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

5. Jalan West

West’s collegiate career was certainly unique and he spent all of it in the Southland with Northwestern State. This 5’10 point guard from Bossier City, Louisiana actually arrived in Natchitoches back in 2011 but redshirted as a freshman. His career with the Demons would span seven seasons, as he’d gain extra eligibility after suffering a major injury as a senior.

By 2013, he had become a full-time starter for the Demons and would maintain that footing for the next two seasons. His production was incredible, averaging right around 20 points a game as both a sophomore and junior, leading the Demons to Top 4 finishes in the Southland in those seasons. In particular, he averaged 20.0 points and 7.7 assists in 2015 as a junior, his last complete season on the court. He’d tear his ACL after one game as a senior and would be deemed ineligible after eight games the next season.

West was named First Team All-Southland for those two explosive seasons, while also earning Defensive Player of the Year honors as a redshirt sophomore. Not only was he a top scorer in the Southland, but he actually led the nation in assists per game as a junior, totally 652 across his long career. West was also the league’s top free throw shooter throughout his career and was a major contributor who was sorely missed during those last few seasons.