The Sophomores
Honorable Mention: Adam Thistlewood (Colorado State), A.J. Walker(Air Force), Brock Miller (Utah State)
5. Marvin Coleman, UNLV
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Season Stats: 6.5 PPG 4.4 RPG 2.5 APG 1.4 SPG
Best Performance: 11 Points, 12 Rebounds, 11 Assists and 6 Steals against New Mexico
Coleman’s numbers don’t jump out at you but his place on this list has a lot to do with his production in conference play. In eight Mountain West games he’s averaging 9.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.3 APG and 1.9 SPG. Which has helped propel the Runnin’ Rebels to second place after a rough bout in non-conference play.
Coleman’s near quadruple-double this past week against the Lobos at home was extremely impressive and the programs first triple-double of the century. Coleman is only improving from here and being only a sophomore keeps the future bright in Las Vegas under first year head coach T.J. Otzelberger.
4. Seneca Knight, San Jose State
Previous Ranking: 3rd
Season Stats: 14.4 PPG 5.6 RPG 2.3 APG 1.0 SPG
Best Performance: 28 Points, 9 Rebounds, 3 Steals and 1 Blocks against Nevada 1/8
Knight’s position on this list is limited to his team’s overall performance this season not as much his own. We know what the Spartan’s program is in this league but his team leading 14.4 PPG and 17.6 PPG in conference play is what is keeping the Spartans out of last place in the Mountain West and is what has given them two upsets against current top-five teams in this league so far.
The Spartan’s are also close to surpassing the overall win total of Jean Prioleau’s first two seasons combined in only late January, which can be abysmal to think about but is positive progress for a team that hasn’t hit .500 overall since 2010 back in the WAC and .500 in conference play since 1994 back in the Big West.
You got to take what you can get at this point as a Spartan fan, and it’s hard to imagine where San Jose State would be without Knight at this point who has only failed to reach double-digit scoring in four games this season.
3. Justin Bean, Utah State
Previous Ranking: 1st
Season Stats: 13.2 PPG 10.4 RPG 1.5 SPG 1.0 BPG 2.3 APG
Best Performance: 24 Points, 10 Rebounds, and 1 Assists against Saint Mary’s 11/29
Justin Bean is an absolute stat sheet stuffer who’s drop from 1st to 3rd should only be related to his team’s overall drop from title contender to tied for fourth with Boise State.
Bean’s overall production has dropped a bit as well which may or may not be directly related to the arrival of Neemias Queta who is seeing consistent action again after returning from injury a little before the holiday break. Ultimately Bean is still carrying this Aggie team who is having a hard time getting consistent play out of everyone involved.
A lot of questions will come at the end of the season for the Aggies as they lose two influential seniors and maybe Queta if NBA teams don’t mind his stagnant production and just chalk it up to injury. Either way this should be Bean’s team next season.
2. Hunter Maldonado, Wyoming
Previous Ranking: 2nd
Season Stats: 16.9 PPG 5.8 RPG 4.0 APG 1.1 SPG
Best Performance: 32 Points, 3 Rebounds and 1 Steal against Idaho State 11/5
Maldonado is definitely a top-5 player in the entire league but his current ranking at second is in direct relation to Wyoming’s performance this season. It’s tough to put all of that on just one person involved but he’s made it to second on the list with his play alone, which has been stellar. He is at his best when he’s driving in the lane, one-on-one with an opponent or on the fast break ahead of the pack.
I’m not sure what needs to be adjusted in Laramie to right this ship but a 5-16 record and winless conference record is cause for a change at the top.
1. Bryce Hamilton, UNLV
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Season Stats: 13.5 PPG 4.6 RPG 1.0 APG
Best Performance: 35 Points, 3 Rebounds and 1 Steal against New Mexico 1/18
Hardy is coming into his own in his 2nd year in Las Vegas. The super sophomore has excelled in conference play for a UNLV team that is playing it’s best basketball of the season as of late. The Runnin’ Rebels are sitting in second place in the Mountain West just ahead of that aforementioned three-way tie, but having won seven of their last ten games, though they need to make adjustments after a loss to instate rival Nevada this week with a true test this weekend.
Hamilton has been a different person in conference play, this years Mountain West Conference presents Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of play averaging eight games thus far (21.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 1.6 APG).
T.J. Otzelberger’s team has turned it around after the holiday break and his core of younger players and the positive adjustments made by his older guys have been just what this team needed. The mixture has been dominant but Nevada broke their recent three game winning streak and the Aztecs don’t plan on losing on Sunday in their pursuit of a perfect season.
UP NEXT: JUNIORS
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