As the summer recruiting season begins to wind down, we’re now turning our attention firmly towards next year, by rolling out the first of our preseason rankings. Right now, we’re looking at Mountain West guards.
1. Anthony Drmic, Boise State Broncos
After missing last season, Drmic should be one of the top talents overall in this league. Not only can he score it from anywhere on the floor, he’s a perfect fit for the Boise State offense with his unselfishness and ability to move without the ball. Drmic is, without question in my mind, the top wing in the MWC.
2. Winston Shepard, San Diego State Aztecs
Shepard has yet to take the next step offensively, as he still can’t shoot from deep and isn’t nearly consistent enough when trying to create off the dribble, but he’s a menace defensively and does so much for them on the boards. Shepard has one more season to prove that he can be a go-to guy for the Aztecs.
3. Jalen Moore, Utah State Aggies
Moore is your classic swing wing, a guy who can knock down shots from deep, handle the ball, and also mix it up inside with the bigs. He’s one of the most offensively diverse players in this conference because of that, and one could argue that he should be ranked ahead of Shepard in these kinds of lists. Still, Shepard’s defensive presence gives him a slight–and I mean slight–nod.
4. Sam Logwood, New Mexico Lobos
This is one of my top breakout performers for next season, as Logwood averaged over 20 minutes per game as a freshman while having to take a firm backseat to the Lobos’ perimeter. Next season should be different, as I expect him and Cullen Neal to be given the keys to the Ferrari, so to speak.
5. Derrick Jones, UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
No one on this list has a higher ceiling of potential than Jones, and being ranked as a top 50 recruit should remind people of that. However, it’s yet to be determined how effective he will be in UNLV’s “system”, and to some, he’s much more of an athletic freak than a skilled basketball player. If he can put it all together, watch out.
