So who will be the top assist(er) in the 2011-12 WAC?

New Mexico State's Hernst Laroche is back to defend his 5.1 assists per game WAC crown and that's who PTW is going with as the coming season's top passer.

What would aid Laroche's total is a sharpshooting two guard or wing who can catch and deliver. His likely shooting running mates: Christian Kabongo finished at 26% from long distance in 2010-11 and Remi Barry hasn't played in two years. But we're still going with the senior from Canada.

Effective outside shooting would also open up the inside more, playing to an Aggie strength.

Brockeith Pane was tied for third last season at 4.4 assists a contest and we see that number going higher. He is going to score more in 2012-11 but PTW also expects him to generate offense for others.

Fresno State's Steve Shepp and Idaho's Landon Tatum finish fifth and sixth respectively with Deonte Burton seventh and Deremy Geiger ninth.

PTW sees neither Shepp nor Tatum raising their per game averages all that much while Burton has the possibility of doing so but remains a shooting point. Geiger is also more shooter than passer.

Hawaii newcomer Shaq Stokes will finish in the top 10 but, again, his focus is more on scoring.