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 Santa Barbara Gauchos guard Max Heidegger Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Max Heidegger

A 6’3 guard from Malibu, Heidegger made the short jaunt over to UC Santa Barbara back in 2016. He’d spend all four seasons with the Gauchos, though things didn’t start the best, with the team really struggling during his freshman season. However, both Heidegger and the Gauchos would take significant steps forward in the prevailing seasons.

After mostly being used off the bench as a freshman, he was a near-mainstay in the starting lineup moving forward and became an important piece on offense. As a sophomore, he made 40% of his 3-pointers, averaging 19.1 points per game in a significant breakout season, one that included a 33-point effort against North Dakota State on opening night. He missed time due to injury in his final two seasons. His numbers never quite matched that sophomore season again, but he helped lead UC Santa Barbara to three straight 20-win seasons and was mainly the point guard as a senior.

Heidegger earned First Team All-Big West honors as both a sophomore and a senior, becoming the league’s best long-range shooter early and settling into a role as a consistent weapon for the Gauchos. While it’s true that he couldn’t replicate those gaudy numbers as an upperclassman, he was still a major piece in Santa Barbara when he was on the court.