WAC Basketball Tournament: New Mexico State once again the favorite in 2019

Key Players

Michael Finke – Grand Canyon

There are so many players to like on Grand Canyon’s roster, but Michael Finke may be the one who stands out the most for his offensive efficiency and decent defensive ability. A transfer from Illinois, Finke has taken his experience playing in the Big Ten and used it to excel in the WAC. He may not light up the scoreboard, but when he is on the floor, Grand Canyon has perhaps the best offense in the conference. When watching the Antelopes play, Finke could get lost among some other great players in Carlos Johnson, Damari Milstead and Alessandro Lever, but his leadership and basketball IQ are evident every time he steps on the floor.

Javon Levi – UT Rio Grande Valley

Terry Winn is the clear first option scorer for UTRGV; however, the work that Javon Levi does outside of scoring is the most crucial factor behind the winning conference record. Levi makes up for his inefficient scoring by setting up his teammates for open looks, with 6.2 assists per contest in WAC play. He is a huge asset on offense, but his defense is what really stands out. Averaging 3.4 steals and 4.2 boards, Levi one of the best on-ball defenders in the WAC, and could make for some exciting basketball for those who love that sort of thing.

Jake Toolson – Utah Valley

The top scorer of any player in the tournament (Milan Accquah will not be playing due to Cal Baptist’s ineligibility), Jake Toolson’s shooting efficiency and leadership has helped Utah Valley to a strong second place finish. What makes Toolson so great is that he can score from anywhere on the floor, making over 60% from two and 48% from deep in conference play. Toolson may not be the best defender, but the strength of the team around him means he can focus on scoring, which he does in many exciting ways.

Terrell Brown – Seattle U

Terrell Brown may be the most important player to any individual team in the conference. While Seattle has had its issues with injuries and inconsistency, but Brown has been the steady rock that has prevented them from losing all hope. Averaging 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in conference play, Brown could really shine if Seattle can carry their recent momentum into the tournament. Either way, Brown and teammate Morgan Means should be fun to watch.

Eli Chuha – New Mexico State

Another player who does a ton of dirty work for his team, Eli Chuha is a huge reason why New Mexico State has outrebounded its conference opponents by over 140. His 7.1 rebounds per game leads the Aggies, and his willingness to pass out of a bad look makes him perhaps the most efficient player in the conference. He may not be the double-digit scorer that others on this list are, but he shoots over 63% from the floor, and his box plus/minus leads the WAC by a healthy margin. If you are looking for a steady player, who does exactly what he needs to in order to win, Eli Chuha is your man.