Utah lands first transfer portal commitment from Utah Valley’s Jackson Holcombe
Apr 14, 2026, 10:18 AM | Updated: 2:43 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah men’s basketball secured it’s first transfer portal addition and impact piece to its roster this week, as Utah Valley standout Jackson Holcombe announced his commitment to the Runnin’ Utes.
Holcombe arrives in Salt Lake City after emerging as one of the most productive and versatile players in the Western Athletic Conference.
The 6-foot-7 guard/forward led Utah Valley in nearly every major category during the 2025–26 season, averaging 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 53% from the field.
That all-around production earned him First Team All-WAC honors, along with recognition on the league’s All-Defensive team — a reflection of his two-way impact.
After returning from a two-year mission, he redshirted and worked his way into the rotation before eventually becoming Utah Valley’s go-to player — a development path built on consistency, not shortcuts.
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Jackson Holcombe: A stat sheet stuffer — and then some
He helped lead Utah Valley to back-to-back WAC regular season championships and a 25-win season in 2025–26, serving as the centerpiece of a team that outperformed its profile year after year.
The advanced metrics back it up. Holcombe posted a 117.8 offensive rating and a 92.6 defensive rating, while carrying a 26.4% usage rate — a rare combination of volume and efficiency.
He also recorded a 23.9% assist rate (91st percentile), showing real playmaking responsibility, while maintaining a 15.1% total rebound rate — elite for a perimeter player.
Defensively, his impact jumps off the page:
- 4.3% steal rate (99th percentile)
- 4.8% block rate (79th percentile)
Those are “event creator” numbers — not just solid defense, but game-changing activity. And when he was on the floor, Utah Valley won — going 25–8 (.758 win percentage) with him as a central piece of the rotation.
That combination made him one of the most sought-after mid-major players in the transfer portal. And statistically, that trajectory matters. Players who develop that way tend to be more stable, more coachable, and more adaptable at the next level.
Why the fit makes sense at Utah
For Utah, this addition is as clean a fit as you’ll find in the portal. The program’s offseason priorities have been clear:
- Add size on the perimeter
- Improve defensive versatility
- Bring in experienced, proven production
- Find players who can impact multiple phases of the game
Holcombe checks a lot of boxes. The jump from the WAC to the Big 12 is real but Holcombe’s profile suggests a smoother transition than most.
This is the sort of addition that will only look better as Utah adds pieces to the class. Currently, Holcombe joins a 2026 class that includes:
- Jaxon Johnson
- David Katoa
- Simeon Suguturaga
- Zati Loubaki
- Styles Clemmons
- Fynn Schott
Adding that to what remains on the roster in Lucas Langarita, Babacar Faye, and Obomate Abbey. Long ways to go for the Runnin’ Utes in the transfer portal, but Holcombe is a very valuable start.
With Holcombe as a connector on offense, Utah will likely look for scoring to add around him. Given his own shooting, Utah will prioritize that element in other additions around him.
The Bottom Line
This is exactly the type of portal addition Utah needs. Holcombe isn’t built on one skill — and that’s exactly why he projects, that profile holds up. Because when the competition gets tougher, it’s the players who can impact the game in multiple ways — not just score — that translate.
And more importantly — he brings reliability. In a league defined by physicality and consistency, Utah didn’t just added a player who impacts winning in multiple ways — the kind that tends to hold up when the competition gets tougher.
