2024-25 WAC Basketball Preview

Conference Overview

Join us for our 2024-25 WAC Preview, where we dive into a mid-major conference beaming with talent and home to one standout team, the Grand Canyon Lopes. Last season, the Lopes dominated mid-major basketball, finishing with a 30-5 record, winning the WAC championship, and advancing to March Madness. They defeated #5 seed Saint Mary’s in the first round before a close second-round loss to an eventual semifinalist. This season, the question remains: can any team pry the title away from the favored Lopes?

Grand Canyon aims to stay on top, returning last year’s WAC Player of the Year, Tyon-Grant Foster, who briefly explored the NBA Draft before returning. Most of their starting lineup remains intact, with standout point guard Ray Harrison, defensive specialist Collin Moore, and center Duke Brennan. They also filled their sole departure by adding JaKobe Coles, a proven Power 5 starter from TCU. The addition of former top-30 recruit center Dennis Evans from Louisville could also make a significant impact.

UT Arlington, last year’s runner-up to Grand Canyon, looks to be a major challenger this season. They feature an all-transfer starting lineup, led by Diante Smith from Nicholls State, a strong all-conference contender. A powerhouse backcourt of top JUCO recruit Brody Robinson and D2 standout Jaden Wells, who both averaged over 20 points per game last season, adds firepower to the Mavericks.

Cal Baptist brings back top scorer Dominique Daniels Jr., returning from injury, and has a strong addition in Wright State transfer AJ Braun, a key player expected to anchor the frontcourt. Keep an eye on JUCO transfer Martel Williams, a high-level scorer who could find a starting role alongside Daniels.

Seattle, fresh off a CBI Tournament title, is eager to compete in the WAC. They return sharpshooter John Christofillis and center Kobe Williamson, bolstered by Power 5 transfer Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe from Georgia.

Utah Valley brought back two key players and adds a new backcourt led by two JUCO transfers, whose transition to Division I will be crucial. Abilene Christian has its own top JUCO addition, Bradyn Hubbard, expected to play key minutes, along with Quion Williams from Oklahoma State, bringing valuable experience.

Tarleton State, last season’s second-place finisher, is now eligible for the NCAA Tournament. Although they lost several key players, they have stars in Baylor transfer Dantwan Grimes and Arkansas State transfer Freddy Hicks, but depth and experience remain challenges.

Southern Utah’s all-conference candidate Dominique Ford returns, joined by transfers Tavi Jackson (Colorado State) and Hercy Miller (Louisville), who are expected to bolster the backcourt. Utah Tech returns two double-digit scorers, but without a true star, their success may depend on the growth of returning players.

With Grand Canyon poised to be one of the top mid-major teams, our 2024-25 WAC Basketball Preview promises fierce competition. Will another team step up to challenge the Lopes for the title?

WAC Basketball Preview: Projected Standings

1. Grand Canyon
2. UT Arlington
3. Cal Baptist
4. Seattle
5. Utah Valley
6. Abilene Christian
7. Tarleton State
8. Southern Utah
9. Utah Tech

WAC Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners

Player of the Year: Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon

Defensive Player of the Year: Collin Moore, Grand Canyon

Newcomer of the Year: JaKobe Coles, Grand Canyon

Freshman of the Year: Sammie Yeanay, Grand Canyon

Coach of the Year: Bryce Drew, Grand Canyon

WAC Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First Team

Dominique Daniels, Jr., Cal Baptist

Ray Harrison, Grand Canyon

Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon

JaKobe Coles, Grand Canyon

Freddy Hicks, Tarleton State

Abilene Christian Wildcats

Projected Starters:

PG: Hunter Jack Madden (11.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)

SG: Joseph Venzant (5.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.6 apg @ Liberty)

SF: Quion Williams (7.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.2 apg @ Oklahoma State)

PF: Bradyn Hubbard (24.9 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.4 apg @ JUCO Connors State)

C: Leonardo Bettiol (9.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.9 apg)

6M: Nasir DeGruy (3.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.1 apg)

California Baptist Lancers

Projected Starters:

PG: Dominique Daniels, Jr. (19.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.9 apg)

SG: Brantly Stevenson (7.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.5 apg)

SF: Javonte Johnson (1.9 pg, 0.7 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Colorado State)

PF: Kendal Coleman (6.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.3 apg)

C: AJ Braun (12.0 ppg, 6.2 rg, 0.9 apg @ Wright State)

6M: Martel Williams (26.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.0 apg @ JUCO Utah State Eastern)

Grand Canyon Lopes

Projected Starters:

PG: Ray Harrison (13.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.9 apg)

SG: Collin Moore (8.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)

SF: Tyon Grant-Foster (20.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.6 apg)

PF: JaKobe Coles (10.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 apg @ TCU)

C: Duke Brennan (7.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 0.5 apg)

6M: Dennis Evans (1.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Louisville)

Seattle Redhawks

Projected Starters:

PG: Maleek Arington (11.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.8 apg @ Idaho State)

SG: John Christofilis (12.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.5 apg)

SF: DaSean Stevens (21.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.2 apg @ Mt. San Jacinto CC)

PF: Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (1.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.4 apg @ Georgia)

C: Kobe Williamson (8.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)

6M: Paris Dawson (5.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Southern Utah Thunderbirds

Projected Starters:

PG: Tavi Jackson (2.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.7 apg @ Colorado State)

SG: Hercy Miller (1.1 ppg, 0.1 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Louisville)

SF: Dominique Ford (15.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.1 apg)

PF: Jamari Sibley (9.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.2 apg)

C: Brock Felder (3.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.4 apg)

6M: Jamir Simpson (14.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.9 apg @ D2 Parkside) 2022-2023 Stats

Tarleton State Texans

Projected Starters:

PG: Dantwan Grimes (4.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.3 apg @ Baylor)

SG: Izzy Miles (2.6 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.3 apg)

SF: Freddy Hicks (11.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.1 apg @ Arkansas State)

PF: Bubu Benjamin (2.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 apg)

C: Chris Mpaka (6.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 0.5 apg @ JUCO Indian Hills)

6M: Nick Krass (6.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 apg @ JUCO Mississippi Gulf Coast)

UT Arlington Mavericks

Projected Starters:

PG: Brody Robinson (20.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 8.4 apg @ JUCO Garden City)

SG: Jaden Wells (21.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.7 apg @ D2 Central Oklahoma)

SF: Darius Burford (12.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.5 apg @ Illinois State)

PF: Diante Smith (16.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.0 apg @ Nicholls State)

C: Lance Ware (1.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.5 apg @ Villanova)

6M: Troy Hupstead (13.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.1 apg @ Maryland Eastern Shore)

Utah Tech Trailblazers

Projected Starters:

PG: Unisa Turay (4.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.6 apg)

SG: Noa Gonsalves (12.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 apg)

SF: Justin Bieker (1.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.7 apg @ San Francisco)

PF: Beon Riley (10.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.8 apg)

C: Sammy Howlin (5.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.2 apg @ Fullerton CC) 2022-2023 Stats

6M: Tennessee Rainwater (3.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.2 apg)

Utah Valley Wolverines

Projected Starters:

PG: Kylin Green (13.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.6 apg @ JUCO Daytona State)

SG: Dominick Nelson (19.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 apg @ JUCO Polk)

SF: Tanner Toolson (9.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.6 apg)

PF: Carter Welling (7.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.5 apg @ UC Irvine)

C: Ethan Potter (7.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.5 apg)

6M: Osiris Grady (4.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.5 apg)

Coming Next

Thank you for reading the 2024-25 WAC Basketball Preview. To view the conference preview release schedule, keep up to date with us on X @collegehoopsrpt. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out one of our other conference previews linked below! Next up is the WCC. Thank you for reading, and we appreciate all the support!

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Cover Image: Photo Credit: Western Athletic Conference (WAC)