Albury then! Former Utah State guard commits to UNM
Lobo fans wanted this one.
Deyton Albury, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior transfer from Utah State, is the latest UNM men’s basketball team commitment.
After entering the portal, Albury received early interest from several Power 4 schools and high Mid-Major programs, including Clemson, Texas Tech, Iowa, VCU and Wichita State.
He narrowed his final two schools to UNM and USC before announcing his commitment to the Lobos via X on Tuesday.
Albury averaged 7.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Aggies in 2024-25, playing 18 minutes per contest. He shot 55% from the field and 43% from the 3-point line, but he attempted only 30 shots from behind the arc last season. That’s less than one per game.
UNM and Mountain West Conference basketball fans are familiar with Albury.
UNM played USU twice last year in conference play.
His athleticism and ability to score off the dribble in both the half-court and in transition make him an immediate impact player for UNM.
Albury played in a crowded backcourt for Utah State in 2024-25. Although he started 23 of 34 games, Utah State senior Drake Allen often played more minutes off the bench after he returned from a shoulder injury.
Freshman Jordy Barnes also saw some time on the floor, further limiting Albury’s minutes. Both will return to Utah State next season and the Aggies added Butler transfer point guard Kolby King.
Albury is well-traveled.
He was born in Nassau, The Bahamas.
In his senior year of high school, he transferred to Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, where he starred in basketball and eight-man football. He then played one year of prep basketball at Believe Prep Academy in Rock Hill, S. C. and was named an MVP and Big Shots Prep Champion.
UNM is Albury's third college stop in his four-year career. He spent his first two seasons at Chipola College, a JUCO in Marianna, Flo. He started 28 of 34 games in his sophomore season and averaged 10.8 points, five rebounds and three assists en route to being named first-team All-Pandle Conference.
Albury’s next stop was Queens University in Charlotte, N.C.
He took on a larger role for the Royals than at Utah State, scoring 20 or more points in 11 games in 2023-24. He also filled up the stat sheet. Albury averaged 17 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 32 games and was named the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Newcomer of the Year.
Albury has shown he can put up big numbers against elite competition. Check out his 23-point performance against Duke on December 30, 2023.
Albury is used to playing a style of basketball like that which UNM men’s basketball coach Eric Olen wants to implement next season.
“Our system fits him well. We like to play fast, give our guys a lot of space, a lot of five-out concepts, so it’s just allowing him to operate in space. I think that’s critical,” Utah State head men’s basketball coach Jarred Calhoun told The Desert News.
Albury also adds valuable leadership to a UNM roster lacking Division I experience. Albury and Chris Howell are the only two UNM players who have played significant minutes at the D-1 level.
