Big West Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade ('13-23)

Big West Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jul 15, 2023

Mar 14, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA;Cal State Northridge Matadors forward Lamine Diane (35) lets out a yell after scoring past UC Santa Barbara Gauchos forward Amadou Sow (12) and guard Ar'Mond Davis (1) during the first half of the quarterfinals of the Big West conference tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

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Big West Basketball UC Irvine Anteaters forward Jonathan Galloway Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

24. Jonathan Galloway

Galloway is a 6’10 center from Brentwood, California who’d become a major piece in the frontcourt at UC Irvine. He spent four good years in Russell Turner’s program, helping the Anteaters reach an NCAA Tournament to finish off his collegiate experience. Galloway wasn’t a big-time scorer; he made his impact on the defensive end.

There was no better interior defender in the Big West than Galloway. After riding the bench as a freshman, he carved out a major role across his last three seasons in Irvine. He averaged at least 7.5 rebounds in each of those years, but never averaged more than 7 points a game. Galloway was a rim protector and a very talented weapon for a league like the Big West, playing a role in the Anteater’s Big West Tournament title and first-round upset win over Kansas State in 2019.

With defensive metrics off the charts, you won’t be shocked to hear that Galloway was named Big West Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons. In those three years, he finished 2nd in total rebounds and 3rd in blocks, also claiming First Team All-Big West honors as a senior. Not everyone considered on these lists has to be a flashy scorer; Galloway did the dirty work on defense and got the job done in a major way for an impressive UC Irvine program.