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 Preseason Power Rankings:
1. San Diego State
Projected Starting 5:
G Lamont Butler
G Darrion Trammell
G Matt Bradley
F Jaedon LeDee
C Nathan Mensah
Projected Bench: Cade Alger, Adam Seiko, Keshad Johnson, Aguek Arop, Micah Parrish, Elijah Saunders, Miles Byrd
Key Losses: Tahirou Diabate, Trey Pulliam, Joshua Tomaic
Key Newcomers: Elijah Saunders, Miles Byrd, Jaedon Ledee, Darrion Trammell (Seattle), Micah Parrish (Oakland)
2. Wyoming
Projected Starting 5:
G Ethan Anderson
G Brendan Wenzel
G Max Agbonkpolo
G Hunter Maldonado
C Graham Ike
Projected Bench: Jeremiah Oden, Xavier DuSell, Jake Kyman, Kenny Foster, Noah Reynolds, Caden Powell, Hunter Thompson
Key Losses: Drake Jeffries
Key Newcomers: Caden Powell, Ethan Anderson (USC), Max Agbonkpolo (USC), Jake Kyman (UCLA)
3. Colorado State
Projected Starting 5:
G Isaiah Stevens
G Josiah Strong
G John Tonje
F Patrick Cartier
C James Moors
Projected Bench: Isaiah Rivera, Baylor Hebb, Trace Young, Jack Payne, Tavi Jackson, Jalen Lake, Kyle Evans, Joe Palmer, Jacob Jennissen (injured)
Key Losses: Adam Thistlewood, Kendle Moore, Chandler Jacobs, David Roddy, Dischon Thomas
Key Newcomers: Jack Payne, Tavi Jackson, Patrick Cartier (Division II), Josiah Strong (Illinois State), Kyle Evans, Joe Palmer (D3)
4. New Mexico
Projected Starting 5:
G Jaelen House
G Jamal Mashburn Jr.
G Javonte Johnson
F Josiah Allick
C Morris Udeze
Projected Bench: KJ Jenkins, Birima Seck, Jordan Arroyo, Donovan Dent, Quinton Webb, Braden Applehans, Emmanuel Kuac, Jay-Allen Tovar
Key Losses: Saquan Singleton, Taryn Todd, Jeremiah Francis,
Key Newcomers: Donovan Dent, Quinton Webb, Braden Applehans, Josiah Allick (UMKC), Morris Udeze (Wichita State)
5. Boise State
Projected Starting 5:
G Marcus Shaver
G Max Rice
G Chibuzo Abgo
F Tyson Degenhart
C Lukas Milner
Projected Bench: Kobe Young, Burke Smith, RJ Keene, Kasean Pryor, Sam Winter, Pavle Kuzmanovic, Jace Whiting, Naje Smith, Sadraque Nganga, Mohamed Sylla
Key Losses: Mladen Armus, Abu Kigab, Emmanuel Akot
Key Newcomers: Chibuzo Agbo (Texas Tech), Sadraque Nganga, Jace Whiting
6. Utah State
Projected Starting 5:
G Rylan Jones
G Max Shulga
G Sean Bairstow
F Taylor Funk
C Dan Akin
Projected Bench: Steven Ashworth, RJ Eytle-Rock, Trevion Dorius, Szymon Zapala, Zee Hamoda, Connor Gillis, Cade Potter, Landon Brenchley, Mason Falsev, Connor Odom, Isaac Johnson
Key Losses: Justin Bean, Brock Miller, Brandon Horvath
Key Newcomers: Isaac Johnson (Oregon), Taylor Funk (St. Joe’s), Cade Potter (redshirt), Mason Falslev, Dan Akin (Cal Baptist)
7. UNLV
Projected Starting 5:
G Elijah Harkless
G Jordan McCabe
G Eli Parquet
F Luis Rodriguez
C Isaiah Cottrell
Projected Bench: Jackie Johnson, Victor Iwuakor, David Muoka, Cameron Burist, Justin Webster, Keshon Gilbert
Key Losses: Marvin Coleman, James Hampshire, Royce Hamm, Bryce Hamilton, Mike Nuga, Donovan Williams
Key Newcomers: Eli Parquet (Colorado), Luis Rodriguez (Ole Miss), Elijah Harkless (UNLV), Jackie Johnson (Duquesne), Shane Nowell (Arizona), Isaiah Cottrell (West Virginia)
8. Fresno State
Projected Starting 5:
G Isaiah Hill
G Jordan Campbell
G Anthony Holland
F Leo Colimerio
C Isaih Moore
Projected Bench: Eduardo Andre, Jemarl Baker (coming off injury), Joseph Hunter Jr., Destin Whitaker, Donovan Yap, Chuks Isitua, Jordan Brinson
Key Losses: Junior Ballard, Orlando Robinson, Deon Stroud, Braxton Meah
Key Newcomers: Joseph Hunter Jr., Eduardo Andre (Nebraska), Isaih Moore (Southern Miss), Chuks Isitua (IUPUI), Jordan Brinson (JUCO)
9. Nevada
G Hunter McIntosh
G Jarod Lucas
G Kenan Blackshear
F Tre Coleman
C Will Baker
Projected Bench: K.J. Hymes, Daniel Foster, Alem Huseinovic, Jalen Weaver, Trey Pettigrew, Darrion Williams, Tyler Powell
Key Losses: Desmond Cambridge, Grant Sherfield, Warren Washington, Deandre Henry
Key Newcomers: Trey Pettigrew, Darrion Williams, Tyler Powell (Seton Hall), Jarod Lucas (Oregon State), Hunter McIntosh (Elon)
10. San Jose State
G Alvaro Cardenas
G Omari Moore
F Trey Anderson
F Tibet Gorener
C Ibrahima Diallo
Projected Bench: Harminder Dhaliwal, Myron Amey Jr., Sage Tolbert, Max Allen, Leo Torbor, Garrett Anderson, Robert Vaihola
Key Losses: Trey Smith, Shon Robinson
Key Newcomers: Max Allen, Leo Torbor, Garrett Anderson, Sage Tolbert (Temple), Robert Vaihola (Fresno State)
11. Air Force
G Ethan Taylor
G Jake Heidbreder
G Jeffrey Mills
G Camden Vander Swagg
C Lucas Moerman
Projected Bench: Joseph Octave, Nikc Jackson, Carter Murphy, Jake Murphy, Kyle Brown, Abe Kinrade
Key Losses: A.J. Walker
Key Newcomers: None
Preseason All-Mountain West First-Team
Jaelen House, New Mexico
Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State
Matt Bradley, San Diego State
Hunter Maldonado, Wyoming
Graham Ike, Wyoming
Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year
Matt Bradley, San Diego State
Mountain West Preseason Sleeper
New Mexico
10 Mountain West Impact Transfers
*In no particular order
Darrion Trammell, San Diego State (Seattle)
Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State (TCU)
Ethan Anderson, Wyoming (USC)
Max Agbonkpolo, Wyoming (USC)
Jake Kyman, Wyoming (UCLA)
Morris Udeze, New Mexico (Wichita State)
Chibuzo Agbo, Boise State (Texas Tech)
Taylor Funk, Utah State (St. Joe’s)
Elijah Harkless, UNLV (Oklahoma)
Jarod Lucas, Nevada (Oregon State)
Leftovers
- UCLA, Cal finalizing agreement to meet next season at Chase Center
- Duke, Michigan finalizing agreement to play in Washington D.C. in February of 2026
- Saint Louis to participate in 2025 Acrisure Series
- List of early season tournaments for the 2025-26 college basketball season
- TCU set to replace Kansas as 4th team in 2025 Rady Children’s Invitational
