College Hoops Top 50

Last Year: 28-7; 14-4, Mountain West Conference regular season champions, lost in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament

Head Coach: Jerrod Calhoun (First Year; had been 118-106 in seven years at Youngstown State, with no NCAA Tournament appearances)

Projected Starting Lineup

PG Deyton Albury – 6’2″, 190 Senior

G Ian Martinez – 6’3″, 185 Senior

G Mason Falslev – 6’3″, 203 Sophomore

G Dexter Akanno – 6’5″, 210 5th-year Senior

C Isaac Johnson – 7’0″, 227 Junior

Experienced Reserves

G Braden Housley – 6’4″, 180 Sophomore

G Drake Allen – 6’4″, 190 Junior

W Tucker Anderson – 6’9″, 190 Sophomore

F Pavle Stosić – 6’9″, 215 Sophomore

F Karson Templin – 6’8″, 217 Sophomore

C Aubin Gateretse – 6’11”, 225 Senior

Freshmen

F Isaac Davis – 6’8″, 240

How many different times can Utah State have its head coach poached…and get better at the same time? 

It’s a heck of a thing to lose the head coach who just got done leading your team to the NCAA Tournament. It’s happened to the Aggies three times in the past four years. Incredibly, despite the carousel of coaches and approaches, USU just keeps coming back and winning. Last year, the Aggies won 26 or more games for the fourth time in six seasons. 

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect Utah State to take at least some sort of a step back from their 28-7 campaign. Especially since it ended with a Mountain West Conference regular season title, a win in the NCAA Tournament, and the departure of both their latest rising coach and the league’s Player of the Year. Still, until Utah State stops exceeding expectations, well…

The newest new coach to arrive in Logan is Jerrod Calhoun. He was last seen at Youngstown State, where over the course of eight years, Calhoun built the Penguins up to reach their highest water-mark in program history. The first Aggies team he’s assembled may not have another individual star like Great Osobor, but Calhoun has added a bunch of solid, veteran players to a cupboard which wasn’t wiped bare. The fact is, Utah State isn’t done rising – they’ve even thrown their hat in with the new-look Pac-12. The good times look like they’ll continue, and so will the morale in Logan. 

The two biggest pieces that Calhoun and his staff managed to retain from last year’s roster are a versatile pair of guards. One, Ian Martinez, is about to play his fourth year. The other, Mason Falslev, announced his long-awaited arrival following a redshirt season and time spent on an LDS mission before that. Together, they can do a lot more than your average backcourt duo, and at the head of a new perimeter cast, Falslev and Martinez will now lead the Aggies.

A transfer from Maryland who began his career at Utah, Martinez brought big-game experience and genuine high major athleticism to the Aggies last year. In establishing himself as a high-end starter, Martinez evolved in a bunch of different ways last winter. With the Terrapins, he was alright as a shooter, occasionally helpful with bursts of scoring, and a tough matchup defensively. As an Aggie, Martinez stepped out as a quality every-game offensive option and quickly made his reputation as an outstanding perimeter stopper. 

Across 34 games played, Martinez hit double digits as a scorer 23 times last winter, and he went for 20+ points seven times. He really solidified his outside shot, making 40.2% of his triple tries over Utah State’s final 19 games and sinking 53 deep balls on the year. Martinez becomes very dangerous when he hits a couple of jumpers, because he’s an aggressive slasher who can elevate explosively for a 6’3″ guy. When defenders play him to shoot or leave him a path to the rim, Martinez will throw down some savage dunks. The way he more fully fleshed out his scoring game was tremendously valuable to the Aggies’ overall offense, and Martinez earned four foul shots per game, too – converting 85.6% of those attempts. One of the most intimidating perimeter shot blockers in the West, Martinez skies to wipe out shots even when his man gets past him, and that two-way playmaking capability brings a great deal of sizzle to USU in all manner of situations. 

Once a two-sport star (football) in high school, Falslev has been on a journey since the conclusion of his prep career. Now that he’s begun his rise as one of the more versatile and exciting young guards in the Mountain West (for now), Falslev will see a bigger chunk of the action as a sophomore. In his debut, Falslev was incredibly efficient in the halfcourt and showed an assertiveness and feisty nature which should only help out more as he refines his skills. Incredibly for a 6’3″ rookie, Falslev shot 68.8% on two-point tries last year – the best rate in the MWC. Now, he’ll need to make defenses respect him from the outside. He knows how to cut hard to the rim or shot-fake into an attack on the rack, and Falslev has put in good work on his jumper this summer to make those attributes all the more dangerous. An opportunistic defender, Falslev already has a fully-developed willingness to stick his nose into anything on that end of the floor. He’s a tough, physical player, and Falslev’s style is something that helps to set the tone for his teammates. 

Calhoun and his staff have added four more experienced perimeter players to fit around Falslev and Martinez this year. Together, they will look to keep what was a very effective group humming at both ends of the floor. Not only were the Aggies very efficient shooting, distributing, and protecting the ball a year ago – they guarded people fiercely on the outside.

Two of the new guys, Deyton Albury and Drake Allen, held significant playmaking roles for their previous teams. The Aggies’ point guard a year ago was Darius Brown II, and he turned in one of the best performances of any playmaker in the nation. Together, Osobor and Brown II were outstanding facilitators with a multi-year rapport, and they averaged 9.3 assists per game combined. Those inside-out efforts won’t be easy to replace. 

“Deyton is a multi-dimensional talent that was a stat-stuffer for Queens University. His ability to score, pass, rebound and defend will provide great value for us,” Calhoun declared when Albury pledged to the Aggies. “We couldn’t be more thrilled that he will be an Aggie. He is a wonderful addition for our program.” A former junior college star who was born in the Bahamas, Albury enjoyed a tremendous first year at Queens University in North Carolina before choosing the Aggies. 

A highly effective dribble-drive facilitator, Albury attacks the defense and then attacks some more. He owns a powerful first step and shows consistent explosiveness getting downhill. While he’s extremely inventive at twisting and skipping through the trees even when someone manages to keep up with him, Albury is also a smart ballhandler with terrific vision. Now that he’s got a couple of solid big guys who can finish near the basket, Albury’s talents should be on full display. His powerful approach will draw multiple defenders and open up space for quick feeds and lobs, and Albury should thrive in Calhoun’s guard-friendly offense. 

“Deyton is a multi-dimensional talent that was a stat-stuffer for Queens University.”

– Jerrod Calhoun

A native of Eagle Mountain, UT, Allen has been crisscrossing the Beehive State since the conclusion of his prep career. As a freshman, Allen led a 24-win Southern Utah team in assists. Last year, he finished second in the Western Athletic Conference in helpers for Utah Valley. What’s on deck for Allen’s junior campaign? 

“Drake is a gifted player and one of the best passing point guards in the country with his ability to make others better,” Calhoun enthused upon Allen’s signing. “His size and athleticism will help him thrive in our system.” He’s not yet a tremendous shooter, but Allen is confident and strong off the bounce, and he knows how to manufacture looks for his friends on the way to the rim. While nearly 70% of Albury’s shot attempts originated in close, 58.2% of Allen’s field goal attempts last season came near the hoop, per Bart Torvik. What’s more, both guards can finish by hanging and hitting or throwing down powerful dunks. Allen also improved considerably at limiting turnovers with UVU, and he gets to the free throw line with regularity. Another of Utah State’s tough-minded veterans, Allen hounds his man defensively and ought to play a valuable role at both ends of the floor. 

He might not be as natural a playmaker as some of USU’s other new arrivals, but Dexter Akanno knows how to score the ball. Following three years of slow but steady progress at Oregon State, Akanno will do an important bit of bucket-getting for the Aggies. Though he has never shot as high as 40% from the floor for a full season, Akanno is a big guard who has fleshed out more of his offensive repertoire each year as a Beaver. His 32.5% rate from three last year was a new career-high, and Calhoun & Co would really love to see Akanno take a further step from the outside given that some of Utah State’s other guards just aren’t really bombardiers. Calhoun often ran four perimeter players while at Youngstown State, and Utah State often played four-out around Osobor. With his wealth of power conference experience and 6’5″ frame, Akanno will be expected to give the Aggies a matchup advantage. 

Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks)

48.5% – Team Shooting Percentage (10th)

71.8% – Team Free Throw Percentage (199th)

1.457 – Assists Per Turnover (34th)

32.5% – Team 3FG Percentage (252nd)

29.7% – Opponent 3FG Percentage (6th)

Braden Housley took over for Drake Allen at Southern Utah last year, and now they’re both Aggies. As developmental point guards go, Housley brings a whole lot of potential. A WAC All-Freshman pick last year, Housley has already demonstrated that he can handle big minutes in a big role. He averaged 34.7 minutes per game in starting all 31 games for the Eagles – third-most in the conference – and Housley ranked top five in assists and steals in his debut, as well. He’s a big youngster who plays with bravado and wasn’t shy about stepping into almost five triple tries per game despite a 27.2% rate from downtown last year. With some sanding down of his rough edges, the Aggies’ point guard of the future will get a chance to learn on the job even in a deep backcourt. 

Following a big-time debut of his own at Central Arkansas last year, Tucker Anderson will give Utah State a very different look on the outside. The team didn’t try or make all that many three-point shots last winter, and they’ve lost a good deal of the perimeter production they got. At 6’9″, Anderson is both big and skilled enough to waltz right in and become a solid contributor. The Atlantic Sun Rookie of the Year last season, Anderson led the Bears with 14.5 points per game. His 75 made triples ranked eighth in the ASUN, and Anderson is slick getting to his jumper on the wing. He’ll need to get stronger in order to hang in the MWC as a defender, and Anderson will have to show more facets to his scoring game now that everyone will be playing him to launch from downtown. That reputation could turn to Anderson’s advantage if he can pick up a thing or two about aggressive drives from the Aggies’ powerful guards. 

Without Osobor around, Utah State’s post will be thinner but longer. Last year’s spot-starter in the middle, Isaac Johnson, is back for another go at growing his role. A former 4-star prospect who didn’t really fit at Oregon, Johnson first redshirted and then made some solid contributions for the Aggies. He’s seen some changes since coming to Logan, but Johnson is comfortable in his home state and intent on proving his skills. A quality shooter whose stretch talents gave USU a contrasting look paired or alternating with the burly Osobor, Johnson is also seven feet tall and has untapped ability at both ends. He passes the ball effectively, and if Johnson can become a higher-volume deep threat, it will give the Aggies a new way to threaten opponents. If he can show some added strength defensively and more of a hard-charging attitude, Johnson’s value could grow considerably. 

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

@ Saint Mary’s – December 22

N Iowa – November 22

N North Texas/Northern Iowa – November 29

vs South Florida – December 14

vs Charlotte – November 9

Stetson transfer Aubin Gateretse will give Johnson a run for top minutes, and the two veteran big guys may end up sharing the 5 spot. On the business end of consistent and quality feeds from Stephan Swenson last year with the Hatters, Gateretse scored with outstanding efficiency. He converted 75.6% of his field goal attempts near the rim, 57.9% of his longer two-point tries, and Gateretse slammed home 48 dunks, per Bart Torvik. He showed off useful touch near the basket, as well, and Gateretse’s footwork in the post became quite tidy last winter. He uses the same nimble feet defensively, and Gateretse can protect the rim. Like Johnson, Gateretse will look to show greater strength than in the past, and if he can, the Aggies’ import may earn himself a leg up in the minutes race as a more impactful defender. There may even be moments when Calhoun deploys his twin towers at the same time, which would be very intriguing look after the perimeter-focused rotations that both Sprinkle and Ryan Odom, his predecessor, preferred. 

The hope in Logan is that Isaac Davis, this year’s top incoming freshman, will play an Osobor-like role in the not-too-distant future. He nearly ended up in Provo, but when Mark Pope left BYU for Kentucky this spring, the Aggies were all too happy to provide Davis a new home. Big, strong, and willing to use both of those facts to his advantage, Davis is a low-post scorer who hammers the glass and stuffs anything he can for two points. He’ll need to avoid overaggressive fouls to start out, and if Davis can do so, he should get the chance to play right away. Truly aggressive play from a forward should be very useful next to Johnson or Gateretse when Calhoun wants to use two bugs on the floor together. 

He didn’t play much last year, but Karson Templin showed that he won’t back down from any sort of challenge as a rookie. A strong offensive rebounder whose physical play and feisty streak can give USU a necessary jolt inside. He can shoot the ball a bit, and will earn a multitude of free throw opportunities with all of his crashing around close to the rim, so Templin will want to keep honing that skill. He’ll need to tone down the recklessness a bit in order to play a bigger share of the minutes, but Templin’s demeanor should be an asset as he adds experience. Rounding out the rotation is Pavle Stosić, a transfer from Gonzaga who hardly played as a freshman. That likely had more to do with the Zags featuring four terrific big guys than Stosić’s lack of individual skill, though. He can shoot the rock, has some athleticism, and at 6’9″, Stosić figures to be an interesting youngster for Calhoun and his staff to develop. 

Succeeding in the face of big changes has pretty much become USU’s thing lately. If the Aggies can pull off another visit to the Big Dance, it will be both incredibly impressive and also directly on-brand. This roster features enough of the toughness and never-back-down attitude that won Utah State a title last year, plus plenty of skill thrown into the bargain. They’ll get a chance to gel before most of the toughest games on the schedule roll around, and despite so much upheaval the past few years, USU hasn’t had many problems hanging with the best teams they face. So, what will be the next move for a program that just won’t stop outgoing itself? Predictions aren’t easy, but the overwhelming likelihood is that the Aggies will be winning a bunch more games and on the hunt for more trophies.