GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Colorado Mesa men's basketball coach Ken DeWeese has announced the addition of eight transfers who will join the Mavericks for the 2026-27 season. The incoming class features two Division I transfers, a Division II transfer with NCAA Tournament experience and a pair of California Community College All-Conference selections.
 
"We're so excited to add this talented group of transfers to the Mavily!" exclaimed DeWeese. "With so many spots to fill, we knew that we had to go out, scour the country and find young men of great character and great ability.  Additionally, we wanted to really focus on players from winning programs and with winning experience.  We feel like we accomplished both objectives with this transfer class!  We were able to dip into the NCAA D1, NCAA D2 and junior college ranks to find the right pieces and right people.  Couldn't be more excited to get this group to Grand Junction and on the Brownson Arena floor!"
 
WALKER ASP | W | 6-7, 180 | Colorado Springs, Colo. / Northern Colorado
The only Division I transfer in the group, Asp arrives from Northern Colorado, where he spent two seasons with the Bears. The 6-7 wing from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs saw action in three games during the 2025-26 season. Asp was a decorated high school prospect, earning All-Colorado Springs Metro League First Team honors and Colorado All-State 5A Honorable Mention recognition as a senior after averaging 14.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He also earned an All-Metro League Second Team selection following his junior campaign.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "Walker comes to us from the great NCAA D1 program at Northern Colorado.  He gained valuable experience with them the last 2 years.  Walker is versatile and long, athletic wing.  He can do a little bit of everything on the floor and will do whatever he can to help the team.  We really value his character and his versatility.  We look forward to Walker making an impact at CMU!"
 
TAIT SPENCER | G | 6-3, 185 | Battle Ground, Wash. / Panola College
Spencer comes to Grand Junction after a productive freshman season with the Ponies. The guard appeared in 18 games — starting 16 — and was among Panola's top offensive weapons, averaging 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 43.0% from the field. He reached a season-high 27 points in a January win at Paris Junior College and posted a 26-point performance in a conference road game. Spencer was especially lethal with the ball, accumulating 29 steals on the season — one of the higher totals among NJCAA Region XIV guards. Tait redshirted at Portland State during his freshman season.
 
Spencer is the son of former Maverick Leif Spencer, an All-RMAC First Team selection in 1999. He played in and started 30 games while averaging 18.2 points his senior season with the Mavericks.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "Bringing is a player of Tait's caliber who is also a CMU Legacy was a complete no-brainer for us.  His ability to score the ball as well as make those around him better is extremely valuable.  Tait was a bigtime scorer this past season in Texas Junior College's Region 14, which is one of the best JC regions in the country.  We're excited to see Tait on the floor in Brownson!"
 
CJ WILLENBORG | G | 6-3, 185 | Folsom, Calif. / West Valley College
Willenborg wraps up a two-year stint at West Valley College having established himself as one of the top guards in Northern California community college basketball. In 2025-26, the Folsom native (Capital Christian High School) averaged 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game across 29 games, shooting 41.6% from the field and 36.7% from three. He was named to the Coast-South All-Conference First Team and CCCMBCA First Team All-State while being one of the more versatile and creative playmakers in the conference — West Valley head coach Danny Yoshikawa praised Willenborg as perhaps the best passer in the league. His career high of 28 points came in a January conference-opening win over Foothill, when he shot 10-of-17 from the field and hit six three-pointers. Over two seasons with the Vikings, Willenborg totaled 688 points in 60 games. West Valley reached the Elite Eight of the state tournament in 2025-26 with Willenborg as a key contributor.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "CJ is a versatile and multi-skilled guard.  He has the ability to really shoot and score the ball, as well as great vision as a passer/playmaker.  CJ comes from a great JC program at West Valley and has done nothing but win for 2 years.  We expect CJ to bring his skill and winning mentality to the Mavs program."
 
ALFONSO MEDINA | G | 6-3, 173 | Hydesville, Calif. / College of the Redwoods
The sophomore forward from Fortuna High School put together an exceptional 2024-25 season before following it with another strong campaign in 2025-26, averaging 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while starting all 28 games. He shot an impressive 59.6% from the field overall and 34.5% from three, with a season-high of 26 points against Los Medanos. Medina's combination of scoring, rebounding, and playmaking — he averaged a 1.7 assists-to-turnover ratio.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "Alfonso is a skilled guard who can affect the game in multiple ways.  His ability to do a little of everything on the floor is of great value. He was able to help his JC program to successful seasons while filling the stat sheet.  We look forward to having Alfonso in the program!"
 
JD BRADFORD | G | 6-4, 185 | Phoenix, Ariz. / Odessa College
Bradford is a two-year contributor at Odessa, a program that entered 2025-26 ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA Division I preseason poll. The 6-4 guard from Phoenix brings elite intangibles to Colorado Mesa — he ranked among the program's most impactful players on both ends of the floor despite not always leading in scoring. In 2025-26, Bradford averaged 6.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game across 27 games while shooting 81.0% from the free-throw line. His most impressive calling card was his defensive tenacity: he racked up 49 steals on the season, underscoring his instincts and activity level as a disruptive perimeter defender. Over two seasons with the Wranglers, Bradford totaled 161 career assists and 85 steals in 56 games. Odessa went 19-8 in 2025-26, competing in one of the toughest JUCO conferences in the country.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "JD is an athletic guard with exceptional defensive ability.  He comes from one of the best programs at Odessa College in the best JC conference in the country.  JD has the ability to lock up an opposing teams best guard while also making plays and creating paint-touches on the other end of the floor.  His athleticism and competitiveness will make him a great asset to the program!"
 
RYAN WEBER | F | 6-10, 220 | Newport Beach, Calif. / Santiago Canyon College
Weber gives Colorado Mesa a rare combination of size and shooting range. The 6-10 forward from Corona Del Mar High School averaged 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc across 29 games (26 starts) in 2025-26. Weber is capable of shooting threes and finishing around the basket. His season included 14 double-digit scoring performances, including a career-high 22 points against Orange Coast, a 20-point outing against San Diego Miramar (9-of-15 from the field), and a perfect 6-of-6 shooting night (including four three-pointers) in a comeback win over Saddleback in February. Santiago Canyon earned a berth in the 3C2A Southern Regional Playoffs, with Weber the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder during conference play, when he averaged 11.1 points and 5.9 boards per game.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "Ryan's skill and versatility at 6'10 will be bring great value to the program.  Having a front-court player with his ability is a huge asset and necessity to our style of play.  Ryan's experience at both the NCAA D2 and the junior college level brings so much to the table.  We look forward to Ryan making a big impact this season!"
 
COLE JOHNSON | G | 6-2, 180 | Kaysville, Utah / Alaska Anchorage
Johnson brings Division II experience and a proven winning pedigree to Colorado Mesa after two seasons at Alaska Anchorage. The Farmington High School product (Kaysville, Utah) started 30 of 31 games for the Seawolves in 2025-26 as UAA went 22-11, finished as GNAC regular-season and tournament runner-up, and made the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 6.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while ranking among the conference's most accurate free-throw shooters at 82.9% (15th in the GNAC). Johnson delivered in big moments — he sank a game-winning three-pointer with 12 seconds left to lift UAA past Alaska Fairbanks in a double-overtime GNAC Tournament semifinal, finishing that game with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. His season high of 17 points came twice, including a 4-of-6 shooting performance from three against MSU Billings. Before arriving in Anchorage, Johnson was one of the most productive guards in the NJCAA, starting all 58 career games at Colorado Northwestern Community College and averaging 13.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game over two seasons. As a freshman, he scored in double figures in all but two games (16.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and earned All-Scenic West Athletic Conference Third Team recognition. He enters Colorado Mesa as a player with experience winning at both the JUCO and NCAA Division II levels.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "Having Cole join our roster is a great addition.  We targeted Cole early in the process based on his success at Colorado Northwestern and Alaska-Anchorage.  Bringing in a skilled and versatile guard, with NCAA D2 tournament experience with be a great add!  Cole has an infectious energy and can play both guard spots."
 
AIDAN TRIPLET | F | 6-8, 205 | Sacramento, Calif. / Yuba College
Triplet wraps up a two-year run at Yuba College having been part of one of the most successful stretches in 49ers program history. The Sacramento native was a key contributor on Yuba's 2025-26 squad that finished 22-8, captured the Bay Valley Conference title while going undefeated in the opening rounds of conference play, and advanced all the way to the third round of the 3C2A state tournament — where they fell to an Elite Eight–bound West Valley team. Triplett was one of the primary offensive weapons for coach Doug Cornelius' 49ers, repeatedly showing the ability to create his own shot and score from multiple levels. He notched 17 points in a January Bay Valley Conference blowout of Alameda — a game in which Yuba won by 32 — and dropped 14 points in a mid-February win over Napa Valley College. He was part of a balanced 49er attack that won each of its first four Bay Valley Conference games by more than 30 points and ranked among the state's top teams throughout the season.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "Aidan comes to us from a winning program in Yuba College.  He has great versatility at the forward spot.  His ability to defend multiple positions, as well as score inside and out, will be a strong addition.  He is another long and athletic player that we value so much.  He is a selfless player that is willing to do whatever he can to help the team succeed!"
 
DREW LARSON | F | 6-7, 210 | Fort Collins, Colo. / Niagara
Larson brings a wealth of multi-level experience to Colorado Mesa, having played at the NJCAA and Division I levels before arriving in Grand Junction. The 6-7 forward from Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colo. spent his first two seasons at Northwest College (Wyo.) in the NJCAA, appearing in 63 games with 56 starts and averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. His sophomore campaign with the Trappers was his best, posting averages of 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting an impressive 57.0% from the field and 44.0% from three in 31 games — including a career-high 30 points against Laramie County Community College on Jan. 24 and a career-high 17 rebounds against Western Nebraska Community College in the postseason. Larson then signed with Niagara of the MAAC (Division I), where he played in 22 games as a junior in 2025-26, shooting 46.2% from the field and 32.1% from three.
 
Coach DeWeese's Comments: "We're excited to add a player of Drew's caliber to the Mavs family.  Drew brings a wealth of experience at both the junior college and NCAA D1 level.  He is a talented and multi-dimensional forward with the ability to score inside and out.  Having Drew's experience and character on our roster will be a great addition!"