AAC Basketball: 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jun 22, 2023

Mar 5, 2020; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson talks to guard Quentin Grimes (24) and guard Marcus Sasser (0) after a play against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. UConn defeated Houston 77-71. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

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Wichita State Shockers guard Tyson Etienne William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports /

15. Tyson Etienne

It’s been quite the transition for Wichita State since joining the AAC back in 2017, but Etienne has certainly been one of their best players in this recent stretch. He’s a 6’2 combo guard originally from Englewood, New Jersey who committed to play under Gregg Marshall. After Marshall’s firing following his freshman season, Etienne stayed in Wichita for two more seasons, really developing into a major weapon for new coach Isaac Brown.

Etienne was no joke as a freshman, averaging 9.4 points per game in Wichita State’s most recent 20-win campaign, though the end of that season was cut short by the pandemic of course. He took a major step forward as a sophomore, leading the Shockers with 16.3 points per game while shooting 39% from beyond the arc. He averaged nearly 2 assists per game for his career and was used all over the backcourt for the Shockers.

Brown was co-AAC Player of the Year during a sophomore season where he helped lead Wichita State to the NCAA Tournament and unexpected regular season title. He was a solid player across the board for the Shockers and one of the true studs in recent memory for the Shockers. He departed school after just three seasons and has continued his career in the G-League.