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

By Joey Loose | Aug 4, 2023

Feb 1, 2014; Wichita, KS, USA; Wichita State Shockers players Ron Baker (31), Fred VanVleet (23) and Nick Wiggins (15) walk off the court during a time-out against the Evansville Aces during the second half at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers won 81-67. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

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MVC Basketball Illinois State Redbirds forward Phil Fayne Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /

23. Phil Fayne

A 6’9 center from Elk Grove, California, Fayne began his collegiate career in 2015 at Western Nebraska College. After starring at the junior college level, he headed further east, landing at Illinois State and eventually spending his final three years at Illinois State in Dan Muller’s program. Each of those three seasons was significant for either Fayne or his program.

The starter right off the bat, he was a major piece for the Redbirds as a sophomore as they won 28 games, finished 1st in the MVC, and advanced to the NIT. Fayne averaged 9.1 points a game in that year but would be close to 16 a game in each of his upperclassman seasons. He had a handful of double-doubles and a 30-point game against Cleveland State while also racking up decent rebounding and shot-blocking numbers for the Redbirds.

Second Team All-MVC as a junior, he earned the First Team nod as a senior, helping Illinois State to two solid seasons at the end of his career. He was one of the best scorers and most efficient shooters late in his career and was also the MVC’s best offensive rebounder during his time in Normal. While Illinois State couldn’t replicate the success of that 2017 season, Fayne played impressive basketball those next two seasons.