The Mountain West will announce its preseason all-conference men’s basketball selections Thursday before media day at Resorts World Las Vegas. I was one of the voters on this year’s panel. Here is who I voted for in the various categories.

Preseason All-Mountain West picks

Player of the year: Mason Falslev, Utah State

Freshman of the year: Spencer Ahrens, Boise State

Newcomer of the year: Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn, UNLV

All-MW team: Mason Falslev, Utah State; Miles Byrd, San Diego State; Magoon Gwath, San Diego State; Javan Buchanan, Boise State; Elijah Price, Nevada; Rashaan Mbemba, Colorado State; Andrew Meadow, Boise State; Makaih Williams, Grand Canyon; Reese Dixon-Waters, San Diego State; Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn, UNLV

Predicted order of finish

1. San Diego State: The Aztecs are the prohibitive favorites after returning six starting-level players and adding three quality transfers. SDSU has just one MW regular-season title in the last four years, but this is a Sweet 16-caliber roster.

2. Utah State: Player of the year candidateMason Falslev is the only returning starter, but three key reserves also are back from last year’s 26-8 team and five good transfers were added. This should be a deep team for returning coach Jerrod Calhoun.

3. Boise State: The Broncos enter the post-Tyson Degenhart era but should stamp another 20-win season with a solid core of Andrew Meadow, Javan Buchanan, Pearson Carmichael and RJ Keene II plus transfers Dylan Andrews and Drew Fielder.

4. UNLV: First-year head coach Josh Pastner returns just 30 points from last season (all from Jacob Bannarbie), but he brough in one of the nation’s top transfer classes among mid-major schools. Things could go well … or be a disaster.

5. Grand Canyon: The league’s newcomers have a sizable rebuild with just two returning letterwinners in Makaih Williams and Caleb Shaw. A hefty NIL budget led to a good recruiting class that should make the Antelopes competitive in the MW.

6. Nevada: The Pack has a new look that will lead to a faster and more aggressive pace. Outside expectations are down, but Nevada has performed its best in that situation under Steve Alford. The big question is shooting ability and polished scoring.

7. Colorado State: Gone is star player Nique Clifford (NBA) and coach Niko Medved (Minnesota) with just one starter back (solid big Rashaan Mbemba). First-year head coach Ali Farokhmanesh added a quality transfer class that must produce.

8. New Mexico: The Lobos return zero points from last year’s team that won the regular-season title before losing star Donovan Dent (UCLA) and Richard Pitino (Xavier). First-year head man Eric Olen, from UC San Diego, is a good Xs and Os coach.

9. Wyoming: The Cowboys don’t return much from last year (two 2024-25 contributors), but coach Sundance Wicks had more time to build this roster. It’s not a big team among experienced players, but Wyoming should improve on last year’s 5-15 MW mark.

10. San Jose State: The Spartans are one of four MW teams not to return a starter from last season (UNLV, New Mexico and Nevada are the others). SJSU added six Division I transfers, but it’s going to be another work in progress for Tim Miles.

11. Fresno State: Vance Walberg’s team went 6-26 overall and 2-18 in MW play in his debut season (not to mention the Bulldogs’ betting scandal). The heat is on to produce more wins. Clemson transfer Jake Heidbreder was a big addition.

12. Air Force: The Falcons went 4-28 overall and 1-19 in the MW last year and lost a couple of key transfers without being able to replace them. Air Force has three solid players (Wesley Celichowski, Kyle Marshall, Caleb Walker) but lots of questions.

Sports columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or follow him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.