College Hoops Top 50

Last Year: 24-10; Second (13-5) in the Mountain West Conference, lost in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

Head Coach: Leon Rice (14th Year; 268-155 at Boise State, with four NCAA Tournament appearances)

Projected Starting Lineup

PG Roddie Anderson III – 6’3″, 190 – Sophomore

SG Max Rice – 6’5″, 205 – Senior (5th)

SF Chibuzo Agbo – 6’7″, 226 – Senior

PF Tyson Degenhart – 6’8″, 235 – Junior

F/C Cam Martin – 6’9″, 234 – Senior (5th)

Projected Starters’ 2022-23 Stats

Roddie Anderson: 13.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg – 39.4% FG @ UC San Diego

Max Rice: 14.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.0 spg – 40.9% 3FG

Chibuzo Agbo: 11.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.7 spg – 40.2% 3FG

Tyson Degenhart: 14.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.5 spg – 53.7% FG

Cam Martin: 25.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.0 bpg – 57.9% in 2020-21 @ Missouri Southern State

Experienced Reserves

G Jace Whiting – 6’3″, 188 – Sophomore

F/C O’Mar Stanley – 6’8″, 240 – Junior

W Kobe Young – 6’7″, 208 – Sophomore

F/C Mohamed Sylla – 6’11”, 243 – Senior (5th)

Experienced Reserves’ 2022-23 Stats

Jace Whiting: 3.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.3 spg – 41.6% FG

O’Mar Stanley: 4.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.8 bpg, 0.4 spg – 64.9% FG @ St. John’s

Kobe Young: 1.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.2 bpg – 42.4% FG

Mohamed Sylla: 1.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.3 bpg – 52.4% FG

Freshmen

G Chris Locket – 6’4″, 205 – Freshman – Consensus Top 200 recruit

F Andrew Meadow – 6’7″, 218 – Freshman

F Emmanuel Ugbo – 6’8″, 235 – Freshman / Germany

W RJ Keane – 6’7″, 202 – Redshirt Freshman

There is a question which has been asked a few times over the past decade in Boise. It is a testament to how consistently good Boise State has been under head coach Leon Rice. There have been enough quality campaigns quickly followed by smart additions and buoyed by homegrown improvements that it has been a reasonable question pretty much each time it has been asked. 

‘Are this year’s Broncos going to have the greatest season in Boise State basketball history?’

It is a question that has been asked and answered a multitude of times and ways, and measuring such things can be difficult. How much do regular season accolades mean without a Sweet Sixteen appearance? 

This season, Boise State has proven stars, talented up-and-comers, and a transfer group incoming which seems finely-tailored to fit the needs and deficiencies of last year’s squad. And though it’s been said before that this-or-that lineup has great potential, this truly does look like the best squad Rice has yet put together. Knowing that, they’re out to prove themselves in such a way that nothing is left to doubt or discussion. 

Tyson Degenhart, Chibuzo Agbo, and Max Rice – the coach’s son (have you heard much about that before, Broncos fans?) – are a triumvirate of all-conference contenders and proven winners who will form Boise State’s backbone. They have the potential to be as great collectively as just about any trio on the West Coast, and their singular mission is to bring home the most hardware anyone has ever struck in Treasure Valley. 

Degenhart, a starter since the sixth game of his rookie year, has averaged 13 points, 5 boards and 1.4 assists on 61% true shooting in the 63 games since that day. Degenhart is a smooth scorer who can and will do the dirty work and has improved in one way or another seemingly each month of his career. And even as he wore down a bit down the home stretch last season, Degenhart proved that he’s a physically and mentally strong individual. He’s done everything asked of him so far at a very high level – but he did have one request of his own this summer for Leon Rice. “Coach, if you’re listening,” Degenhart joked during an appearance on 95.3 ‘The Ticket’ sports radio this summer. “I would like a center.” And wouldn’t you know it, Rice wasn’t just listening – he agreed. Now, the First Team All-MWC selection is finally going to have some real, proven help in the paint. And in all likelihood, that’s going to be a problem for the rest of the conference. 

“My personal goal is to be Mountain West Player of the Year”

– Tyson Degenhart

An excellent face-up shooter and inside-out threat, Degenhart played out of position for much of the season as the Broncos’ main post player. When allowed the freedom to operate most comfortably, Degenhart is a great scorer who mixes his moves and shots like an elite MLB hurler mixes their pitches. He scored in double figures in all but six of Boise State’s games last year; and he still managed to score eight or nine points in five of those six tilts. Degenhart made great strides as a post scorer as a sophomore, converting 68% of his 157 shot attempts around the rim, per Bart Torvik, and displaying both patience and confident ballhandling ahead of his years. He shows outstanding footwork and cleverly seals bigger players to carve out space – and when he’s cut off, Degenhart is a smart passer who, despite all of the defensive attention, carries a 91:69 assist to turnover ratio through his 69 career games. Degenhart has splashed 83 triples through his first two years, but his percentage slipped from 43% as a freshman to 33% last year. That was one of the most obvious signs of the physical toll which last season took upon Degenhart, yet he still made an excellent 52% of his longer 2FG tries. Without having to bang against larger players for the majority of his minutes this season, Degenhart should really take off, showing his full range of skills. “My personal goal is to be Mountain West Player of the Year,” Degenhart told Michael Daly of Mountain West Wire this summer. He’ll be able to do some of his own promotion towards that ambition, too; Degenhart launched “The Tyson Degenhart Show”, a podcast, this offseason. 

Max Rice wasn’t always a star. In fact, for most of his career, he was just a high-energy reserve. A guy who, like so many coaches’ children, clearly understood the game at a high level, but wasn’t the sort of prime-time athlete who would likely play much more than a support role. Through his first three seasons, Rice played an average of 17 minutes, posting 4.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. The Broncos had won 66 games in those three seasons, but heading into the offseason prior last year, Boise State was losing wing scorers Abu Kigab and Emmanuel Akot; players who had combined to average more than 25 points per game. Max Rice remembered a conversation with his father soon after the 27-win 2021-22 season came to an end. Speaking to the Idaho Press, Max recalls his father saying, “If I’m not going to take another two-guard, you need to step up your offensive game and do it efficiently.” 

“You don’t have to worry,” Max Rice assured his coach. “I’ll be there for you.”

He would go on to better than triple his career scoring average, ranking fifth in the Mountain West in made triples and eighth by shooting an excellent 41% from the land of trey. He had scored in double figures just 12 times in 93 career games entering last season, but Max Rice hit for 10 or more points 28 times in his 34 games last year. Once he got rolling, the former reserve was actually one of the better players in the league; after the New Year arrived, Rice averaged 15.7 points, 4.4 boards and 2.1 assists on 44% shooting over the Broncos’ final 20 games. Max Rice didn’t just say true to the face of his father; he landed a tenth of a point off of the team lead in scoring average and earned a spot of his own on the All-Mountain West second team – and all the Boise fans say ‘thankee, Sai’. For an encore in his extra season, Rice is looking to show off even more game. He’s not a one-dimensional shooter, scoring more 2FG’s than three’s last year and shooting 46% from inside the arc. Rice has a reliable pull-up jumper and makes a lot of his buckets in between the lane and three point arc, and he showed off an all-but-unblockable floater as the season wore on. And, of course, he’s still a coach’s son. Rice is a smart and willing passer who keeps the ball moving crisply and always gives a terrific effort defensively. Add it all up, and Max Rice may just go from backup to a real contender to beat out Degenhart for some of those postseason accolades. 

The doctrine of successful basketball says that the best of teams always have three different players who can reliably get buckets on any given day. Boise State has Degenhart, Rice and Chibuzo Agbo. Like Agot and Kigab before him, Agbo is a long, versatile scoring wing with fantastic size. A former 4-star prospect, Agbo originally signed with Texas Tech. He wasn’t able to carve out much consistent playing time, though, and after two frustrating seasons, Agbo headed to the Boise mountains, hoping to find greener pastures. That decision proved sage. Agbo – whose previous career-high was eight points – scored in double figures 22 times last year, finishing fourth on the Broncos in minutes and points per game. He also ranked third on his new team in rebounds and steals, and wound up second in made triples and percentage from deep. About the worst thing about Agbo’s season was his mid-range shooting, which was quite streaky. He is a talented shooter, though, and with a year’s familiarity within Rice’s offense and a summer of intense workouts, figures to improve. Agbo will also hope to make better use of his length around the rim to help expand his game; though he shot 59% close to the bucket last year, Agbo tried just 44 shots there. 

The need for a solid presence in the post next to Degenhart led Leon Rice and his staff to kick the tires on a variety of veteran bigs in the Transfer Portal. And in the end, the Broncos’ coach will have not one but two experienced newcomers to utilize when the new season tips off. In the search for some bounce and a bit of physical edge, the Broncos decided on former St. John’s forward O’Mar Stanley. For a Broncos team which ranked well below 200th in blocked shots per game and below 250th in offensive rebounding a year ago, Stanley should be a legitimate upgrade. The Houston native was somewhat stuck for playing time with the Red Storm; Stanley is not a perimeter-first player, and with Joel Soriano starring at the pivot, St. John’s increasingly played 4-out around him. Now, Stanley should get minutes at both the 4 and 5 spots, depending on matchups, and he will bring the Broncos even more of the high-flying energy and hustle which they came to enjoy in New York. Stanley is a career 63% shooter, and made an outstanding 77% of his shots (with 17 dunks) near the rim a year ago, per Bart Torvik. 

While he hasn’t been utilized much as a scorer away from the lane, Stanley made 44% of his attempts away from the basket as a sophomore, including five triples. He will stick jumpers if left alone in a zone; he can drive, jump-stop and hit short shots in the lane, and Stanley cuts to the basket like he means it after setting stout picks. With his ability to cash in good feeds around – or above – the rim and highly efficient shooting at just a 12.9% usage rate, Stanley’s scoring average could really take off this year if the Broncos can run just a couple of plays for him each contest – or get nice and comfy throwing him lobs on screen-and-roll plays. Given more playing time with which to bring his hard hat, athletic gifts and, most of all, the noise on defense, Stanley should quickly earn the applause and admiration of the folks around Boise – his teammates most of all.

Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks)

65.0 – Opponent Points Per Game (35th)

.435 – Assists Per FG Made (343rd)

10.8 – Opponent Assists Per Game (33rd)

31.2% – Opponent 3FG Percentage (38th)

25.7% – Offensive Rebound Percentage (205th)

The bigger impact, though, may come from one of the longest-tenured players in all of college sports. Cam Martin started off his collegiate career in the long, long ago of 2017-18, when he averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds across 28 games as a freshman at Jacksonville State. Following that season, he transferred to Division II Missouri Southern State University; and there, Martin starred. He averaged 23.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks per game across three seasons, and Martin was named a D II All-American following each excellent campaign. Having accomplished all that, he transferred back up to the biggest of big stages, joining the Kansas Jayhawks (please make any and all old-man Perry Ellis/Cam Martin jokes here). Martin decided to redshirt his first year, and played a primary role leading the KU scout team as they helped Bill Self’s squad towards a National Championship. He injured his shoulder prior to last season, though, and ended up having to take a second redshirt and miss the rest of the year. “It was a lot of teaching from the older guys to us and especially Cam,” Kansas forward KJ Adams told KUSports.com of practicing with Martin. “He was teaching us like he’s been here for four years.” 

Now, after a nearly two-year wait, Martin is ravenous to get back onto the court and show off all that he’s learned along the way. A skilled post scorer who can face up and shoot the ball reliably out to the three point arc, Martin is a modern big who can space the floor. He was crafty and patient even before all of the time off, and Martin is savvy enough to focus on doing his damage wherever he sees the best matchup. Mobile and active on the glass at both ends, Martin should provide a great deal of help to both Stanley and Degenhart as a rebounder and stout post defender who won’t be surprised by much. Martin already had already shown a solid ability to pass the ball and good overall offensive awareness prior to his two years at KU. With his additional experience and passing skills added to Degenhart’s, the possibilities for slick feeds to cutters when the Broncos invert their post players and genuine big-to-big playmaking action have become tantalizing indeed. Martin’s younger brother, Alex, has also joined the Broncos as a walk-on, and the stage is set for Cam to cap off an incredible ride through the varied experiences of college basketball with a triumphant final season. 

Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on

N – Saint Mary’s – December 1

N – Iowa State / VCU – November 24

N – Virginia Tech – November 23

@ Clemson – November 19

N – ESPN Events Invitational 3rd game – November 26

It’s possible that, even with all of those proven, productive players, the most important player to this team’s success will be fellow newcomer and sophomore guard Roddie Anderson III. A freshman star for UC-San Diego last year, Anderson is going to be asked to fill in for (since replacing him will be quite difficult) graduated point guard Marcus Shavers, one of the true linchpins of Boise State’s success the past two years. Anderson led the Tritons in assists and was second in scoring average a year ago, and though San Diego had a rough season overall, Anderson showed some very translatable skills. He is confident off the bounce, with good length and long strides once he gets downhill.

Anderson also has good, improving vision and the willingness to share the ball; and he has been solid on the pick-and-roll, which is good news for both of Boise State’s new veteran bigs. A good spot-up outside shooter, Anderson was a capable but highly streaky jump shooter off the bounce – not that it stopped him from launching. The Tritons needed points however they could get them, and Anderson could score, so he did his best. Unfortunately, Anderson’s natural boldness and inexperience led to more than a few turnovers. While he handed out 3.6 assists per game last year, he also gave away 3.2 miscues. For every pass he whipped into the third row of the stands, though, Anderson connected on an ambitious half-court feed or two. “When I look at some of the really good guards we’ve had here, I don’t know if there’s been a sophomore who’s been in a better spot as a point guard,” Rice told the Idaho Press. “We have high, high expectations for him.” Rice loves the ability which Anderson has shown, and thinks that he can be the straw that stirs this team’s drink. It is consistency and efficiency which his new coach will ask of Anderson if the Broncos are to reach their potential. 

After serving an LDS mission in Helsinki, Finland, Jace Whiting stepped into Rice’s rotation last year and ended up providing some vital minutes, especially when Shaver was hurt. Whiting was not a particularly efficient shooter, and he only took eight trips to the foul line all year, but he showed occasional flashes of more as a scorer and a steady understanding of running the offense. When the Broncos had to go without their star point guard, Whiting handed out three or more helpers in three of the five games. “We don’t win those three games without Shave without Jace doing what he’s done,” Rice told Idaho News 6 when Whiting stepped into the lineup for a few games. “He didn’t make a shot for a couple of months, but I knew he would because he’s been putting in the time and he’s going to become an elite shooter.” With the Broncos in need of all the support scoring they can get, Whiting’s evolution as a shooter could be very helpful. And his presence as a smart ballhandler – he handed out 44 assists against 28 turnovers a year ago – will offer Rice a steady support behind Anderson. Kobe Young has the look of a few other wing scorers that the Broncos have featured lately, and Rice thinks he will soon emerge as a dangerous deep threat in his own right. Young averaged just over eight minutes per game last year, but showed that he will be an active defender and can score inside and out. One of the team’s best per-minute rebounders, Young is long and rangy, and has put on a solid amount of muscle between the start of his redshirt season and what will now be his sophomore year. 

Another veteran big will come off the bench, as will a bunch more talented youngsters. In what must be considered a recruiting coup for Rice and Co; the Broncos beat out the likes of Houston and Baylor for the services of 4-star guard Chris Lockett, one of the highest-ranked recruits in program history. A New Orleans native, Lockett was named Louisiana’s Mr. Basketball for 2023, and brings a mature and versatile game to Treasure Valley. At a solid and strong 6’4″- 205 pounds, Lockett is a force when he slashes to the rim. He is effective playing on or off the ball, and has a good handle even weaving through traffic in the paint. He can outmuscle smaller guards, and often takes them straight towards the rim. Lockett can create his shot or set up his teammates, and Rice thinks he’s got real defensive potential as well. RJ Keane is another young guard looking to play his way into a significant role, but he’s been out of high school since 2020. After getting hurt prior to the start of last year, Keane should finally factor in this winter. He brings good length defensively and can really shoot the ball. 

Shooting the ball is also the forté of Andrew Meadow, a slick offensive player whose deep threat may help him to a prominent role immediately. Meadow shot the lights out during the Broncos’ summer exhibition games in Canada, and looks like a natural finding and creating space to shoot. While his game is fairly similar to Degenhart’s (Bingo! Someone said it!), you don’t really need a ton of contrast when everyone in the rotation can make shots. If Meadow keeps up the sharpshooting and can prove himself on the glass and defensively, he should level up quickly. Emmanuel Ugbo is a big, strong, Nigerian-born forward who grew up in the Netherlands, and has been playing in Germany. He could well redshirt this season due to the veterans ahead of him, but Ugbo has range on his jumper and college-ready strength. Anotherreason why Ugbo may not play this year is the return of former JuCo and Detroit Mercy center Mohamed Sylla. Though he’s played limited minutes so far at the Division I level, Sylla is the Broncos’ largest player and can protect the rim.

The Broncos have gone 51-18 the past two seasons, finishing first and then second in the Mountain West Conference. Rice, already the winningest coach in program history, has led Boise State to ten different seasons of 20 or more wins in his 13 previous years. And yet, the Broncos have yet to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. They are out to change that this winter. 

“We are not going to cap anything, but we can make it to the Final Four. As a team, if we can get that first win out of the way and forget about us not winning a game in the tournament, we are a second weekend team. Everyone believes that,” Degenhart told MW Wire this summer. There are some things to improve upon in order to better ensure March success. Boise State did not pickpocket the opposition often last year, and now they’ve lost Shaver’s team-leading 45 thefts. They also didn’t get to the foul line overmuch last year. With the upgraded depth, this team should be able to play more aggressively at both ends – and must do so. 

After years of elevating the floor for expectations and quality of play in Boise, Leon Rice has got his best chance yet to cut down some never-before-seen nets this winter. The Broncos are deep, confident, star-led…and they’re on a mission. After years of toil setting the framework in place for genuine excellence, the time is now to deliver. Boise State can be a great team this season; if they can live up to the weight of some serious expectations, it’s going to be a heck of a fun ride.