Mountain West Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

Fresno State doesn’t have star forward Orlando Robinson anymore, having gone pro after leading the team with 19.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg. The good news for the team is that they return all four other starters, along with a key returnee from injury.

Point guard Isaiah Hill is back after averaging 10.1 ppg and 3.3 apg, along with Leo Colimerio,  Jordan Campbell, and Anthony Holland, all of whom were starters. One will likely have to make way for Jemarl Baker, who played in just five games before a season-ending knee injury took him out. He’s had a long career with limited opportunities but when fully healthy should be an impact contributor.

To replace Robinson in the frontcourt are a trio of forwards from the transfer portal. Isaih Moore is a 6’10 forward that put up 13.1 ppg and 6.9 rpg and is on his 5th team in five years. Chuks Isitua is a 6’10 center that started 14 games at IUPUI, while Eduardo Andre is a 6’10 athletic forward that comes from Nebraska. Ideally, one of them breaks out and becomes the focal point of the frontcourt but at least there’s depth inside.

This is a roster that has a good amount of pieces but currently lacks the starpower needed to compete at the top of the Mountain West. Baker, if healthy, may be the x-factor that fills that void and finally fulfills that high potential coming out of high school.