While March Madness might be the most exciting time of the college basketball season, it’s far from the only important moment in the sport. There’s something happening in basketball in all twelve months of the year, from actual games to recruiting trips to those hours where these players continue to get better. We remember the buzzer beaters and the upsets and the big time performances, but there’s far more to the sport than just the headlines.
This article series has spent a lot of time looking beyond those headlines, as we’ve been focused on the best players of the last decade from each and every conference in the country. With leagues like the Big Ten or SEC, these are names that most people already know, but that’s not the case with many of the other conferences. Sure, there are recognizable faces in practically every league, but you’d be hard-pressed to get the average fan to remember a mid-major league’s best faces.
Today’s mid-major focus is on the WAC, a league that has been in the firm grasp of New Mexico State for much of the last decade. It’s a conference that’s had significant change in recent years with realignment, and currently sees programs like Grand Canyon, Stephen F. Austin, and Utah Valley as some of its top programs. We’ll be focusing on a number of those Aggies and their conference titles, but there’s a wide variety of WAC Basketball names in today’s list.
We’ll run through these players shortly, but it’s important to remember exactly how this works. We’re only focused on players from the last ten seasons, meaning performances from before 2013 are not included. We’ve certainly included players whose careers started before then, but those previous seasons aren’t considered for ranking purposes. The same holds true about seasons in other leagues. Without further ado, let’s run through the WAC’s best of the last ten years.
25. Isiah Umipig
A 6’0 point guard from Federal Way, Washington, Umipig actually began his college career in the Big West, arriving at Cal State Fullerton back in 2010. He’d spend two somewhat successful seasons with the Titans, becoming a starter as a sophomore, before deciding to transfer. After sitting out a year, he finally got back onto the court at Seattle and was a very effective point guard in the WAC for his final two seasons.
Umipig wasted no time, immediately becoming a major piece for the Redhawks. Though Seattle would finish in the bottom half of the league standings, Umipig averaged 19.6 points and 3.6 assists per game. His numbers as a senior were fantastic as well, hitting 42% of his 3-pointers with similar scoring figures. He would lead Seattle to a 4th place finish in the WAC, boasted several 30-point efforts, and got the Redhawks a pair of wins in the CBI.
He was named Second Team All-WAC for that sensational debut in the league but finally got the First Team billing in his senior year. Though those specific Seattle teams weren’t exactly world beaters, Umipig did become one of the league’s top offensive players, leading the WAC in points and free throw shooting as a senior. His contributions were appreciated in those upperclassman seasons and he became an essential part of Cameron Dollar’s program.
24. Aziz Bandaogo
A 7’0 center originally from Senegal, Bandaogo played basketball in Africa before finding his way to Akron, his first experience with American basketball. He played a pair of seasons for the Zips, but wasn’t much more than a bench piece, getting few opportunities in Akron’s frontcourt. Bandaogo transferred to Utah Valley in 2022 and spent this past season starring for the Wolverines.
In his lone season the WAC Bandaogo averaged 11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game, becoming a major weapon for the Wolverines. In a season full of double-doubles, Bandaogo led Utah Valley to a regular season title in the WAC and a trip to the semifinals of the NIT. In total, the Wolverines won 28 games, with Bandaogo ending the season with a 14-point, 16-rebound effort against UAB.
A truly special season saw Bandaogo named WAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-WAC. He was the conference’s top rebounder and shot blocker, with his 106 blocks the 3rd highest total in the nation. He was a significant part of Utah Valley’s success and a menace in the paint, especially on the defensive end. Following that breakout year, Bandaogo transferred again and will spend next season in the Big 12 with Cincinnati.
23. Jovan Blacksher Jr.
Blacksher is a 5’11 point guard from Phoenix who found his place in college basketball not far at all from home. He arrived on campus at Grand Canyon back in 2019 and has been a major piece for the Antelopes ever since. He’s been an excellent backcourt weapon, spending most of his time under Bryce Drew, and helping lead Grand Canyon to postseason success.
As a freshman, he was good for 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds a game but really took a step forward after Drew was hired. In his sophomore season he not only averaged 12.0 points and 5.4 assists per game, but he took the Antelopes to regular season and conference tournament titles in the WAC, culminating in the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021. He had a slew of 20-point performances in a successful junior year though he’d miss more than half of his senior season due to a knee injury.
He was WAC Rookie of the Year before winning Tournament MVP the following season, with great performances as Grand Canyon made program history. Blacksher earned First Team All-WAC honors as a junior and might’ve matched that had he not been so limited by injuries this past season. A decent scorer, he was among the conference’s best in steals and assists in recent seasons and his story isn’t fully written yet. He’ll be back for a fifth season next year.
22. Dewayne Russell
A 5’11 point guard from Peoria, Arizona, Russell began his career at Northern Arizona, though he’d spend just a single season playing with the Lumberjacks. He actually averaged 14.4 points a game as a freshman, but opted to transfer to Grand Canyon who had only just become a D1 program. Back on the basketball court in 2014, he’d spend his final three seasons with the Antelopes, starting nearly every game while becoming a major offensive threat by the end.
Russell averaged 14.2 points and 3.9 assists in his sophomore season, though he’d miss the first few weeks of the season. He had some pretty nice performances in his first two seasons, leading Grand Canyon to the CIT both years, and including a few 12-assist games. Senior year was the real moneymaker, as Russell would put up 21.2 points and 5.4 assists per game, leading the Antelopes to 22 wins and a 2nd place finish in the WAC. This included a 42-point outburst in a loss to Louisville early in the season.
The conference’s leader in assists in those last two seasons, Russell was named First Team All-WAC as a senior, capping off a season where his offensive game truly soared. That performance against Louisville wasn’t his only offensive explosion and he was a very important part of Grand Canyon’s initial seasons at the D1 level. Russell didn’t get a chance at the Big Dance, but was both a great ball distributor and an important piece of laying the groundwork for this program.
21. Nick Dixon
Though his career would begin at the junior college level and feature a battle with injuries, Dixon got his chance to shine at the D1 level. A 6’2 guard from Hillside, Illinois, he’d play a pair of seasons at Morton College near his hometown before catching Dan Hipsher’s eye at UTRGV. He would play just two games as a junior due to injury and redshirt before spending two very impactful seasons for the Vaqueros.
Under new head coach Lew Hill, Dixon became a major part of the offense, averaging 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his redshirt junior year. He scored 28 points on Memphis very early in the season and would drop 41 at Utah Valley in late January. UTRGV would struggle mightily in the WAC in his first seasons but fared much better during his senior year. Dixon was good for 20.3 points a game, leading the Vaqueros to the CBI.
Dixon earned Second Team All-WAC honors for his junior year before nabbing the First Team honor as a senior. The Vaqueros greatly improved across his time with the program, while he led the WAC in steals and field goal percentage as a junior before becoming the top scorer in his senior season. Dixon was a major backcourt weapon and one of the very best in the WAC in those final two seasons of his career.
20. Stephen Madison
Idaho actually left the WAC back in 2014, meaning we’re looking at just a single season from Madison’s career. A 6’6 wing from Portland, Oregon, he joined the Vandals way back in 2010, meaning we couldn’t really talk much about his first three seasons regardless of the conference. It’s important to know that he was already blossoming into a talented and reliable threat on the offensive end, but his senior year was even more special.
In that fourth and final season in Moscow, Madison averaged 20.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, helping the Vandals to a 5th place finish in their final season in the WAC. Among his fine efforts on the year was a 42-point performance against Utah Valley in February, followed by a 34-point game against Grand Canyon one week later. He had a 26-point, 17-rebound affair against UMKC in the WAC Tournament, though their season would be ended by the Aggies.
Madison was the league’s top scorer and was named First Team All-WAC as a result. He actually finished 19th in the nation in total points and made more field goals and free throws than anyone else in the conference. Though Idaho didn’t exactly end their time in the WAC with a bang, Madison was an effective player throughout his career and really stood out as a senior; he was good for 20 a night on a regular basis.
19. Terrell Brown
Brown played for four different colleges during a productive collegiate career, but he only spent two seasons at Seattle. After great work at Shoreline CC, he joined the Redhawks in 2018 and would start nearly every game across the next two seasons. A 6’3 point guard originally from Seattle, he’d perform pretty well in the WAC.
In his first season at the D1 level, Brown averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, becoming quite the stat-stuffer for the Redhawks. He came pretty close to a triple-double against Denver and would help lead Seattle to the CIT, putting a double-double on Presbyterian in a season-ending loss. While the program took a slight step back in his junior year, Brown was even more impactful, averaging 20.8 points a game. He had a 31-point, 13-rebound effort against Eastern Washington, the first of four 31-point performances in the season cut short by the pandemic.
Brown’s terrific performance earned him All-WAC honors in both seasons, including the First Team nod as a junior. That year saw him lead the WAC in scoring while also finishing Top 5 in the league in rebounds, assists, and steals. After fantastic play in those two seasons, Brown would spend his final years in the Pac-12, spending a season apiece at Arizona and Washington.
18. Zach Lofton
A long journey took Lofton to New Mexico State, which was the final spot in his collegiate career. This 6’4 guard from St. Paul, Minnesota spent time at San Jacinto College and Illinois State before getting dismissed from Minnesota, never getting his shot in the Big Ten. He bounced back with a fantastic season at Texas Southern before arriving in Las Cruces back in 2017, arriving the same time as head coach Chris Jans.
Joining a winning culture at New Mexico State, Lofton fit well into the program, averaging 20.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in his senior season. He’d lead the Aggies to a 28-win season and both regular season and conference tournament titles in the WAC. Lofton actually had nine different games with at least 28 points, including a 29-point effort in their NCAA Tournament loss to Clemson to end his collegiate career.
Lofton made an immediate impact with the Aggies and was named First Team All-WAC. One of the league’s most explosive scorers, he led the conference in field goals and was clearly a major part of New Mexico State’s success. Lofton’s career was a long and winding road, but he found significant success in those later years. He fit in almost flawlessly with the Aggies and was a part of their success in 2018.
17. Joshua Braun
A 6’4 wing from Anthem, Arizona, Braun became a key piece of Dan Majerle’s Grand Canyon program during his collegiate career. His career with the Antelopes began in 2014 and saw him start nearly every game across the next four seasons, becoming a major scoring threat especially in the middle of his career.
Braun would average double figures in all four of those seasons and help Grand Canyon to some initial success in the WAC. The Antelopes finished 2nd in league play in each of his first three years, with Braun averaging 16.5 points as a sophomore and 17.5 a game in his junior year. He’d have three different 30-point efforts in wins over Utah Valley and led the Antelopes to three postseason trips, though they fell short of the NCAA Tournament.
Braun was All-WAC three times in his career, including First Team as both as a sophomore and junior. Across those four seasons, Braun did a lot of good things for the Antelopes, with decent scoring numbers and great shooting figures early in his career, hitting 38% of his 3-pointers and 81% of his free throws. Again, Grand Canyon hadn’t yet reached the NCAA Tournament, but Braun was a major piece of the program’s first half decade as a D1 program, making them a contender right off the bat.
16. Justin Johnson
Johnson is a 6’6 wing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida who got his college career started off at South Georgia Technical College. After two years at the junior college level, he arrived at Southern Miss during the pandemic. After modest production with the Golden Eagles, he transferred to UTRGV in 2021, spending the final two seasons of his career with the Vaqueros.
Joining newly hired Matt Figger’s program, Johnson became an important contributor for the Vaqueros even if the program struggled in the WAC. He’d average 17.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in his first season in Texas, putting up 35 points on Northern Arizona in just his fourth game with the program. He’d top that with a 38-point performance against Cal Baptist but was even more potent as a senior, averaging 20.3 points per game.
Johnson earned First Team All-WAC honors in that final collegiate season, having settled for the Second Team nod the previous year. While UTRGV would finish 11th in conference play in both seasons, Johnson really blossomed, becoming one of the league’s top offensive players. He led the league in scoring in that final season and totaled 1179 points in just two years with the Vaqueros. Johnson was a heavily utilized and important piece at UTRGV in recent years and will certainly be missed this upcoming season.
15. Cameron Tyson
Tyson is a 6’2 guard from Bothwell, Washington who has already had quite the eventful collegiate career. He began his career with a pretty productive freshman season at Idaho before deciding to transfer to Houston. Tyson was a minor part of the Cougars’ Final Four run in 2021 before transferring again, this time landing at Seattle.
A much more impactful piece for the Redhawks, Tyson averaged 14.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in his junior year, helping lead Seattle to a regular season title in the WAC. He had some nice scoring performances, including a 30-point effort against UTRGV, but Seattle was toppled in the conference tournament. He scored at least 32 points in his first two games as a senior, a great start to a season where he’d average 18.6 points a game.
For his explosive play with the Redhawks, Tyson was named First Team All-WAC in each of those two seasons. He led the WAC in field goal percentage and helped deliver that regular season title in year one before becoming one of the conference’s top scorers in his senior season. Good for 1014 points already with Seattle, Tyson’s journey isn’t finished, as he’ll be back for the Redhawks next season.
14. Javon Levi
His scoring figures didn’t jump off the charts, but Levi was a menace during his collegiate career. A 5’11 point guard from Kileen, Texas, he arrived at UTRGV back in 2017 and would spend four seasons with the Vaqueros. The program’s starting point guard for much of that time, Levi would make a certain impact in the WAC in the years ahead.
After minor numbers as a freshman, Levi would take a big step forward in year two, averaging 9.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. He actually had a career-high 13 assists during the CIT to finish off that season. Levi was up to 11.5 points and 7.9 assists in an even better junior year, leading the Vaqueros to a 3rd place finish in league play. His final season was just as productive, though the program took a step back.
While Levi averaged just over 8 points a game with the Vaqueros, he had incredible assist and steals numbers and was named WAC Defensive Player of the Year as both a sophomore and junior. He was actually among the national leaders in those categories during those breakout seasons, becoming perhaps the league’s best defensive guard of the last decade. Levi actually took advantage of his bonus year from the pandemic, spending his final season at UT Arlington.
13. Aly Ahmed
A 6’9 center originally from Egypt, Ahmed played high school ball in Texas before attending nearby Midland College for his freshman season. Following success there, he arrived at Cal State Bakersfield back in 2013 and was an important piece for the Roadrunners for the next three years when they were still in the WAC.
Ahmed was already putting up decent numbers in his first year, but it was his later years that really stood out. As a junior, he averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds, helping the Roadrunners to 4th in league play. His final season in Bakersfield was by far the best, as he’d play a significant role in the Roadrunners finishing 2nd in the WAC and then winning the conference tournament, making the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
Ahmed was First Team All-WAC in those final two seasons. He was among the best scorers, rebounders, and shot blockers in the WAC during his career and played a major role in that groundbreaking trip to the Big Dance. A major frontcourt weapon, Ahmed filled the stat sheet on a nightly basis and did great work for the Roadrunners, with his involvement in that 2016 team maintaining his place in the program’s history.
12. Sir’Jabari Rice
Before starring at Texas this past season, Rice had a phenomenal four-year run at New Mexico State. A 6’4 wing from Houston, he was a major factor in those four seasons in the WAC starting back in 2018. He was not only a dynamic player but helped the Aggies win a ton of games as well.
A minor contributor as a freshman, he was on the Aggies team that made the 2019 NCAA Tournament and would lead them another WAC regular season title in year two. He averaged 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a junior, putting up double-figures in each of his final three seasons with the program. In his fourth and final year in Las Cruces, Rice led New Mexico State to a 27-win season, a return to the Big Dance, and played a role in their first round upset over Connecticut.
Rice earned All-WAC honors in each of his last three seasons with the Aggies, including the First Team nod in his sophomore year. It’s not just that Rice was a great shooter and competitor, he led New Mexico State to a ton of success. The Aggies made two trips to the Big Dance and went 94-26 across those four seasons. Rice would gain more national attention in his final season at Texas, but don’t disregard his importance in Las Cruces in recent years.
11. Darrion Trammell
A 5’10 point guard from Marin City, California, Trammell’s collegiate career began at the City College of San Francisco in 2019 before transferring to Seattle. He certainly had significant success this past year somewhere else, but those first two years with the Redhawks saw Trammell really excel as an underclassman.
As a sophomore, Trammell put up 20.5 points and 5.3 assists for Seattle, making a monster impact right off the bat in the WAC. He was a decent shooter, racked up the steals, and had ten different 25-point performances in that first season at the D1 level. In year two, he led the Redhawks to the regular season title in the WAC, averaging 17.3 points this time around. His career-best 39-point performance came against Abilene Christian in a conference tournament loss, his final game with the Redhawks.
Trammell earned First Team All-WAC honors in both seasons and clearly deserved them, playing a considerable role in Seattle’s success. He led the league in points as a sophomore and steals in both seasons, earning All-Defense honors as well. Trammell was the top free throw shooter and had great assist numbers. He left for San Diego State after that second season and helped lead the Aztecs to the national championship game this past April.
10. Martez Harrison
Harrison is a 5’11 point guard from Kansas City, Missouri who stayed right at home, spending his entire collegiate career at UMKC. He played four seasons for the Kangaroos in Kareem Richardson’s program, starting back in 2013. Unfortunately, his career was ended early in his senior season due to domestic assault charges.
Already stellar as an underclassman, Harrison averaged greater than 17 points per game in each of his first two seasons. UMKC actually finished 2nd in the WAC in his sophomore year, a season where he’d average a career-best 17.5 points a game and have a career-high 34-point performance at Indiana State. He was right around 4 assists per game for his career and had another stellar season as a junior, though he was kicked off the team just six games into his senior year.
Harrison was named WAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman and WAC Player of the Year the following season. He scored 1652 points in just over three full seasons and was the conference’s leader in points or steals during that sophomore year. Obviously, Harrison’s actions were unacceptable and his dismissal was a result of that, but he was an excellent basketball player earlier in his career and we can’t ignore his great numbers with the Kangaroos.
9. Qua Grant
A 6’1 point guard from DeSoto, Texas, Grant’s career began with three years at West Texas A&M before getting his D1 shot at Wichita State. He had minor contributions in that initial season and decided to transfer, landing at Sam Houston State in 2022 for his final season of eligibility. He picked a great landing spot and became a menace with the Bearkats in that lone campaign.
He would average 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game in a season where Sam Houston State won 26 games and finished 2nd in the WAC. Grant had 24 points in their conference tournament loss to Grand Canyon and would put 21 up at Santa Clara in the NIT. While the Bearkats fell short of the NCAA Tournament, they had a great season under Grant’s leadership.
Following the season he was named WAC Player of the Year, confirming that he chose a great destination for his final year of college ball. Grant not only led Sam Houston State to a successful year but was among the conference’s leaders in points, assists, and steals, while becoming a massively important part of the rotation. Grant spent just one year in the WAC and it didn’t end in postseason glory, but he did prove his worth in this league.
8. Jake Toolson
Toolson is a 6’5 guard from Gilbert, Arizona who spent his entire playing career in the state of Utah. He’d play parts of two seasons at BYU before transferring to Utah Valley in 2016. After sitting out his first year, he became a valuable piece for the Wolverines for the next two seasons under Mark Pope before following Pope back to BYU for his final collegiate campaign.
As a redshirt sophomore, Toolson averaged 10.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, helping Utah Valley to a 23-win season that included a trip to the CBI. His second season in Orem was even better, as he averaged 15.7 points per game on another successful Wolverines squad. He helped lead Utah Valley to another CBI trip and a 2nd place finish in the WAC. He also had a few 25-point performances and a couple of double-doubles, starting to do a bit of everything in leading this program.
Toolson was a great shooter and scorer and was the WAC Player of the Year in his junior season. He led the WAC in field goal percentage, was 2nd in points, and led Utah Valley to another fantastic finish. Toolson was a fantastic long-range shooter, and continued that success in his final year at BYU. His contributions were important during an unprecedented stretch as the Wolverines won 48 games across those two seasons.
7. Ian Baker
Baker is a 6’0 combo guard from Washington DC who had himself quite the career at New Mexico State. He joined the Aggies back in 2013 and was responsible for a ton of success for the program during that time. Throughout his career in the WAC Baker also put up some great numbers on both sides of the ball.
He wasn’t a starter as a freshman but did play in the NCAA Tournament. Nearly averaging double-figures as a sophomore, he’d get the Aggies to another conference title and trip to the Big Dance, though his upperclassman years were the highlights. As a junior, he averaged 13.8 points per game and led the Aggies to the NIT, tripped up in the conference tournament after another regular season title. In his senior season he was up to 16.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists a game, with a 36-point effort against UTRGV and a third appearance in the Big Dance.
Baker was named WAC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP as a senior, but earned First Team All-WAC honors in each of his final two seasons. He became a critical scorer for the Aggies and was a great defender as well, finishing among the league’s leaders in steals and earning All-Defense honors as a junior. Baker had four successful year at New Mexico State, as the program won 100 games during his time in Las Cruces.
6. Daniel Mullings
A key part of Marvin Menzies’ program, Mullings is a 6’2 guard from Toronto who spent four years at New Mexico State. He joined the Aggies way back in 2011 and would play in the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons. His upperclassman years are today’s focus and the success certainly continued.
Mullings had his finest year as a junior, averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He led the Aggies to a 26-win season that included another trip to the Big Dance and a career-high 32-point effort against UTRGV during conference play. Though the numbers weren’t quite as explosive, Mullings was fantastic as a senior as well, putting up 12.4 points a game with decent shooting numbers as the Aggies appeared in the NCAA Tournament for a fourth consecutive season. Mullings would miss a month and a half due to injury.
Following each of those upperclassman seasons Mullings was named First Team All-WCC and All-Defense while nabbing Player of the Year honors for his junior year. He was the conference’s steals leader twice in his career and was a dynamic scorer as well. Mullings had fantastic metrics on both sides of the ball and did contribute on four consecutive conference champion teams, a rare feat for any basketball player. Mullings played his role unquestionably well.
5. Jemerrio Jones
After spending a pair of seasons at Hills College, a junior college in Texas, Jones got his D1 chance and took full advantage. A 6’5 forward from Memphis, Jones arrived at New Mexico State in 2016 and had a pair of solid seasons, spending a season apiece playing for head coaches Paul Weir and Chris Jans.
Jones wasn’t a starter in his junior year, but he did average 9.7 points and 8.4 rebounds off the bench, becoming an important part of the frontcourt regardless. He had a 23-point, 18-rebound effort against UC Irvine and helped lead the Aggies to the Big Dance. Senior year is where the magic happened, as Jones now averaged 11.0 points and 13.2 rebounds in another fantastic season for the Aggies. They won regular season and tournament titles in the WAC, while Jones had five 20-rebound performance, including three straight late in conference play.
For that final collegiate campaign, Jones was named WAC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP while also securing a spot on the All-Defense team. Not only was he the WAC’s top scoring threat from inside the arc, but he was the national leader in rebounds for the season. Jones played in the Big Dance to finish off both of his D1 seasons and clearly became a major force with these Aggies during that time.
4. Teddy Allen
Allen is another player who had a wild journey through college basketball. This 6’6 forward from Mesa, Arizona bounced around several high schools before his career began at West Virginia, though he left for Wichita State and was dismissed from the team during his redshirt season. After getting his groove back at Western Nebraska CC, he had a great year at Nebraska before finally arriving at New Mexico State in 2021.
In his lone season with the Aggies, Allen averaged 19.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with decent shooting figures. He was clearly a major addition to the roster and would lead the program to the WAC Tournament title in 2022. Most importantly, he dropped 37 points against Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, leading New Mexico State to the upset win and standing out on the national stage again.
Allen was the top scorer in the conference and unsurprisingly was named WAC Player of the Year. He was the WAC Tournament MVP and his hot finish continued with that masterful outing against the Huskies, leading the Aggies to their first Tournament win in nearly three decades. Allen bounced around a lot throughout his basketball career and would spend just one season in the WAC but his time at New Mexico State was really special.
3. Milan Acquaah
Acquaah is a 6’3 guard from Bakersfield, California who arrived at Washington State back in 2016. After redshirting his first season, he had decent production as a freshman for the Cougars but decided to transfer, landing at Cal Baptist. The Lancers had only just upgraded to the D1 level in 2018 and Acquaah was a major part of their initial success.
In his first season at Cal Baptist, Acquaah averaged 19.0 points and 5.0 rebounds a game, finally showing his talent as a full-time starter that year with the Lancers. He had some great scoring performances early in the year and led his team to the CBI. His junior year was even more potent, as he’d average 18.1 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game. He had a 37-point performance against South Dakota and led Cal Baptist to a 2nd place finish in the WAC in just their second year in the league.
First Team All-WAC in his two seasons with the program, Acquaah was the WAC Player of the Year in that second year, the season cut short by the pandemic. He was the conference’s top scorer, with 1150 points combined in those two years. He was a great contributor across the board, among the best in free throw shooting, assists, and a number of other metrics in that final season. Most importantly, he was key to Cal Baptist’s success in their first years as a D1 program.
2. Fardaws Aimaq
Aimaq is a 6’11 forward from Vancouver who has embarked on quite the college basketball career. It’s a journey that started with a decent freshman season at Mercer before transferring to Utah Valley in the WAC. Aimaq sat out a season then was on court for the Wolverines starting in 2020. He’d be a major weapon at Utah Valley in the next two seasons, though that certainly wasn’t the end of his collegiate journey.
During that first season, Aimaq averaged 13.9 points and 15.0 rebounds, making a major impact right off the bat. Not only an elite rebounder, he also helped lead the Wolverines to a 2nd place finish in the WAC. His next season was even better as he’d average 18.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game, delivering a 20-win season for Utah Valley. He had a 34-point effort at Pepperdine and a number of 20-rebound outings, truly becoming a frontcourt beast for the Wolverines.
Aimaq never made the NCAA Tournament while with those Wolverines, but he was WAC Defensive Player of the Year in both seasons and Player of the Year as a sophomore. He was the nation’s top rebounder in that first season and wasn’t too far off in his second season. Clearly the top frontcourt player in the WAC, Aimaq put up major numbers and helped Utah Valley to success. He then transferred to Texas Tech for this past season before rejoining his former coach Mark Madsen over at Cal.
1. Pascal Siakam
New Mexico State has boasted a number of great players in the last decade but Siakam tops the list. A 6’9 center originally from Cameroon, he made his way to Las Cruces back in 2014 and became a major contributor for the Aggies. He’d stay in the college game for just two years but certainly showcased his abilities in those seasons in the WAC.
As a freshman, Siakam averaged 12.8 points and 7.7 rebounds, not taking long to become a starter and focal player for the Aggies. He helped lead New Mexico State to WAC regular season and tournament titles and a trip to the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
His second year would be even better, as Siakam averaged 20.3 points and 11.6 rebounds while leading the Aggies to another regular season title. He had a 24-point, 23-rebound game against UTEP, dropped 35 points on Oral Roberts, and was clearly New Mexico State’s best player. Unfortunately, his career ended in the NIT, as the Aggies were upset in the conference tournament.
Siakam was First Team All-WAC and All-Defense in both seasons, winning Rookie of the Year and then Player of the Year in consecutive seasons. He emerged as the top rebounder and shot blocker in both of his seasons while his 690 points led the conference during his sophomore year. Not only did he help New Mexico State win a ton of games, he also was putting up some gaudy numbers in the WAC. His explosive performance as an underclassman got him drafted in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft.