Big West Basketball: Top 5 rising sophomores for 2018-19

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament between the Santa Clara Broncos and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gonzaga won 77-68. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images /

5. Ajani Kennedy, UC Riverside

The UC Riverside Highlanders will have a new head coach (David Patrick) in 2018-19 and the crop of talent they have on the roster should improve their overall outlook. They posted a 9-22 record in 2017-18 but the culture is changing.

6-foot-8 forward Ajani Kennedy should help improve the trajectory of the Highlanders this upcoming season. Kennedy averaged 3.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 22 appearances for UC Riverside.

Kennedy went a perfect 6-of-6 against Portland State, posting a season-high 18 points in their second contest of the season. After that, he scored in double figures in three more contests before he didn’t appear in the lineup after Feb. 22.

He missed a good chunk of games after a rather productive freshman campaign in 2017-18. In 2018-19, he’ll be one of the big men to watch in the Big West. Kennedy, should he remain healthy, will be an impact player for new-look UC Riverside Highlanders.