Reports: Utah State’s Karson Templin enters NCAA transfer portal
Mar 28, 2026, 4:48 PM | Updated: Mar 30, 2026, 11:02 am
San Diego, California - March 20: Karson Templin #22 of the Utah State celebrates after the Aggies defeated Villanova during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on Friday, March 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
(Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State big man Karson Templin will enter the NCAA transfer portal after three seasons with the Aggies.
The 2025-26 Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year enters the portal after becoming a fan favorite in Logan as an instant energy sparkplug off Jerrod Calhoun’s bench.
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NEWS: Utah State’s Karson Templin intends to enter the transfer portal, his agent Matt Slan tells DraftExpress.
The 6’9” 230 pound junior forward played a critical role off the bench for the 29-win Aggies, being named MWC 6th Man of the Year.
Tough, relentless, physical… pic.twitter.com/O1VSbeb5v0
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) March 26, 2026
Templin has gone from averaging 2.5 points and 1.7 rebounds as a true freshman in 2023-24 under Danny Sprinkle, to 8.8 points and more than four rebounds in less than 20 minutes a night in 2025-26.
Templin is shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 31 percent from deep across 93 games and 11 starts with USU.
Could Karson Templin follow Jerrod Calhoun to Cincinnati?
The 6’9″, 230-pound bruiser played 70 games with Calhoun and has shown steady growth throughout. His ability to bang in the post and finish with a soft touch, while also battling opposing big men on the other end, makes Templin a massive asset on both sides of the court.
Templin’s high-energy play and emotional reactions have endeared him to The Hurd, USU’s frenetic student fan base.
RELATED: Templin Announces Return To Utah State For Third Year
What a great quote from Kevin Willard on Karson Templin’s unique ability to impact a game without scoring. pic.twitter.com/ZeYtZWDUeQ
— Pump fun | Program (@SlanSports) March 21, 2026
He played 17 minutes a night as a sophomore under Calhoun. Templin averaged 7.4 points and saw his rebound numbers jump to five boards a game.
The three-point shot became more of his game as a junior. He made 21-of-64 (.328) from deep, but developed a knack for drilling momentum-shifting shots when his team needed it most.
About Karson Templin
Templin played his prep basketball at Lovejoy High School in Fairview, Texas.
As a senior at Lovejoy HS, Templin averaged 20.7 points, 11.1 boards, 2.2 assists, and two blocks per game. During his prep career, the second of four children earned Texas 5A all-state, 5A all-region honors twice, district MVP honors twice, first-team all-district honors three times, and Defensive Player of the Year honors as a three-year starter with the Leopards.
Lovejoy teams went 76-17 with Templin in the lineup.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
