United Athletic Conference

 

DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference men's basketball media have selected NM State as the preseason favorite to win the conference crown during the 2019-20 season and Aggies junior guard Jabari Rice as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

 

The Aggies received 10 first-place votes, totalling 150 points to earn the top spot. Grand Canyon was picked second with 125 points while UT Rio Grande Valley finished third with 114 points. California Baptist picked up two first-place votes to take the fourth spot with 105 points. Seattle U was selected to finish fifth with 84 points, followed by Utah Valley in sixth with 74 points. Newcomers Dixie State and Tarleton were picked seventh and eighth with 49 and 46 points respectively while Chicago State rounded out the poll in ninth place with 18 points.

 

Rice was voted Preseason Player of the Year and is joined on the Preseason All-WAC first team by NM State teammate Johnny McCants, Grand Canyon duo Jovan Blacksher and Alessandro Lever and UT Rio Grande Valley point guard Javon Levi.

 

The Preseason All-WAC second team is comprised of Evan Cole from Utah Valley, Gorjok Gak from California Baptist, Hunter Schofield from Dixie State and Evan Gilyard and Donnie Tillman from NM State.

 

Rank	Team (1st-Place Votes)	Points
1.	NM State (10)	150
2.	Grand Canyon	125
3.	UT Rio Grande Valley	114
4.	California Baptist (2)	105
5.	Seattle U	84
6.	Utah Valley	74
7.	Dixie State	49
8.	Tarleton	46
9.	Chicago State	18

 

 

 

Jovan Blacksher, So., G, Grand Canyon

Alessandro Lever, Sr., C, Grand Canyon

Javon Levi, Sr., PG, UT Rio Grande Valley

Johnny McCants, Sr., F, NM State

Jabari Rice, Jr., G, NM State

 

Evan Cole, Gr., F, Utah Valley

Gorjok Gak, Gr., F, California Baptist

Evan Gilyard, Sr., G, NM State

Hunter Schofield, Sr., F, Dixie State

Donnie Tillman, Sr., F, NM State

 

Preseason Player of the Year: Jabari Rice, NM State