PRESS RELEASE VIA GOSEATTLEU.COM
DENVER – Seattle University men’s basketball has been selected to finished fifth in the Western Athletic Conference as both the WAC 2020-21 Preseason Coaches Poll and Media Poll were released Tuesday morning in advance of the league virtual media days.
Junior forward Riley Grigsby earned the first league recognition of his career, being named to the Coaches Preseason All-WAC Second Team. The San Jose, Calif., native is the Redhawks’ lone returning starter and is coming off of a sophomore campaign that saw him average 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Grigsby led Seattle U in scoring twice and collected three double-doubles, including career highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Grand Canyon on Feb. 20.
Reigning WAC champion NM State was selected to repeat the feat in 2020-21, earning eight of nine first-place votes in the Coaches’ Poll. Coaches could not vote for their own team or players. The Aggies were also the first-place pick by the media. Grand Canyon was picked second in both polls, followed by UTRGV in third and California Baptist in fourth.
The 2020-21 hoops season is set to begin Nov. 25 while WAC play will tip off the second weekend in January. As announced Monday by the league, the Redhawks start with a bye week, before beginning WAC play at home Jan. 15 and 16 against Utah Valley. Seattle U’s non-conference schedule will be announced in the coming week.
Head Coach Jim Hayford and Grigsby will take part in the WAC Basketball Preview event on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The duo will join the WAC Digital Network’s Rachel Vigil for a press conference beginning at 8 a.m. Pacific. The WAC will broadcast the conversations as they happen on Facebook Live and each press conference will be archived for later viewing as well.
2020-21 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll
Rank,Teams (1st-Place Votes),Points
1. NM State (8) 64
2. Grand Canyon (1) 52
3. UT Rio Grande Valley 45
4. California Baptist 43
5. Seattle U 33
6. Tarleton 31
7. Utah Valley 28
8. Dixie State 20
9. Chicago State 8
2020-21 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches’ All-WAC Teams
First Team
Alessandro Lever, Sr., C, Grand Canyon
Javon Levi, Sr., PG, UT Rio Grande Valley
Johnny McCants, Sr., F, NM State
Jabari Rive, Jr., G, NM State
Donnie Tillman, Sr., F, NM State
Second Team
Jovan Blacksher, So., G, Grand Canyon
Oscar Frayer, Sr., F, Grand Canyon
Riley Grigsby, Jr, G/F, Seattle U
Evan Gilyard, Sr., G, NM State
Hunter Schofield, Sr., F, Dixie State
Preseason Player of the Year: Jabari Rice, NM State
2020-21 Preseason Men’s Basketball Media Poll
Rank, Teams (1st-Place Votes), Points
1. NM State (10) 150
2. Grand Canyon 125
3. UT Rio Grande Valley 114
4. California Baptist (2) 105
5. Seattle U 84
6. Utah Valley 74
7. Dixie State 49
8. Tarleton 46
9. Chicago State 18
2020-21 Preseason Men’s Basketball Media All-WAC Teams
First Team
Jovan Blacksher, So., G, Grand Canyon
Alessandro Lever, Sr., C, Grand Canyon
Javon Levi, Sr., PG, UT Rio Grande Valley
Johnny McCants, Sr., F, NM State
Jabari Rive, Jr., G, NM State
Second Team
Evan Cole, Gr., F, Utah Valley
Gorjok Gak, Gr., F, California Baptist
Evan Gilyard, Sr., G, NM State
Hunter Schofield, Sr., F, Dixie State
Donnie Tillman, Sr., F, NM State
Preseason Player of the Year: Jabari Rice, NM State
Russell is the Content Director for the Eli Network. He studied broadcast journalism at Eastern Oregon and North Dakota State University. Mostly covers soccer and basketball in the Seattle area and is the current play-by-play voice for Seattle Redhawks basketball. You can follow him @brussbrwn.
