By now, much of the college basketball watching public has been clued into just how competitive, and entertaining, watching the Mountain West is. For those of us fortunate enough to have lived within its footprint, this is not a new idea.
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. Josh Adams, Wyoming Cowboys
Adams was ridiculous down the stretch last season for the Cowboys, as Wyo earned an NCAA Tournament berth thanks to their MWC Tournament title. The question this season will be whether or not he’s ready, mentally, to carry the load for a team losing much of its veteran core. If Adams can play under control mentally, while still exhibiting his trademark exuberance physically, then the Cowboys have a chance to hang around the top of the conference again.
2. Marvelle Harris, Fresno State Bulldogs
Harris has blossomed into the most lethal offensive threat that the conference should offer next season. While his overall shooting percentage increased as a sophomore, thanks to being more aggressive towards the basket, his outside shooting was fairly dismal. He’ll need to turn that around, but he’s a scoring machine who’s now learning to make plays for others as well.
3. Cullen Neal, New Mexico Lobos
After missing much of last season with an injury, Neal was granted a medical hardship waiver. Now, hopefully we’ll get to see the coach’s son blossom into the player that we’ve seen flashes of at times. Neal plays a hybrid role at the guard spot, and should be shouldered with much more resposibility this season.
4. Shane Rector, Utah State Aggies
The only transfer on the list, Rector is expected to contribute big for USU, who are looking to make a jump in their second season as MWC members. Given that the entire program will be breaking into a new coach, and maybe even a new system, Rector has a clean slate with which to develop chemistry with his teammates.
5. Cezar Guerrero, Fresno State Bulldogs
Yes, he’s volatile and sometimes unreliable. Still, it’s hard to find five other guards in the conference more dynamic and talented than Guerrero. When he’s got it going on, look out. His sophomore season showed a bit more maturity on the court, but maintaining his life off the court is just as important for FSU.
