STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Men's Basketball head coach Eric Haut has been very busy in his first summer in Stephenville, announcing his 12^th and final player signing with the addition of Utah transfer, Josh Hayes.
 
With the addition of Hayes, Haut brings his first-year roster to 16 players with four returners, 11 transfer portal signees and one incoming freshman. The squad is bolstered by a presence of juniors and seniors with 12 juniors or older on the 2026-27 squad. The seventh team in the Division I era for the Texans will be the first competing in the United Athletic Conference after Tarleton State joined the UAC on July 1, 2026.
 
"Josh is a tremendous addition to our program and someone we believe can make an immediate impact," said Haut. "He brings great size and length, a high basketball IQ, and the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. His experience at Utah, combined with his development at Northwest Florida State, has prepared him for this opportunity, and we're excited to see him take the next step here at Tarleton State. Josh is a competitive, tough-minded player who fits exactly what we're building. We're thrilled to welcome him and his family to the Texan Family and can't wait to get to work."
 
Hayes spent his junior year at Utah last season. While playing for the Utes, he averaged 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game while seeing action in 32 contests. He scored a season-high 10 points against Ole Miss in a November non-conference tilt. Hayes started the first 10 games of the season in his first year at Utah.
 
"Tarleton State was the right fit for me because of the vision Coach Haut has for the program and the opportunity to be part of something special," said Hayes. "I wanted to find a place where I could be valued, continue to develop, and compete at a high level. The culture and the commitment to winning really stood out to me. I'm excited to get to work and help build something special here at Tarleton State."
 
Prior to Utah, he spent his sophomore season at Northwest Florida State. He was named to the Panhandle All-Conference Second Team after averaging 9.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures 15 times with a season-high of 19 points against Bishop CC. Hayes notched one double-double with 15 points and 15 boards against Harcum College.
 
He spent his freshman season at Appalachian State. Hayes saw action in eight games averaging 3.8 points and 2.6 boards. He scored in double digits and notched his a double-double for the first time in his collegiate career with 18 points and 12 boards against Central Penn in his fifth game of the season.
 
Hayes finished his prep career at Gainesville High School where he averaged 14 points and nine rebounds as a senior. He began his high school playing days at The Rock where he was a part of the 2021-22 State Champion program.
 
The Texan Men's Basketball season regular season is less than three months away. Be sure to follow @tarletonmbb on Instagram and X for the latest updates, highlights and content.