ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball program announced Thursday (Apr. 23) the addition of two transfers to the 2026-27 roster. Hudson Mayes, a 6-5 rising sophomore guard from UC San Diego, and Imran Suljanovic, an incoming 6-8 redshirt freshman forward from St. John’s, will join the Lobo program for the upcoming season.
Mayes transfers to New Mexico after playing his freshman season at UC San Diego in 2025-26. An honorable mention All-Big West honoree, he was the Tritons’ second-leading scorer at 11.1 points per game, while leading the team in rebounding at 5.7 per game. The native of Los Angeles ended the season with 10 straight double-figure scoring games, including three 20-point performances. After his career-high 24 points in a win over UC Riverside in February, he was named Big West Player of the Week.
“We are excited to welcome Hudson Mayes to our Lobo family,” said head coach Eric Olen. “Hudson is a dynamic, multi-talented player who impacts the game in a variety of winning ways. He brings explosive ability on the offensive end, paired with disruptive defensive instincts and an elite nose for the ball on the backboards. His versatility, energy, and competitiveness will make an immediate impact on our program and our fans will love the way he plays the game.”
“The decision to come play for Coach Olen, who recruited me for two years, both to UCSD and now to UNM, was an easy one,” said Mayes. “I have known most of the coaches on the staff from when they were recruiting me out of high school. When I came on my visit and saw The Pit, and that was all I needed to see. I know about the fanbase and how incredible it is to play here in front of them. I’m excited to get to work and can’t wait for the first time I get to play in The Pit.”
Suljanovic comes to Albuquerque from St. John’s, where he missed his entire freshman season due to injury in 2025-26 and received a medical redshirt. The native of Vienna, Austria has extensive experience representing his home country in international experience. In 2024, he led Austria to a silver medal at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket (B Division), averaging 22.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as the tournament’s second-leading scorer. Suljanovic made his debut with the Austrian Senior National Team in 2025, scoring a team-high 11 points against Albania in the European Pre-Qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Prior to coming to the US, he most recently played for Pallacanestro Reggiana, a club in Northern Italy.
“Imran has consistently proven himself as a high-level scorer in international competition with the Austrian National Team,” said Olen. “Whether it’s catch-and-shoot, creating off the dribble, or going to work with his back to the basket, he produces efficiently in the ways we value most as a program. He competes at a high level every time he steps on the floor, and that edge is going to elevate the group around him. We can’t wait for Lobo fans to meet Imran.”
“Coach Olen and Coach Tom (Tankelewicz) have been recruiting me for a long time and I look forward to getting to learn from them” said Suljanovic. “When they gave me this opportunity to come to New Mexico, to play for a program with a great tradition and so many incredible fans, I had to say yes. I am excited to be a Lobo and play in The Pit.”
Hudson Mayes and Imran Suljanovic Join Lobo Basketball Program
