earned the Big West Best Hustle Player award. He also recorded 76 steals, ranking 15th nationally.

New Mexico does not need Howell to become a featured scorer.

His responsibility will be to defend, move the ball, provide lineup stability and create additional possessions. His size should also give the Lobos more flexibility when matching up against larger guards and wings.

A healthy Howell would strengthen the defensive structure around Hall and Tenette while giving Olen another trusted decision-maker.

Hudson Mayes Adds Another Dimension

Hudson Mayes will join the backcourt after a productive freshman season at UC San Diego.

The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 11.1 points and a team-leading 5.7 rebounds per game. He earned honorable mention All-Big West recognition and ended the season with 10 consecutive double-figure scoring performances, including three games with at least 20 points.

Mayes gives New Mexico additional size, rebounding and physicality on the perimeter.

His presence could allow the Lobos to play Hall, Tenette and Mayes together without becoming too small. Tenette can organize the offense, Hall can create spacing and Mayes can attack gaps, rebound and defend larger opponents.

Mayes should not be viewed simply as a reserve addition. His previous production gives him an opportunity to become a significant part of New Mexico’s main rotation.

Supporting Pieces That Could Raise the Ceiling

New Mexico’s championship potential will not be determined by the backcourt alone.

The Lobos need production from their forwards, particularly after losing the frontcourt rebounding and interior presence that supported last season’s 26-win team.

Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi

Vahlberg Fasasi arrives after averaging 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals at William & Mary. He shot 46.1 percent from the field, made 50 three-pointers and started 31 of 32 games.

At 6-foot-7, he gives New Mexico an experienced two-way wing who can score without requiring every possession to be created for him.

His ability to shoot, attack closeouts, pass and defend multiple positions should make him an important connecting piece. He has the production and experience to become another dependable double-figure scoring option.

Rytis Petraitis

Petraitis provides Mountain West experience, rebounding and secondary playmaking.

During his most recent complete season, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and a team-leading 1.3 steals at California. He also produced three double-doubles.

Petraitis does not have to become New Mexico’s leading scorer to influence winning. His ability to rebound, pass and make decisions from a forward position can connect the backcourt to the interior.

His experience should be especially valuable during physical conference games when New Mexico needs composure and defensive rebounding.

Imran Suljanovic

Suljanovic is one of the roster’s more intriguing additions.

The 6-foot-8 forward missed his freshman season at St. John’s because of injury and received a medical redshirt. However, he has demonstrated significant scoring ability in international competition.

Suljanovic averaged 22.4 points and 5.6 rebounds while leading Austria to a silver medal at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B tournament. He also made his Austrian senior national-team debut in 2025.

His college role remains a projection because he has not yet appeared in an NCAA game.

If his international scoring translates, Suljanovic could give New Mexico a frontcourt player capable of spacing the floor, creating off the dribble and producing from different areas of the court.

Role Clarity Will Be Important

New Mexico’s primary rotation has the potential to fit together because the roster contains several players with identifiable responsibilities.

Tenette projects as the primary organizer.

Hall is the leading perimeter scorer and floor-spacer.

Mayes brings size, rebounding and secondary creation.

Howell provides defense, experience and connective playmaking.

Vahlberg Fasasi gives the Lobos a two-way wing.

Petraitis brings rebounding and forward playmaking.

Suljanovic provides frontcourt scoring upside.

These are projected responsibilities, not a confirmed starting lineup. The importance is that New Mexico should not need every player to perform the same function.

Strong teams usually understand where shots are coming from, who controls possessions, who protects matchups and who connects the different parts of the lineup.

New Mexico has a chance to establish that clarity early.

The Championship Questions

The Lobos have the backcourt production required to compete for the Mountain West title, but important questions remain.

The first is rebounding.

New Mexico lost Tomislav Buljan, who averaged 10.3 rebounds and led the Mountain West in that category last season. Replacing that level of production will require a collective effort from Mayes, Petraitis, Vahlberg Fasasi and the rest of the frontcourt.

The second question is interior defense.

The current roster has size, but proven rim protection is not yet one of its established strengths. New Mexico may have to protect the paint through positioning, perimeter pressure and team rebounding rather than depending on one dominant shot-blocker.

Health will also matter.

Howell missed most of last season. Suljanovic did not play at St. John’s. The Lobos’ projected depth will only become meaningful if the players expected to fill those roles are consistently available.

The final question is how the offense responds when Hall is heavily denied.

Opponents know what his shooting can do. Tenette, Mayes and the supporting wings must make teams pay when they commit additional defensive attention to Hall.

New Mexico’s ceiling will rise if the Lobos can create efficient offense without becoming completely dependent on one perimeter scorer.

Final Take

New Mexico deserves to be placed on notice entering the 2026–27 season.

The Lobos are not bringing back most of last year’s roster, but they retained the core of their perimeter identity. Hall, Tenette and Howell already understand Olen’s system, and the entire coaching staff returns after establishing a 26-win foundation.

Hall is one of the country’s most productive returning shooters.

Tenette provides pace, playmaking and possession control.

Howell gives the Lobos experience and defensive connectivity.

Mayes adds size, rebounding and another proven scorer, while Vahlberg Fasasi, Petraitis and Suljanovic give New Mexico several options across the forward positions.

The backcourt provides a legitimate championship foundation. The deciding factors will be frontcourt rebounding, interior defense, health and the ability of the supporting cast to maintain offensive balance when Hall and Tenette receive increased defensive attention.

New Mexico has shooting, role clarity and proven production in the positions that control the basketball.

That does not guarantee a Mountain West championship, but it gives the Lobos a legitimate opportunity to hold the trophy at the end of the season.

At Unit 1 Hoop Source, we don’t chase noise — we study film, define roles, and project truth.

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