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Utah State Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Aggies

By Jason Burgess

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Neemias Queta #23 of the Utah State Aggies speaks during the post game news conference after his team defeated the San Diego State Aztecs in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State won 64-57. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Neemias Queta #23 of the Utah State Aggies speaks during the post game news conference after his team defeated the San Diego State Aztecs in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State won 64-57. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Neemias Queta #23, Diogo Brito #24, Sam Merrill #5 and Brock Miller #22 of the Utah State Aggies celebrate as they take on the Washington Huskies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Neemias Queta #23, Diogo Brito #24, Sam Merrill #5 and Brock Miller #22 of the Utah State Aggies celebrate as they take on the Washington Huskies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Aggies bring in the top recruiting class in the conference

According to 247Sports, Utah State has the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the Mountain West, but with a now experienced roster returning, it’s not that there are a ton of spots open in the Aggie rotation, if someone earns the time, they will see the floor. But now Smith has the luxury of not asking too much out of his new players.

Forwards Roche Grootfaam, Alphonso Anderson, and Kuba Karwowski, as well as guard Carson Bischoff all, come from the JuCo ranks. A pair of true freshmen also join the program, 6’10 forward Liam McChesney and a name that is familiar to Mountain West fans, Sean Bairstow, who is the younger brother of former New Mexico standout Cam. At 6-7 265lbs. Grootfaam is a prototypical power forward who can both complement and spell Queta on the inside as could the 7-2 Karwowski, who played two seasons at North Platte Community College.

Anderson is more of a long wing piece at 6-6 who began his career at Montana, he has the ability to use his length to be a big disruptor on the defensive end. Bairstow is a 6-7 scorer who averaged 22 and 10 last season in Australia. McChesney and Bischoff may get minutes in their first seasons but the path for them may be tougher.