Cal Poly Men’s Basketball guard Owen Koonce has entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer, according to 247sports.
The All-Big West honorable mention marks the second departure from Cal Poly Men’s Basketball, following freshman guard Peter Bandelj’s recent portal entry.
Koonce transferred to Cal Poly last summer from Division II Colorado Mesa and had no trouble making the adjustment to the Division I level. He started all 35 games and led the Mustangs in scoring this past season, averaging 16.9 points per game while shooting 40% from three-point range.
The 6-foot-5-inch guard scored in double figures in all but six games. His best game of the season came against San Jose State on Dec. 24, 2024, where he scored 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the effort.
Koonce also helped lead the Mustangs to a Big West Championships semifinal appearance, scoring 18 points against UC Davis and 20 points against UC Riverside at the tournament in Henderson, Nev.
Where the team now stands
After first-year head coach Mike DeGeorge led the team to a Big West Championships semifinals appearance this past season, the roster will undergo a big turnover.
Koonce’s departure is a huge loss for Cal Poly, which has now lost its leading scorer and one of its most promising guards in Bandelj.
With the graduation of Jarred Hyder as well, the Mustangs will be losing three of their four top scorers.
As all three are guards, Cal Poly will need to retool at the position.
Cal Poly’s first round of 2025-26 high school recruits already includes two guards, Jason Scott and Braden Freeman, who hope to fill the shoes of the three departures.