College Hoops Today

Serving College Basketball 365 Days a Year

Mountain West Offseason Breakdown

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 Mountain West.

Mountain West Offseason Breakdown

Mountain West Preseason Power Rankings
1. Nevada
Projected Starting 5:
G Grant Sherfield
G Desmond Cambridge
G Tre Coleman
F Will Baker
C Warren Washington
Projected Bench: K.J. Hymes, AJ Bramah, Jalen Weaver, Nick Davidson, Deandre Henry, Alem Huseinovic, Kenan Blackshear
Newcomers: Will Baker (Texas), AJ Bramah (Robert Morris), Jalen Weaver, Nick Davidson, Kenan Blackshear (FAU)
Losses: Zach Williams, Kane Milling, Robby Robinson, Zane Meeks

2. Colorado State
Projected Starting 5:
G Kendle Moore
G Isaiah Stevens
G David Roddy
F Adam Thistlewood
C James Moors
Projected Bench: Dischon Thomas, James Tonje, Isaiah Rivera, Jalen Lake, Jalen Scott, Chandler Jacobs
Newcomers: Jalen Lake, Jalen Scott, Chandler Jacobs (Division II)
Losses: None

3. San Diego State
Projected Starting 5:
G Trey Pulliam
G Lamont Butler
G Matt Bradley
F Keshad Johnson
C Nathan Mensah
Projected Bench: Joshua Tomaic, Aguek Arop, Adam Seiko, Che Evans, Cade Alger, Tahirou Diabate, Chad Baker-Mazara, Demarshay Johnson Jr., Keith Dinwiddie 
Newcomers: Matt Bradley (Cal), JaeDon Ledee (TCU), Cade Alger (Seattle), Tahirou Diabate (Portland), Chad Baker-Mazara (Duquesne), Demarshay Johnson Jr.
Losses: Matt Mitchell, Jordan Schakel, Terrell Gomez

4. UNLV
Projected Starting 5:
G Jordan McCabe
G Bryce Hamilton
G Donovan Williams
F Victor Iwuakor
C Royce Hamm
Projected Bench: Michael Nuga, David Muoka, Josh Baker, Justin Webster, Keshon Gilbert, Marvin Coleman, Reece Brown, James Hampshire
Newcomers: Jordan McCabe (West Virginia), Donovan Williams (Texas), Royce Hamm (Texas), Victor Iwuakor (Oklahoma), Michael Nuga (Kent State), David Muoka (Lamar), Josh Baker (JUCO), Justin Webster (Hawaii), James Hampshire (Pacific), Keshon Gilbert
Losses: David Jenkins, Caleb Grill, Cheikh Mbacke Diong, Moses Wood, Nick Blake, Devin Tillis, Edoardo Del Cadia

5. Boise State
Projected Starting 5:
G Marcus Shaver
G Devonaire Doutrive
G Emmanuel Akot
F Abu Kigab
C Mladen Armus
Projected Bench: Max Rice, Tyson Degenhart, Kobe Young, R.J. Keene III, Lukas Milner, Naje Smith, Burke Smith
Newcomers: Tyson Degenhart, Kobe Young, R.J. Keene III
Losses: Derrick Alston Jr., RayJ Dennis

6. Utah State
Projected Starting 5:
G Rylan Jones
G R.J. Eytle-Rock
G Brock Miller
F Justin Bean
C Trevin Dorius
Projected Bench: Max Shulga, Brandon Horvath, Sean Bairstow, Szymon Zapala, Max Shulga, Travis Wagstaff, Cade Potter, Muzamil Ameer-Hamoda
Newcomers: Rylan Jones (Utah), R.J. Eytle-Rock (UMBC), Brandon Horvath (UMBC), Travis Wagstaff (JUCO), Cade Potter, Muzamil Ameer Hamoda
Losses: Neemias Queta, Marco Anthony, Rollie Worster, Alphonso Anderson

7. Fresno State
Projected Starting 5:
G Isaiah Hill
G Junior Ballard
G Jemarl Baker
G Deon Stroud 
C Orlando Robinson
Projected Bench: Destin Whitaker, Leonardo Colimerio, Braxton Meah, Robert Vaihola, Anthony Holland, Donovan Yap
Newcomers: Jemarl Baker (Arizona), Donovan Yap (UNLV), Robert Vaihola 
Losses: Christian Gray

8. New Mexico
Projected Starting 5:
G Jaelen House
G Jeremiah Francis
G Jamal Mashburn Jr.
F Saquan Singleton
C Valdir Manuel
Projected Bench: Taryn Todd, Gethro Muscadin, K.J. Jenkins, Jay Allen-Tovar, Sebastian Forsling, Birima Seck, Eman Kuac, Javonte Johnson
Newcomers:Taryn Todd (TCU), Jaelen House (New Mexico), Gethro Muscadin (Kansas), Jamal Mashburn Jr. (Minnesota), K.J. Jenkins (JUCO), Jay Allen-Tovar (JUCO), Sebastian Forsling (JUCO), Birima Seck
Losses: Makuach Maluach, Rob Brown, Bayron Matos, Keith McGee, Isaiah Marin

9. Wyoming
Projected Starting 5:
G Deng Dut
G Xavier DuSell
G Kenny Foster
G Hunter Maldonado
F Graham Ike
Projected Bench: Brendan Wenzel, Nate Barnhart, Noah Reynolds, Ben Bowen, Nate Barnhart, Hunter Thompson, Drake Jeffries, Jeremiah Oden
Newcomers: Brendan Wenzel (Utah), Nate Barnhart, Deng Dut, Noah Reynolds, Ben Bowen, Nate Barnhart
Losses: Marcus Williams, Kwane Marble, Drew LaMont

10. San Jose State
Projected Starting 5:
G Brandon Knapper
G Richard Washington
G Trey Anderson
F Tibet Gorener
C Ibrahima Diallo
Projected Bench: Majok Kuath, Josh O’Garro, Shon Robinson, Alvaro Cardenas, Myron Amey, Caleb Simmons, Omari Moore, Sebastian Mendoza, Michael Ofoegbu
Newcomers: Brandon Knapper (West Virginia), Majok Kuath (JUCO), Trey Anderson (South Carolina), Josh O’Garro (Oklahoma), Shon Robinson (Ole Miss), Tibet Gorener (Arizona), Ibrahima Diallo (Ohio State), Alvaro Cardenas, Myron Amey
Losses: Ralph Agee, Jalen Dalcourt, Kaison Hammonds

11. Air Force
Projected Starting 5:
G A.J. Walker
G Joe Octave
G Carter Murphy
F Abe Kinrade
C Nikc Jackson
Projected Bench: Ethan Taylor, Cam VanderZwaag, Jake Heidbreder, Ezra McKenna, Jake Murphy, Kyle Brown, CJ Haut
Newcomers: Jake Heidbreder, Ethan Taylor, Jake Murphy, Ezra McKenna, Dawson Sarblah
Losses: Glen McClintock, Ameka Akaya, Chris Joyce, Keaton Van Soelen

Mountain West Preseason First Team
Grant Sherfield, Nevada
Matt Bradley, San Diego State
Bryce Hamilton, UNLV
David Roddy, Colorado State
Orlando Robinson, Fresno State

Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year
Grant Sherfield, Nevada

Mountain West Preseason Sleeper 
Fresno State

10 Impact Mountain West Transfers
*In no particular order.
Will Baker, Nevada (Texas)
AJ Bramah, Nevada (Robert Morris)
Matt Bradley, San Diego State (Cal)
Jordan McCabe, UNLV (West Virginia)
Donovan Williams, UNLV (Texas)
Victor Iwuakor, UNLV (Oklahoma)
Royce Hamm, UNLV (Texas)
Rylan Jones, Utah State (Utah)
Jemarl Baker, Fresno State (Arizona)
Jamal Mashburn Jr., New Mexico (Minnesota)

10 Under-The-Radar Mountain West Transfers
*In no particular order.
Chandler Jacobs, Colorado State (Division II)
Michael Nuga, UNLV (Kent State)
James Hampshire, UNLV (Pacific)
Chad Baker-Mazara, San Diego State (Duquesne)
Brandon Horvath, Utah State (UMBC)
R.J. Eytle-Rock, Utah State (UMBC)
Jaelen House, New Mexico (Arizona State)
Taryn Todd, New Mexico (TCU)
Brandon Knapper, San Jose State (West Virginia)
Ibrahima Diallo, San Jose State (Ohio State)

5 Mountain West Breakout Players
*In no particular order
James Moors, Colorado State
Nathan Mensah, San Diego State
Steven Ashworth, Utah State
Devonaire Doutrive, Boise State
Xavier DuSell, Wyoming

Leftovers