Biggest Newcomer For Each Mountain West Basketball Team
Predicting each team’s most important newcomer
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Selecting the biggest newcomers in the Mountain West
The 2019-20 men’s basketball season is still about five months from tip, but it’s never too early to take a look at the upcoming campaign. I take a stab at which players I expect to be the most important newcomers for each Mountain West basketball team.
Air Force
TBD
Honestly, your guess is as good as mine here. Year in and year out, we have very little knowledge about what Air Force is bringing in as it regards to newcomers. Last season, freshman A.J. Walker finished as the Falcons’ third-highest scorer, averaging 8.5 points per game while shooting 40 percent from deep. Few teams (if any) nationally return as much from the previous season in terms of percentage of minutes played and scoring as Air Force. This means that we can expect the Falcons to lean on its experience and returning talent much more than newcomers.
Boise State
Emmanuel Akot
This choice is dependent on when (and if) Akot becomes eligible for the Broncos. The Arizona transfer and former five-star recruit has started 15 of his 48 appearances with the Wildcats as an underclassman before opting to transfer in January. Akot might have to sit at least the first semester of the season or possibly the entire year if the NCAA doesn’t rule in favor of the 6-7 wing. Length and positional versatility make Akot a valuable piece for the BSU future.
Colorado State
Dischon Thomas
Not often will you find Colorado State reeling in highly rated recruits, but the program has found ways to produce quality newcomers regardless. Thomas is an unranked recruit himself, though he has size at 6-9/215, averaged 15.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game at Hillcrest Prep in Arizona, and also played with AAU’s Compton Magic. With Nico Carvacho being the only returning Ram listed taller than 6-6, the door is wide open for Thomas to make his presence felt immediately.
Fresno State
Assane Diouf
The 7-2, 275-pound Senegalese mammoth could end up being an absolute force in this league. Ranked as a top 20 center by 24/7 Sports out of the class of 2018, Diouf was forced to redshirt last season after an appeal to the NCAA was denied. Labeled as a back-to-the-basket center with a great deal of size and surprising mobility, Diouf has quite a bit of upside as he continues to develop and learn the game. Diouf could blossom into the conference’s next Neemias Queta.
Nevada
Jalen Harris
There was plenty of reason to believe Harris would never suit up for the Wolf Pack. Harris committed to Nevada after transferring out of Louisiana Tech following his sophomore season, which led to the 6-5 guard sitting the ’18-19 campaign. Following Eric Musselman’s departure, Harris posted his name to the transfer portal but later chose to return to the Wolf Pack under Steve Alford and company. In his two seasons with Louisiana Tech, Harris averaged 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He’s arguably the best scorer on the team.
New Mexico
JaQuan Lyle
It’s been well over two years since Ohio State transfer JaQuan Lyle appeared in a college basketball game, logging 23 minutes in OSU’s Big Ten Tournament loss to Rutgers on March 8, 2017. Lyle transferred to New Mexico in hopes of contending for last year’s Mountain West title, but an Achilles injury forced the talented guard to sit out a second consecutive season. Assuming he is healthy and ready to go, Lyle could end up being the most important player in the conference. A scorer and one of the best passers in the entire nation, Lyle is at the steering wheel of a loaded UNM roster.
San Diego State
Malachi Flynn
Does SDSU finally have the backcourt offensive firepower that it’s lacked for years? The now-departed senior tandem of Devin Watson and Jeremy Hemsley were solid the past two seasons, but cold spells and efficiency issues were tough for the Aztecs to overcome at times. Flynn is a year removed from averaging 15.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game in ’17-18 with Washington State. With a redshirt year under his belt with SDSU, Flynn is poised for an explosive year alongside fellow transfer K.J. Feagin (formerly of Santa Clara).
San Jose State
Richard Washington, Jr.
San Jose State has suffered more than its fair share of losses over the years, but picking up a player of Washington’s caliber is what will be needed in order to help propel the long-struggling basketball program. Washington, who spent two seasons with Wake Forest and his most recent with Tallahassee Community College, figures to leave his footprints immediately on the ’19-20 SJSU season. The top 20 JUCO transfer averaged 16.6 points per game and converted 35.8 percent of his attempts from downtown. With Michael Steadman and Noah Baumann transferring out, the 6-6 guard could step in and lead the team in scoring the next two seasons.
UNLV
Jonah Antonio
UNLV is in a transitional period with Marvin Menzies out and T.J. Otzelberger handling sideline duties in Vegas. We will begin to see Otzelberger bring in more of “his guys” that fit the mold of his playing style and scheme as the years progress. Antonio, an Australian who last played with South Plains Community College, is a noteworthy perimeter shooter who fits Otzelberger’s style like a glove. Prior to South Plains, the off-ball guard started 31 of his 32 appearances with Mount St. Mary’s, averaging 11.3 points and 1.3 steals per game, shooting at an 80.6 percent clip from the line and 33.8 percent from deep.
Utah State
Alphonso Anderson
The defending Mountain West regular season and conference tournament champs bring in a good one in Anderson, a 6-7, 225-pound combo forward by the way of North Idaho College. Anderson scored 15.6 points per game with a shooting slash line of 48.7/35.7/71.9. Losing anchor and senior leader Quinn Taylor hurts, but the addition of Anderson helps on both ends. The Seattle native pairs scoring versatility with the ability to defend multiple positions and remain active on the boards.
Wyoming
Kwane Marble
Wyoming has to hit the reset button with Justin James no longer on campus. Marble could help stop the bleeding a bit, a 6-6 point guard who will surely be called upon for the young Cowboys in ’19-20. Marble’s size at the guard position and finishing savvy at the rim are much-needed for a Wyoming team that mightily struggled at the offensive end this past season. We could see the Denver native work his way into a bigger role as the season progresses and Marble gains experience.
Eli Boettger is the lead basketball writer at Mountain West Wire. He’s covered Mountain West basketball since 2015 and his work has been featured on Bleacher Report, NBC Sports, SB Nation, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and other platforms. Boettger is a current USBWA member.
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