Summer time means a look ahead to next season!
Each week moving forward, we will preview one conference in college basketball from soup to nuts.
Check below for this week’s breakdown on the WCC.
WCC Offseason Power Rankings
1. Gonzaga
Projected Starting 5:
G Ryan Nembhard
G Nolan Hickman
F Steele Venters
F Anton Watson
C Graham Ike
Projected Bench: Dusty Stromer, Jun Seok Yeo, Ben Gregg, Luka Krajnovic
Key Newcomers: Dusty Stromer, Steele Venters (Eastern Washington), Jun Seok Yeo, Graham Ike (Wyoming), Ryan Nembhard (Creighton), Luke Krajnovic
Key Losses: Rasir Bolton, Julian Strawther, Drew Timme, Hunter Sallis, Malachi Smith
2. Saint Mary’s
Projected Starting 5:
G Aidan Mahaney
G Augustas Marciulionis
G Alex Ducas
F Josh Jefferson
C Mitchell Saxen
Projected Bench: Henry Wessels, Joshua Jefferson, Chris Howell, Matt Van Komen, Mason Forbes, Jordan Ross
Key Newcomers: Jordan Ross
Key Losses: Logan Johnson, Kyle Bowen
3. Loyola Marymount
Projected Starting 5:
G Justice Hill
G Justin Wright
G Alex Merkviladze
F Keli Leaupepe
C Lars Thiemann
Projected Bench: Rick Issanza, Michael Graham, Aaron McBride, Dominick Harris, Lamaj Lewis, Noah Taitz, Will Johnston
Key Newcomers: Dominick Harris (Gonzaga), Justice Hill (LSU), Justin Wright (NC Central), Lars Thiemann (Cal), Will Johntson (UTRGV), Aaron McBride
Key Losses: Cam Shelton, Jalin Anderson, Justin Ahrens
4. San Francisco
Projected Starting 5:
G Marcus Williams
G Malik Thomas
G Mike Sharavjamts
F Josh Kunen
C Jonathan Mogbo
Projected Bench: Isaiah Hawthorne, Barry Wang, Ryan Beasley, Stefan Todorovic, Ndewedo Newbury, Volodymyr Markovetskyy, Justin Bieker, Saba Gigiberia
Key Newcomers: Mike Sharavjamts (Dayton), Stefan Todorovic (SMU), Malik Thomas (USC), Jonathan Mogbo (Missouri State), Barry Wang, Ryan Beasley, Robby Beasley
Key Losses: Khalil Shabazz, Zane Meeks, Tyrell Roberts
5. Santa Clara
Projected Starting 5:
G Jalen Benjamin
G Adama Bal
G Carlos Marshall
F Johnny O’Neil
C Christoph Tilly
Projected Bench: Tyeree Bryan, Christian Hammond, Luke McEldon, Bukola Oboye, Brenton Knapper, Francisco Caffaro, Jake Ensminger, Kosy Akametu
Key Newcomers: Francisco Caffaro (Virginia), Jalen Benjamin (Mount St. Mary’s), Adama Bal (Arizona), Johnny O’Neil (American), Tyeree Bryan (Charleston Southern), Christian Hammond, Luke McEldon, Bukola Oboye
Key Losses: Brandin Podziemski, Carlos Stewart, Parker Braun, Jaden Bediako
6. Portland
Projected Starting 5:
G Tyler Robertson
G Juan Sebastian Gorosito
G Chris Austin
F Alimamy Koroma
C Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams
Projected Bench: Vukasin Masic, Tyler Harris, Thomas Oosterbroek, Bol Dengdit, Vasilije Vucinic
Key Newcomers: Vincent Delano, Alimamy Koroma (Cal Poly), Thomas Oosterbroek (Miami), Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams (Lamar)
Key Losses: Mike Meadows, Moses Wood
7. Pepperdine
Projected Starting 5:
G Ethan Anderson
G Houston Mallette
G Michael Ajayi
F Jevon Porter
C Boubacar Coulibaly
Projected Bench: Nils Cooper, Curtis Williams, Martin Gumwel, Jalen Pitre, Malik Moore, Aladji Gassama
Key Newcomers: Ethan Anderson (Wyoming), Michael Ajayi (JUCO), Nils Cooper, Curtis Williams, Martin Gumwel, John Squire
Key Losses: Maxwell Lewis, Mike Mitchell, Jan Zidek, Carson Basham
8. Pacific
Projected Starting 5:
G Tyler Beard
G Donovan Williams
G Nick Blake
F Judson Martindale
C Burke Smith
Projected Bench: Jalen Brown, Greg Outlaw, Moe Odum, Cam Denson, Villiam Garcia Adstein, Makai Richards
Key Newcomers: Villiam Garcia Adsten, Makai Richards
Key Losses: Keylan Boone, Jordan Ivy-Curry
9. San Diego
Projected Starting 5:
G Dragos Lungu
G Wayne McKinney
G Keyon Kensie Jr.
F Santiago Trouet
C Jimmy Oladokyn
Projected Bench: Seikou Sisoho Jawara, Deuce Turner, Kevin Patton, Keyon Kensie Jr., David Simon, Kollen Murphy, Devon Dahlke, Neel Beniawl, PJ Hayes, Bendji Pierre, Kevin Patton
Key Newcomers: Kevin Patton, P.J. Hayes (Division II), Dragos Lungu, Keyon Kensie Jr., Jimmy Oladokun, David Simon, Santiago Trouet
Key Losses: Jaiden Delaire, Eric Williams, Marcellus Earlington, Jase Townsend
WCC Preseason First-Team
Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Aidan Mahaney, Saint Mary’s
Keli Leaupepe, Loyola Marymount
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Mitchell Saxen, Saint Mary’s
WCC Preseason Player of the Year
Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
WCC Preseason Sleeper
Loyola Marymount
5 Impact WCC Freshmen
*In no particular order
Dusty Stromer, Gonzaga
Jun Seok Yeo, Gonzaga
Jordan Ross, Saint Mary’s
Aaron McBride, Loyola Marymount
Kevin Patton Jr., San Diego
5 WCC Breakout Players
*In no particular order
**A player is not eligible to be a breakout player if he’s previously averaged in double figures
Nolan Hickman, Gonzaga
Ben Gregg, Gonzaga
Josh Jefferson, Saint Mary’s
Marcus Williams, San Francisco
Wayne McKinney, San Diego
10 Impact WCC Transfers
*In no particular order
*Two-time transfers who have yet to be cleared by the NCAA are not eligible for this list
Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga (Creighton)
Graham Ike, Gonzaga (Wyoming)
Steele Venters, Gonzaga (Eastern Washington)
Dominick Harris, Loyola Marymount (Gonzaga)
Justice Hill, Loyola Marymount (LSU)
Mike Sharavjamts, San Francisco (Dayton)
Malik Thomas, San Francisco (USC)
Adama Bal, Santa Clara (Arizona)
Jalen Benjamin, Santa Clara (Mount St. Mary’s)
Ethan Anderson, Pepperdine (Wyoming)
Leftovers
- Georgetown, North Carolina to begin home-and-home series in Chapel Hill
- CBS Sports Podcast (5/27) — New Mexico’s Eric Olen
- UConn, BYU finalizing agreement to meet in November at TD Garden in Boston
- Oklahoma/Arizona State, Oklahoma State/Grand Canyon to headline doubleheader in Phoenix on 12/6
- Gonzaga, Creighton to begin home-and-home series next season in Spokane
