Arizona Men’s Basketball Signs 6-Foot-11 Transfer Evan Otten

Arizona men’s basketball has added significant size and defensive presence to its roster, announcing the signing of center Evan Otten from the NCAA transfer portal on May 15, 2026.

Otten, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound center from Redmond, Oregon, joins the program from Idaho State with two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

The transfer arrives as a proven rim protector. During his redshirt sophomore season in 2025-26, Otten led the Big Sky Conference with 1.8 blocks per game, a mark that ranked 14th nationally. He recorded 58 total blocks during that campaign, including at least three blocks in 10 different games.

Otten’s defensive contributions earned him a spot on the Big Sky All-Defensive Team. His offensive production as a redshirt sophomore included 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while playing an average of 14.7 minutes. He shot 52.2% from the field and 60.7% from the free-throw line.

Earlier in his tenure with the Idaho State Bengals, Otten was named the 2024-25 Big Sky Freshman of the Year. In that season, he led the conference with 66 blocks and averaged 5.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Otten’s arrival provides critical depth to the Arizona frontcourt. He joins a rotation that includes returning center Motiejus Krivas, Nebraska transfer Ugnius Jarusevicius, Dutch freshman Endurance Aiyamenkhue, and redshirt freshman Mabil Mawut.

While Jarusevicius is expected to serve as the primary backup to Krivas, reporting from AZ Desert Swarm indicates that Otten provides necessary insurance should Jarusevicius’ lingering back injury issues resurface.

Otten is the seventh addition to Arizona’s 2026-27 roster. He is part of a transfer class that also includes:

• Ugnius Jarusevicius (Nebraska)
• Derek Dixon (North Carolina)
• JJ Mandaquit (Washington)

The program currently has one open roster spot remaining, which will be used to fill the power forward position. Arizona is awaiting a decision from Koa Peat regarding whether he will return to college or remain in the NBA Draft.