LAS VEGAS –The Mountain West announced its 2022-23 men’s basketball awards Tuesday. The league’s 11 head coaches voted on the All-Conference teams, as well as the coach, player, defensive player, newcomer, sixth man and freshman honors.
San José State head coach Tim Miles was named the MW Steve Fisher Coach of the Year, while Spartan senior guard Omari Moore was selected as the MW Player of the Year. San Diego State’s Nathan Mensah was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year and Nevada senior guard Jarod Lucas was chosen as Conference Newcomer of the Year. Utah State forward Dan Akin was voted the MW Sixth Man of the Year, while Nevada forward Darrion Williams was recognized as MW Freshman of the Year.
Miles, who is in his second year as San José State’s head coach, guided the Spartans to a 10-8 mark in Conference play, setting a program record for MW victories since joining the league. The Spartans earned a first-round bye in the MW championship for the first time in program history. This marks the first time that Miles has been named MW Coach of the Year.
Moore is the first Spartan to be named MW Player of the Year. Moore finished the regular season averaging 20.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in league action, while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor.
For the second year in a row, Mensah is the MW Defensive Player of the Year. It marks the sixth time that an Aztec has claimed the top defensive honor in the MW. Mensah finished MW play with 27 blocks and grabbed 5.7 boards per game.
Lucas is the third player from Nevada to earn MW Newcomer of the Year honors in the last four seasons and fifth in program history. The senior averaged 17 points per game in Conference play, which is sixth in the MW. Lucas netted double-digit scoring efforts in 15 of his 18 MW outings.
Akin is the second Aggie named MW Sixth Man of the Year and appeared in all 18 Mountain West games for Utah State. He averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 boards per game off the bench, while shooting 66.4 percent from the floor.
Williams is the first Nevada player to be named MW Freshman of the Year in program history. He finished the Conference season with 7.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.4 percent from the field. The freshman started all 18 games in Conference action.
2022-23 All-Mountain West Men’s Basketball Teams
First Team
Tyson Degenhart, So., F, Boise State
Isaiah Stevens, Sr., G, Colorado State
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Jr., G, New Mexico
Matt Bradley, Sr., G, San Diego State
Omari Moore, Sr., G, San José State
Steven Ashworth, Jr., G, Utah State
Second Team
Max Rice, Sr., G, Boise State
Kenan Blackshear, Sr., G, Nevada
Jarod Lucas, Sr., G, Nevada
Jaelen House, Sr., G, New Mexico
EJ Harkless, Sr., G, UNLV
Hunter Maldonado, Sr., G, Wyoming
Third Team
Jake Heidbreder, So., G, Air Force
Marcus Shaver Jr., Sr., G, Boise State
Will Baker, Jr., C, Nevada
Morris Udeze, Gr., F, New Mexico
Lamont Butler, Jr., G, San Diego State
Nathan Mensah, Sr., F, San Diego State
Defensive Team
Kenan Blackshear, Sr., G, Nevada
Tré Coleman, Jr., F, Nevada
Jaelen House, Sr., G, New Mexico
Lamont Butler, Jr., G, San Diego State
Nathan Mensah, Sr., F, San Diego State
Honorable Mention
Isaiah Hill, Sr., G, Fresno State
Max Shulga, Jr., G, Utah State
Player of the Year: Omari Moore, Sr., G, San José State
Defensive Player of the Year: Nathan Mensah, Sr., F, San Diego State
Newcomer of the Year: Jarod Lucas, Sr., G, Nevada
Sixth Man of the Year: Dan Akin, Gr., F, Utah State
Freshman of the Year: Darrion Williams, F, Nevada
Steve Fisher Coach of the Year: Tim Miles, San José State
