SDSU men add Colorado State transfer
April 14, 2026
By Andrew Holtan
The Brookings Beacon
BROOKINGS — The South Dakota State men’s basketball team announced an addition for the 2026-27 season on Tuesday in Colorado State transfer Jon Mekonnen.
The 6-foot-8 Eagan, Minn., native will have three years of eligibility left after redshirting the 2024-25 season.
This past season he appeared in 11 games and averaged 2.1 points per game. He played a season-high 16 minutes against Northern New Mexico and scored 13 points.
Mekonnen was a three-star prospect by 247sports and was the No. 7 ranked recruit in Minnesota in 2024.
He chose Colorado State over St. Thomas, Drake, Illinois State, Loyola Chicago, Northern Iowa, Wyoming and Ohio.
SDSU saw four players enter the transfer portal in Jaden Jackson, Luke Haertle, Bubz Alvarez and Andrell Burton Jr. With the addition of Mekonnen and three incoming freshmen and two players graduating from last year’s team, that leaves three more roster spots open for the 2026-27 season.
None of the former Jackrabbits that are in the portal have made a decision of where they will play next.