This is the 5th article in a series previewing each team and position rankings in the Mountain West leading up to the 2024-2025 basketball season
MW Rankings:
7. Colorado State
8. San Jose State (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #8 San Jose State | Big Blue USU Aggie News
9. Wyoming (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #9 Wyoming | Big Blue USU Aggie News
10. Air Force (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #10 Air Force | Big Blue USU Aggie News
11. Fresno State (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #11 Fresno State | Big Blue USU Aggie News
Prior Season Results and Predictions:
- Record: 25-11 overall, 10-8 conference
- My Prediction: Between 4th-7th in the conference
- Summary: Colorado State had a solid year finishing tied for 6th in the MW and picking up a win in the play-in game in the NCAA tournament vs. Virginia.
- All Conference Players/Other Awards: Isaiah Stevens (1st Team MW), Nique Clifford (3rd Team MW)
Metrics for the last 5 Seasons:
- Conference Regular Season Winning %: 61.1% (ranked 4th in conference)
- Conference Regular Season Champion: 0 (Tied for 4th in the conference)
- Conference Tournament Champion: 0 (Tied for 5th in the conference)
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2 (Tied for 4th in the conference)
- NCAA Tournament Wins: 1 (Tied for 2nd in the conference)
2024-2025 Season Review:
Conference Prediction: #7 in the Mountain West
Overview: Colorado State looks to stay on track and make the tournament again this year even with the loss of CSU legend Isaiah Stevens. CSU welcomes back one of the top guys in the conference this year in Nique Clifford. They also added a really solid transfer class in signing point guard and 3-point threat Bowen Born from Northern Iowa, Dynamic scoring guard Keshawn Williams from Northern Illinois, Purdue transfer Ethan Morton and talented forward transfer Jaylen Crocker Johnson.
Production Returning: Scoring 30% (returning), Rebounding 39%, Assists 30%, Blocks 40%, Minutes 34%
Key losses: Isaiah Stevens (Graduation), Joel Scott (Graduation), Patrick Cartier (Graduation), Josiah Strong (Graduation), Joe Palmer (Graduation)
Key Returners: Nique Clifford (3rd team MW wing), Jalen Lake (part time starter at guard), Rashaan Mbemba (talented freshman big man last year), Kyan Evans (talented freshman point guard last year)
Newcomers:
- Darnez Slater: Freshman combo guard, 3-star who was recruited by big sky/big west schools and New Mexico
- Jon Mekonnen: Freshman forward, 3-star recruit who CSU beat out A10/Valley schools for his services
- Jaylen Crocker Johnson: Forward transfer from Akransas Little Rock, where he averaged 9 ppg and 5 rebounds as a freshman
- Keshawn Williams: Dynamic scorer from Northern Illinois but has had injury issues
- Bowen Born: PG transfer from Northern Iowa where he was a multiple year double-digit scorer and 3-point shooting threat
- Nikola Djapa: Center transfer from Long Island where he averaged 6 ppg and 5 rebounds per game as a freshman
- Ethan Morton: Purdue wing transfer where he was a part time starter throughout his career
- Kyle Jorgensen: Freshman big man signee from Minnesota
- Jaden Steppe: Freshman big man signee, was an ESPN 4-star
Strongest Position: CSU has depth and experience across the guard and wing spots and will have competition for the starter spots.
Biggest Question Mark(s):As is the case with many teams in the MW, they are young/inexperienced at the big man positions.
Projected Starters:Bowen Born (Guard), Keshawn Williams (Guard), Nique Clifford (Wing), Jaylen Crocker Johnson (Forward), Rashaan Mbemba (Forward)
Bench: Kyan Evans (Guard), Jalen Lake (Guard), Ethan Morton (Wing), Jaden Steppe (Forward), Nikola Djapa (Center)
Potential All Conference Guys: Bowen Born, Keshawn Williams, Nique Clifford
Key Non-Conference Games: Ole Miss (Neutral), Washington (Neutral), VCU (Neutral), Colorado (Away)
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