2023-24 USU Basketball Preseason Preview: Shooting Guard

2022-23 players not returning: RJ Eytle-Rock (Graduation; professional contract Sheffield Sharks); Conner Gillis (Transfer Portal); Max Shulga (Transferred to Virginia Commonwealth)

Returning players: Landon Brenchley, Mason Falslev

Ian Martinez 6’3″ 185 (247 4*) – University of Maryland – (3 years to play 2)

2022-23 (Jr.) Stats: PPG: 5.7         FG%: 44.7      3PT%: 40.3      FT%: 79.6      REB: 2.5      AST: 0.6       STL: 0.4

2021-22 (So.) Stats: PPG: 2.8       FG%: 32.9       3PT%: 26.7      FT%: 70.8      REB: 1.6      AST: 1.1       STL: 0.8

2020-21 (Fr.) Stats: PPG: 5.2        FG%: 49.5       3PT%: 32.4      FT%: 83.9      REB: 1.9      AST: 0.8       STL: 0.6

Original offers from: Arizona, Arizona St, Colorado St, Fresno St, Long Beach, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Northridge, Pepperdine, San Diego St, Santa Barbara, USC, utah

Josh Uduje 6’5″ 189 (NR) – Coastal Carolina University – (3 years to play 2)

2022-23 (So.) Stats: PPG: 13.3      FG%: 42.1      3PT%: 31.6      FT%: 90.5      REB: 3.9      AST: 1.2      STL: 1.3

2021-22 (Fr.) Stats: PPG: 6.8         FG%: 42.4      3PT%: 32.3       FT%: 65.0     REB: 2.8      AST: 0.7      STL: 0.6

Offers from: Arkansas St, Bakersfield, Boston University, California, Davidson, DePaul, Duquesne, East Carolina, Eastern Washington, Fullerton, George Mason, Georgia Tech, Grand Canyon, Hawaii, James Madison, Louisville, Loyola Marymount, Montana, Murray St, North Carolina-Wilmington, Oral Roberts, Oregon St, Providence, Rice, Richmond, Riverside, San Jose St, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Seton Hall, South Dakota, St. Bonaventure, St. John’s, Towson St, Tulane, Utah Valley, Vanderbilt, Virginia Commonwealth, Xavier

I think redshirt freshman Mason Falslev has the opportunity to begin the season in the starting lineup. Falslev sat out the 2022-23 season while redshirting after returning from an LDS Church mission. He originally signed with the university of utah while he was still in high school. Coming out of Sky View High School (UT), Falslev was ranked by 247 sports as the number 431 overall player in the country, the number 81 shooting guard, and the number 6 recruit in the State of Utah. As a senior at Sky View (UT) during the 2019-20 season, he started in all 25 games. He averaged 20.1 points per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the floor, 36.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 55.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 8.4 boards per contest, 5.8 assists, and 1.6 steals. He also blocked 14 shots during the year. As a junior during the 2018-19 season, he started in all 25 games. He averaged 24.4 points per game while shooting 58.0 percent from the floor, 45.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 69.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 7.6 boards per contest, 5.1 assists, and 2.2 steals. He also blocked 21 shots during the year. As a sophomore during the 2017-18 season, he started in all 25 games. He averaged 20.4 points per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the floor, 38.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 80.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 5.9 boards per contest, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals. He also blocked 19 shots during the year. As a freshman during the 2019-20 season, he started in 23 games. He averaged 13.1 points per game while shooting 55.0 percent from the floor, 44.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 81.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 3.6 boards per contest, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals. He also blocked 11 shots during the year. Falslev is a very gifted basketball player. He possesses a good frame, impressive athleticism, and a great deal of talent. He was clearly the most talented player on the floor and impacted the game at the high school level in many ways. He is a good defender and has the traits to be a really good one. He has good size and length, plus his athleticism allows him to put pressure on ball handlers. A naturally gifted and willing passer, he was constantly looking for the open man and threw a variety of passes at varying angles and speeds to hit his target. He anticipates passing opportunities as well. He is a good athlete, that is probably best described as effortless in his movement traits. He can absolutely explode off the floor with an impressive vertical jump.

Junior transfer Josh Uduje will get some minutes at this spot once Max Agbonkpolo returns from an injury. Uduje began his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina University and will have three years to complete his final two seasons of eligibility. Once he hit the transfer portal, Uduje has a slew of offers pour in and he chose the Aggies over offers from Arkansas State, Bakersfield, Boston University, California, Davidson, DePaul, Duquesne, East Carolina, Eastern Washington, Fullerton, George Mason, Georgia Tech, Grand Canyon, Hawaii, James Madison, Louisville, Loyola Marymount, Montana, Murray State, North Carolina-Wilmington, Oral Roberts, Oregon State, Providence, Rice, Richmond, Riverside, San Jose State, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Seton Hall, South Dakota, Saint Bonaventure, Saint John’s, Towson State, Tulane, Utah Valley, Vanderbilt, Virginia Commonwealth, and Xavier. As a sophomore at Coastal Carolina in 2022-23, he appeared in 31 games. He averaged 13.3 points per game while shooting 42.1 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 90.5 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 3.9 boards, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. As a true freshman in 2021-22, he appeared in 33 games. He averaged 6.8 points per game while shooting 42.4 percent from the floor, 32.3 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 65.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 2.8 boards, 0.7 assists, and 0.6 steals per game. One thing that stands out immediately to me, is that Uduje is built like a potential NBA player. His rare combination of speed and burst make is a tough player to track and contain. He excels at using a pump fake to move inside the 3-point line and hit the pull-up jumper. He is shifty enough to get himself clean looks at the basket and maneuver in the lane to get himself layups. He has a feather-soft shot that seems to just drop into the basket. He can hit the 3-ball with consistent ease, off the dribble or a screen. He is one of the polished scorers on this year’s squad. He is also an outstanding free throw shooter and when he gets to the line, it’s like giving him free points. His unique blend of athleticism, size, and speed will make him a solid defender at the mid-major level.

Competing to see some action this season is sophomore Landon Brenchley. As a redshirt freshman during the 2022-23 season, he saw action in 6 games. He recorded 5 boards and dished out 2 assists. After suffering a shoulder injury during the preseason, Brenchley was forced to miss the 2021-22 season and redshirt. Brenchley joined the Aggies last June after returning from serving an LDS Church mission. As a senior in 2018-19 at Ridgeline High School (UT), Brenchley averaged 24.0 points per game while shooting a stellar 74.0 percent from the floor and 67.0 percent at the free-throw line. There were no stats available for his shooting percentage from behind the 3-point line. He averaged 5.5 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per contest. As a junior in 2017-18, he averaged 19.0 points per game, while shooting 51.0 percent from the floor, 24.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 68.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 4.9 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game. As a sophomore in 2016-17, he averaged 8.1 points per game, while shooting 44.0 percent from the floor, 17.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 64.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 2.4 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per contest. Brenchley brings size and versatility to the table and has a high basketball IQ. He can stretch the defense and has a great feel for the game. He is a natural scorer and finds different ways to fill up the stat sheet. He will give you everything he has. Landon is also very savvy in a variety of ways on the basketball floor. He is a natural leader and is coachable. He sees the floor very well and is a good passer. He’s a good rebounder and brings a lot of intangibles that make him a great addition to the Aggie program.

Once senior transfer Ian Martinez gains his eligibility, he will be an impact player the moment he steps on the floor. As a two-time transfer, Martinez must have an eligibility waiver approved by the NCAA. In the event Martinez has his waiver denied, he does have a redshirt year at his disposal. Martinez joins the Aggies for his final two seasons of eligibility after playing two seasons at the University of Maryland and beginning his collegiate career at the university of utah. Martinez boasted original offers out of high school from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Long Beach State, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Northridge, Pepperdine, San Diego State, Santa Barbara, USC, and utah. As a junior at the University of Maryland in 2022-23, he appeared in 35 games. He averaged 5.7 points per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor, 40.3 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 79.6 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 2.5 boards, 0.6 assists, and 0.4 steals per game. As a sophomore in 2021-22, he appeared in 28 games. He averaged 2.8 points per game while shooting 32.9 percent from the floor, 26.7 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 70.8 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 1.6 boards, 1.1 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. As a true freshman at the university of utah in 2020-21, he appeared in 25 games. He averaged 5.2 points per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the floor, 32.4 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 83.9 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 1.9 boards, 0.8 assists, and 0.6 steals per game. Coming out of J Serra Catholic High School (CA), Martinez was ranked by 247 sports as the number 67 overall player in the country, the number 10 shooting guard, and the number 9 recruit in the State of California. Martinez is a shooting guard with decent size for as a shooting guard. But what stands out when you watch him is his explosive athleticism. He has a bounce in his step rarely seen in athletes at Utah State. Over the course of his collegiate career, he has been a streaky shooter but he can score from all three levels on the floor and is becoming one of the more reliable shooters on the team. He has a respectable handle and court vision so in a pinch, he can play as a secondary ball handler. Turnovers have not been an issue for him at Utah State so far. His narrow frame still has plenty of room to add strength which would be a plus. He has shown a solid understanding of the game and has an upper-level basketball IQ. His elite physical ability gives a high him an upside on defense and he will not struggle guarding players in the Mountain West Conference. Unfortunately, the current trend for two-time transfers is not good news for Martinez and the Aggie coaching staff, as the NCAA has denied many of the players throughout the country who are in the same situation.

12 Mason Falslev (6-3, 203, RsFr., RS, 3*)

14 Josh Uduje (6-5, 189, Jr., TR, 3*)

0  Landon Brenchley (6-4, 209, So., SQ, NR)

4  Ian Martinez (6-3, 185, Sr., TR, 4*) – NCAA WAIVER PROCESS