2022 Record: 26-9 (13-5)
Head Coach: Danny Sprinkle (Career Record 81-43)
Projected Rotation:
PG: Darius Brown (Montana State 9.1 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 4.9 Ast)
SG: Javon Jackson (Southern Nazarene 15.8 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 2.8 Ast)
SF: Josh Uduje (Coastal Carolina 13.3 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 1.3 Ast)
PF: Max Agbonkpolo (Wyoming 5.4 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 0.8 Ast)
C: Great Osobor (Montana State 10.1 Pts, 4.6 Reb, 1.0 Ast)
6: Ian Martinez (Maryland 5.7 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 0.6 Ast) (Double Transfer, Waiver TBA)
7: PF Nigel Burris (Idaho 8.8 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 0.5 Ast)
8: C Jackson Grant (Washington 0.5 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.1 Ast)
9: SF Dallin Grant
10: C Isaac Johnson (2021-22 Oregon 2.4 Pts, 1.1 Reb, 0.2 Ast)
11: SG Garrison Phillips
12: PF Kalifa Sakho (South Plains CC 4.8 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 0.2 Ast)
13: PF Karsten Templin
Utah State underwent a tremendous amount of roster turnover this offseason and doesn’t return anybody from last years team. Newly hired coach Danny Sprinkle did do an amazing job in both the transfer portal and HS recruiting to rebuild the Aggies roster. The Aggies landed HS commitments from 3 star players: PF Karsten Templin from Texas, SG Garrison Phillips from Missouri, and SF Dallin Grant from Utah. Grant was originally part of the 2021 class but is just now enrolling this year. Grant is the freshman that would most likely make an immediate impact. The Aggies also added JUCO PF Kalifa Sakho from South Plains CC. Sakho adds depth to the Aggies frontcourt and South Plains has sent many players onto the D1 level that went on to have very productive careers.
Utah State adds a pair of PAC-12 transfer big men in Jackson Grant from Washington and Isaac Johnson from Oregon. Both players are former top 100 talents and Jackson Grant was a McDonald’s All-American. Both Johnson and Grant have great size and will be able to contribute at a high level in the Mountain West conference. More Aggie additions include Wyoming transfer Max Agbonkpolo and Idaho transfer Nigel Burris. Agbonkpolo also previously played for USC and just spent this past season at Wyoming. He has great size and length at 6-9. He could play that athletic wing role at Utah State and has upside in the Sprinkle system. Burris was Big Sky freshman of the year last season. Isaac Jones got the majority of the touches for the Vandals, but Burris has proved he can excel proving himself to be a contributor as a freshman. He seems like a player that can adjust well even moving up a level.
Ian Martinez, a transfer from Maryland, is going to likely need a waiver to play this upcoming season. If the waiver is granted, he will be a valuable shooter off the bench as he shot 40% from beyond the arc this past season for the Terps. He also played for Utah previously under Coach Larry Krystkowiak. Josh Uduje is another played the Aggies added this offseason. The Coastal Carolina transfer is in the projected starting lineup and figures to be a primary scoring option for Utah State this season. He can be an up and down player at times, but when he’s on he can really score at will.
The most underrated additon for Utah State this offseason was Southern Nazarene (D2) transfer Javon Jackson. He was only a freshman this past season and really excelled in his role at a D2 program that went 27-5 making the Sweet 16. He’s a proven passer, can score from all 3 levels, and also really excels on the defensive side of the ball. He’s going to turn some heads this season and could really surprise many in the CBB world as a potential breakout star.
Danny Sprinkle also brought over 2 of his Montana State players with him. The players are PG Darius Brown II and PF/C Great Osobor. Standing at 6-9 and 245lbs, Osobor is a menace in the paint. He is a fantastic defender and should transition up a level really well. He should even have more of an expanded role even after moving up a level due to the fact of his success in the Sprinkle system. Darius Brown is one of the smartest players in the sport. He’s one of the most underrated passers and defenders in the country. He’s a very experienced talent that will be the leader for the Aggies this season.
The Mountain West is very deep this upcoming season. The teams in the conference added some high quality players in the portal that will make the league a very intriguing one this season. There could be upwards of 8 Mountain West teams that could appear on the bubble watch at some point in the season. A realistic expectation for Utah State this year would be to finish in the top half of the conference. This isn’t an easy task especially since they have a completely new team and a first year head coach. Utah State could play in a postseason tournament if they fail to win the coveted autobid.