After finishing his collegiate career with UCLA men’s basketball in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, guard Donovan Dent is not pursuing a professional career, according to Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Journal.

Instead, Dent is shifting his focus to giving back to the younger generation of basketball players by becoming a personal trainer.

“I’m done with pro basketball,” Dent told the Albuquerque Journal. “I want to give back to the youth and I want to start training.”

Dent Is Going Back to New Mexico

Dent transferred to UCLA from New Mexico ahead of his senior season, while his girlfriend Katelyn Estrada is attended medical school at UNM.

Estrada reportedly told Dent if UCLA football lost to UNM when the teams played at the beginning of the season in September, he would have to come back to New Mexico. The Lobos ended up defeating the Bruins 35-10 at the Rose Bowl, and Dent said he would fulfill his end of the deal with Estrada.

“She told me I had to come back if the Lobos won,” Dent told the Journal in September after the loss, “so this is me transferring back, I guess.”

His personal training will take place back in New Mexico. The former Lobos star is hosting a Memorial Day pop-up clinic in New Mexico on Monday. He is also scheduled to host a basketball camp in mid-July at UNM’s practice facility.

Although Dent is not pursuing a professional career, he will compete with other former New Mexico players on The Enchantment in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) this summer.

TBT is a tournament that features eight alumni teams from top college programs and eight non-alumni teams. The 16 teams compete for a $2 million prize. Dent and The Enchantment will open the tournament against Wichita State’s alumni team, the AfterShocks.

Dent’s Career With UCLA

Dent was a full-time starter for UCLA during the 2025-26 season. He ranked second on the team in scoring (13.3 ppg) behind NBA Draft prospect Tyler Bilodeau and led the Bruins with 265 assists.

The Riverside, California native finished the regular season as an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and helped lead UCLA to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Photo Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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