WAC Basketball: Who is the star player on each team in 2017-18?

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Members of the New Mexico State Aggies celebrate after defeating the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners 70-60 to win the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: Utah Valley Wolverines fans cheer during a semifinal game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners at the Orleans Arena on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cal State Bakersfield defeated Utah Valley 81-80 in 4OT. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

Utah Valley Wolverines – Isaac Neilson

Utah Valley is a middle of a road team whose roster is a bit different from the others in the conference. The team involves a large amount of their players being transfers, particularly from the Utah and BYU programs. One of those players will be expected for a breakout season.

In his first two seasons at BYU, Neilson spent most of it on the bench. With a rash of transfers and returning missionaries, Isaac opted to stay local and joined the Wolverines.

Nielson became part of a balanced rotation with no one scoring more than 12 points a night. Ironically, Neilson’s former BYUteammate and current Utah Valley teammate Conner Toolson was the team’s leading scorer last year.

The big man played very well last year, almost averaging a double double at nine and nine respectively. He finished second in the league in rebounding and took quality shots by placing second in field goal percentage, too.

While scoring isn’t his focal point, he did have his two biggest games playing the local rivals. Against Utah, he kept the team in the game with 28 points and 15 rebounds.

Then, in the shocking road upset at BYU, Isaac showed both the coaching staff and 18,000+ fans what they were missing with a 26 and nine performance.

While having multiple scorers is a good thing to have (ask Chicago State), there’s still a need for someone to be a go to scorer. Isaac will get more touches and, if he can continue his high-efficiency, he could be a dark horse candidate for WAC Player of the Year.

Even with everything that’s gone on the WAC, the conference has provided plenty of basketball intrigue in the West. The league will be getting bigger next year with the addition of Cal Baptist, a Division II school looking for a new home. With a new sense of security along with the star power on this list, the WAC seems to be here to stay.