BOISE, Idaho — Boise State standout Tyson Degenhart on Thursday was named Mountain West preseason player of the year as the league unveiled its all-conference team and award winners.
The senior forward is the third Bronco in program history to earn the award, joining Derrick Alston Jr. (2020-21) and Chandler Hutchison (2017-18). Boise State was also picked as the preseason favorite for the first time ever as the conference kicked off media day.
Degenhart landed on the preseason all-Mountain West team alongside senior forward O'Mar Stanley and San Jose State transfer guard Alvaro Cardenas, as voted on by select media members.
The Spokane native and two-time first team all-conference selection led the Broncos with 16.7 points per game last season. Degenhart enters the 2024-2025 campaign at No. 13 on Boise State's all-time scoring list with 1,361 career points, 583 shy of Tanoka Beard's record.
Stanley averaged a team-best 6.6 rebounds and 12.7 points per game in his first season in the City of Trees after transferring from St. John's. The 6-foot-8 forward earned a second team all-conference nod from the coaches and third team from the media.
Cardenas stood out for the Spartans last season, totaling 13.1 points and 5.7 assists per game. In the Mountain West, he ranked third in assists-to-turnover ratio (2.67), fourth in assists per game (5.52) and fifth in minutes per game (35.52).
The preseason all-conference squad features one graduate student, six seniors, two juniors and a sophomore. Degenhart claimed the league's top honor, while Nevada's Kobe Sanders earned preseason newcomer of the year and San Diego State's Pharaoh Compton was named preseason freshman of the year.
PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM:
- Alvaro Cardenas, Sr., G, Boise State
- Tyson Degenhart, Sr., F, Boise State
- O’Mar Stanley, Sr., F, Boise State
- Nique Clifford, Sr., G, Colorado State
- Nick Davidson, Jr., F, Nevada
- Donovan Dent, Jr., G, New Mexico
- Nelly Junior Joseph, Sr., C, New Mexico
- Reese Waters, Sr., G, San Diego State
- Dedan Thomas Jr., So., G, UNLV
- Ian Martinez, Gr., G, Utah State
PRESEASON MOUNTAIN WEST AWARDS:
- Player of the Year: Tyson Degenhart, Sr., F, Boise State
- Newcomer of the Year: Kobe Sanders, Sr., G, Nevada
- Freshman of the Year: Pharaoh Compton, F, San Diego State
Boise State not only led the league with three preseason honorees, but it also received 19 first-place votes in the predicted order of finish – 17 more than any other team. The Broncos collected 276 points, ahead of New Mexico (233), Nevada (219) and San Diego State (213).
Six different squads earned a first-place vote, including the top four, UNLV and Utah State. The Rebels and Aggies collected 178 and 169 points respectively, while Colorado State appeared at No. 7 in the predicted order of finish with 160 points.
Head coach Leon Rice enters his 15th year guiding the Broncos with a career record of 268-155. Boise State looks to put together its fourth straight 20-win season and fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid during the 2024-2025 campaign.
The Broncos are set to play a pair of contests on CBS and 13 conference games on national television this season. Boise State hoops tips off on Wednesday, Nov. 6, with Oakland visiting ExtraMile Arena.
