WAC Basketball: Ranking top 10 players for 2019-20 season

By Andy Patton | Oct 22, 2019

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Eli Chuha #22 of the New Mexico State Aggies celebrates after winning the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament against the Grand Canyon Lopes at the Orleans Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. New Mexico State won 85-57. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

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WACO, TX – JANUARY 7: Brandon Averette #0 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys drives to the basket against Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. #0 of the Baylor Bears on January 7, 2017 at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

8. G Javon Levi, UT-Rio Grande Valley

Levi is entering his junior year after averaging 9.9 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds as a sophomore. While the scoring numbers don’t jump off the page, Levi is an outstanding defender – having been a finalist for the Lefty Driesell award for the best defensive player in college basketball.

He was actually the only player in the entire NCAA to average at least 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals and less than 2.1 turnovers per game. His 109 steals (2.9 steals per game) was second in the nation and second in WAC history.

So, while Levi may not be a big-time scorer, his defensive traits should make him an ALL-WAC candidate by season’s end.

7. G Brandon Averette, Utah Valley University

Utah Valley lost a lot of talented players – not to mention their coach – from last season, and if they have any hopes of doing well this year they will rest on transfer point guard Brandon Averette.

Averette comes to the Wolverines after two years as a reserve guard for Oklahoma State, where he averaged 5.8 points and 2.4 assists with a 45.3 eFG%.

With only seven starts under his belt and a career 17.4 minutes per game average, Averette is no doubt a mystery. However, he was productive for a BIG-12 school and should get the reigns handed straight to him in Orem – making him likely to post some bigtime numbers.