Moses Wood | Sophomore Forward | UNLV
Formerly Of: Tulane (AAC)
Measurables: 6-8 195 lbs
Past Stats: 4.5 PPG 3.1 RPG & 0.5 BPG in 31 games (2 starts) in 2018-2019
Wood is a Nevada native, originally from Reno but decided to play his freshman season in the American at Tulane. He’s not particularly “big” but posses the skills necessary to play inside or out while creating mismatches and space for others. Wood may find himself in the Runnin’ Rebels starting lineup for his style of play, but also due to the fact UNLV brings back only one player with any playing time in the post at the division-I level, Cheikh Mbacke Diong.
There are a couple of other candidates for the starting four man job but Wood would make a lot of sense for a team looking to run teams out of the gym.
David Jenkins Jr. | Junior Guard | UNLV
Formerly Of: South Dakota State (Summit League)
Measurables: 6-2 195 lbs
Past Stats: 19.7 PPG 3.4 RPG & 1.5 APG in 32 games (32 starts) in 2018-2019
Like previously mentioned Marco Anthony, Marcus Shaver Jr. and Desmond Cambridge Jr., David Jenkins Jr. has the opportunity to make an impact at his new program similar to that of Harris (Nevada) and Flynn (San Diego State) in 2019-2020. Jenkins Jr. followed now second year head coach T.J. Otzelberger from Brookings, South Dakota to their new home in Sin City after accumulating two regular season Summit League Titles, one conference tournament championship and one NCAA tournament at South Dakota State.
Upon his former coaches newly announced job, his own departure soon followed. The list of suitors included countless high major programs with schools close to home in Tacoma, WA hoping for a homecoming commit. Jenkins Jr. ultimately decided to follow the man who gave him his first shot at college basketball once again.
Jenkins Jr. is built like a running back but with a scorers mentality, shooting over 45% from three in 2018-2019. Though he wasn’t really a facilitator at South Dakota State, finishing the season sixth on the team in assists. So his development in that area may have been a point of emphasis in his year watching games from the bench. Either way, he has a capable floor general in Marvin Coleman returning who can help in that area if need be. Jenkins Jr. is my pick for the preseason Harris/Flynn Newcomer of the Year award, if we decide to start calling it that.
After such a dynamic year for players who started their careers elsewhere, 2020-2021 is going to be a very different season for some teams as longtime stars in the Mountain West have graduated. But such is the nature of the game in college basketball and one of the reasons I personally enjoy watching.
Though it’s still unclear what college basketball will look like later this year, the 2020-2021 season cannot come quick enough.
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