Head of the Class: 1st Edition
Mountain West Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire
The Mountain West conferences best players according to class.
The month of November is behind us and the Mountain West has looked good out of the gate. Utah State is still ranked in the top twenty after their first loss to Jordan Ford and Saint Mary’s and San Diego State is on the cusp of a top-25 ranking after receiving votes in both polls this week.
The conference as a whole is different this year and teams have lost players due transfer, graduation and professional options. They have also brought players in during that time as well. Regardless of whether players are new to the conference or not much of the success teams are having can be attributed to the individual performances of certain players thus far.
We have started our new column the Mountain West Wire’s Player of the Year Watch list, which is meant to highlight five players a week based on their performances and one in particular is awarded out player of the week. This has been a fun article to put together but the conference as a whole has had talented players emerge and they have had great performances all month long. The point of this article will be to update our readers on some players and performances that may have been missed.
First Off,
The Freshmen
5. Zane Meeks, Nevada
Season Stats: 4.6 PPG 3.8 RPG 0.4 APG (8 GMS)
Best Performance: 11 Points, 4 Rebounds on 5-8 made FGs against Valparaiso 11/24
Nevada has struggled a bit on the way to that 5-3 record they have currently with losses to USC, Davidson and Utah. The core of Nevada’s team is made up of transfers and Lindsey Drew but Meeks who committed to at the time newly dubbed head coach Steve Alford last spring has made an impact on a very shallow Wolf Pack frontcourt while showing potential.
4. David Roddy, Colorado State
Season Stats: 8.9 PPG 4.6 RPG 1.0 APG
Best Performance: 14 Points, 4 Rebounds, 3 Blocks and 1 Steal against Arkansas St. 11/20
Roddy is a 6-5 250 GUARD who can shoot the ball from deep. Roddy chose basketball over football before committing to CSU last year and has made an impact as a true freshman on a 6-3 Rams squad. The future is bright with Roddy and Stevens in Fort Collins, don’t worry Nico Carvacho the Rams are in good hands.
3. Orlando Robinson, Fresno State
Season Stats: 10.5 PPG 6.3 RPG 0.7 SPG (6 GMS)
Best Performance: 16 Points, 7 Rebounds, 2 Assists and 2 Steals against Cal-St. San Bernadino 11/17
Robinson had high major offers back in high school and has shown why while being impactful on a Fresno State team that is loaded with bigs. He and Nate Grimes need to figure something else out though if they want to live up to preseason expectations.
2. Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State
Season Stats: 12.3 PPG 3.4 RPG 3.6 APG (9 GMS)
Best Performance: 21 Points, 5 Rebounds and 5 Assists against Loyola Marymount 11/16
Colorado State is 6-3 so far and a combination of youth and senior leaders is a big reason why. Stevens has had some great performances so far and looks like a solid leader on the team as just a freshman.
1. Jarred Hyder, Fresno State
Season Stats: 15.6 PPG 3.8 RPG 2.4 APG (5 GMS)
Best Performance: 26 Points, 3 Assists and 2 Steals against Winthrop 11/10
Hyder has been a bright spot for Bulldog fans who were looking for a bit more from their veteran guards. He is leading the team in scoring and is a big reason Fresno State has two wins so far this season.
UP NEXT: SOPHOMORES
The Sophomores
5. Adam Thistlewood, Colorado State
Season Stats: 11.2 PPG 4.7 RPG 47.5 3P%
Best Performance: 20 Points, 4 Rebounds while going 5-7 from 3PT against Washington State 11/27
Thistlewood was a good contributor as a freshman and has just increased his production this year. The Rams have a more well-rounded group this year and he has nestled himself in as the teams third leading scorer on a 6-3 Rams squad.
4. Brock Miller, Utah State
Season Stats: 10.3 PPG 2.3 RPG 1.4 APG
Best Performance: 27 Points, 4 Rebounds and 3 Assists against Denver 11/12
Miller is a solid head band wearing contributor in the Aggie’s offense and is playing a great role in the backcourt so far. Miller is capable of scoring the ball and opposing defenses know that. He is a great guy to have behind the arc to help free up stars like Merrill and get his own shots when double teams come.
3. Seneca Knight, San Jose State
Season Stats: 11.8 PPG 5.0 RPG 2.4 APG 1.0 SPG (8 GMS)
Best Performance: 22 Points, 8 Rebounds and 3 Assists against Grambling State 11/20
Knight is having a really good jump in production as a sophomore. The Spartans have averaged just four wins in total the last two seasons and with Knight’s help should pass that mark by mid-season.
Season Stats: 15.8 PPG 5.6 RPG 2.9 APG (8 GMS)
Best Performance: 32 Points, 3 Rebounds and 1 Steal against Idaho State 11/5
Maldonado is filling a similar role to that of Justin James last year. He is scoring as needed but has failed to receive consistent help thus far. The Cowboys are 3-5 and have some good wins because of Maldonado’s play.
1. Justin Bean, Utah State
Season Stats: 14.8 PPG / 11.1 RPG / 2.5 APG (8 GMS)
Best Performance: 14 Points, 12 Rebounds, 6 Assists and 2 Steals against LSU 11/22
Justin Bean has been just what Utah State has needed during Neemias Queta‘s absence. The double-double machine has been the ultimate do it all blue collar player for the Aggies so far and was a big reason why Utah State beat a good LSU squad. Queta should return at some point but for now the front court is in good hands with Bean.
UP NEXT: JUNIORS
The Juniors
5. Alphonso Anderson, Utah State
Season Stats: 13.3 PPG 5.8 RPG 1.3 APG (8 GMS)
Best Performance: 24 Points, 6 Rebounds while going 9-16 from the field against LSU 11/22
Anderson has come from the junior college ranks and made an instant impact in Logan for a top-25 ranked Aggie squad. With the absence of Queta, Anderson has been able to step up in the frontcourt at times as an undersized four man for Craig Smith and have success.
4. Amauri Hardy, UNLV
Season Stats: 17.7 PPG 3.6 RPG 3.6 APG (9 GMS)
Best Performance: 27 Points, 4 Rebounds while going 11-23 from the field against Kansas St. 11/9
Hardy has been a great scorer for the Runnin’ Rebels so far this season but as a whole UNLV have come up short against mostly good competition in Otzelberger’s first season in the desert. Hardy has been relied on to make shots but has failed to receive consistent help on the offensive side of things from his teammates.
3. Derrick Alston Jr., Boise State
Season Stats: 21.8 PPG 5.8 RPG 2.5 APG (6 GMS)
Best Performance: 26 Points, 11 Rebounds and 2 Assists against BYU 11/20
Alston has been great for the Broncos who are 4-2 so far and to go along with that he is leading the conference in scoring. Alston has been the anchor for a Bronco’s team who has struggled with opponents from out west on the defensive side of the ball. The Broncos are putting up points but so are their opponents. And besides a lopsided loss to Oregon the Broncos should be in a better shape but lost a winnable game against UC-Irvine at home.
2. Jalen Harris, Nevada
Season Stats: 16.1 PPG 6.1 RPG 4.1 APG 1.2 SPG (7 GMS)
Best Performance: 25 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists and 2 Steals against Valparaiso 11/24
For a moment it looked as if we would have to wait another year to see Harris on the court for the Wolf Pack. Harris had an injury scare in game one of the season but after being given positive results in time to come back for game three he has been a force for Nevada. Harris who is a bigger guard who can do a little bit of everything is vital this year for a team who lacks experience and height. Without him the Wolf Pack would not have gone on the run the are currently on winning three in a row.
1. Malachi Flynn, San Diego State
Season Stats: 16.1 PPG 5.1 APG 2.3 SPG (8 GMS)
Best Performance: 28 Points, 5 Rebounds, 4 Assists and 3 Steals against Iowa 11/29
Flynn was highly anticipated after coming to San Diego State from the PAC-12 where he performed well a couple of seasons ago. Flynn had his best games of the season this past week in Las Vegas against some pretty good competition. There is a lot of movement around Flynn being the best player in the conference, this past week helped boost that argument. But he needs to be consistent going forward for an undefeated Aztec team.
UP NEXT: SENIORS
The Seniors
5. RJ Williams, Boise State
Season Stats: 15.8 PPG 9.0 RPG 1.5 SPG (6 GMS)
Best Performance: 18 Points, 7 Rebounds and 1 Steal against BYU 11/20
Williams has become the player a lot of people thought he would be for the Broncos coming out of junior college. While there was no shortage of scorers returning this season for Leon Rice’s squad, Williams has stepped up as a viable option down low who can score and rebound as an under sized post player.
4. Lindsey Drew, Nevada
Season Stats: 13.9 PPG 5.9 RPG 4.3 APG 1.5 SPG (8 GMS)
Best Performance: 30 Points, 6 Rebounds and 8 Assists against Utah 11/5
Lindsey Drew was a name that should have been high on Steve Alford’s list of guys to keep in Reno. The senior guard has been key to the success this team is having so far and the Wolf Pack’s season could have looked a lot different if he opted to transfer. Drew had an amazing homecoming in the team’s season opener against Utah (stats above). But has since returned to a role most Mountain West fans remember him in, less of a scorer and more of everything else. Drew can distribute the ball, score when needed and plays great defense. I look forward to seeing the rest of Drew’s senior season.
3. Jazz Johnson, Nevada
Season Stats: 18.6 PPG 3.8 RPG 1.2 SPG (8 GMS)
Best Performance: 25 Points, 5 Rebounds and went 7-10 from three against Bowling Green 11/25
Johnson was the lone player returning from the NCAA tournament team that averaged over ten points a game last year and his production has only increased under the new coaching staff. Johnson can flat out score, and when partnered with Jalen Harris or Lindsey Drew can account for half of the Wolf Pack’s scoring total on any given night.
2. JaQuan Lyle, New Mexico
Season Stats: 16.8 PPG 5.1 RPG 4.6 APG
Best Performance: 24 Points, 2 Assists and 3 Steals against New Mexico State 11/21
It had been almost two years since Lyle touched a court at game time. The former Ohio State Buckeye brought a lot of hype with him and he hasn’t disappointed. A Lobo team that struggled to distribute the ball last year a different team with him on the court, not to mention they haven’t had a guy who can make difficult shots and create his own scoring opportunities with efficiency in Albuquerque in a a while and he brings that. He had a tough game against a really good Auburn squad but was key in wins against Wisconsin and New Mexico State. The win against the Aggies being the first in Paul Weir’s tenure in Albuquerque.
1. Sam Merrill, Utah State
Season Stats: 17.4 PPG 4.8 RPG 4.1 APG 47.5% 3PT
Best Performance: 24 Points, 8 Assists and 4 Rebounds against LSU 11/22
Merrill has been the leader we all expected him to be coming off of a historic year in Logan. With the off-season injury to co-star Neemias Queta this summer he hasn’t disappointed in the scoring column and has received support from his teammates. There is still a lot of basketball to be played but the preseason player of the year needs to be a bit more consistent to keep his Aggies a top the conference and to solidify his place as the best player in the conference.
Articles of the week to revisit:
Check out @andrewdieckhoff first DPI rankings of the Mountain West this season.
And revisit our top-25 list of opposing players to watch out for as BYU plays three Mountain West squads in a row and have star forward Yoeli Childs back in the line up.
