So who will be the top scorer in the 2011-12 WAC?

Any idea who will be the top points producer in the approaching WAC season?

Hawaii's Zane Johnson is the top returning scorer at 15.9 points per game, just ahead of Deonte (Nevada) Burton's 15.8.

The senior Johnson's point totals will go up to some degree this go-around but so will the shot attempts of his returning teammates Vander Joaquim and Joston Thomas. Plus, newcomer Hauns Brereton's shots will at least match those of the departed Bill Amis and there is also Shaq Stokes at the point, who will fire up more attempts than last year's Rainbow Warrior point collective.

It's going to be an interesting time in Hawaii, a team with a very good shot at the top conference rung if the mercurial Thomas accepts and fulfills his role

Burton, a sophomore, is also surrounded by returnees.

Junior Malik Story should add to his 13.7 points per game but it need to come because of more makes than last season and not a greater number of attempts. He must improve on his 36% and 30% accuracy overall and from long distance respectively if he is to again take the highest number of shots.

Senior Dario Hunt's points per game will go up but probably not to any dramatic degree.

However, Olek Czyz is another story as he possesses the best potential on the team for upping his scoring production. He took only 139 shots in league play -- just above Hunt -- and reaching 200 should be a goal. Let's see if he has generated more ability to create on the court.

New Mexico State returning redshirt Wendell McKines certainly is a candidate, especially if display more dribble-drive proclivity.

Also, do watch for Idaho's Kyle Barone. PTW has no idea if Barone has added needed strength and weight in the off-season but, if so, he'll be a darkhorse contender.

Monday's WAC hoops digest

From multiple sources, 6-foot-4 guard Quincy Bair, 6-foot-2 guard Riley Bradshaw and 6-foot-2 point Marcel Davis are tripping to Utah State this coming weekend. Davis' visit should put to rest the 'rumors' regarding the shakiness of his commit which were generated due to USU's interest in some JC points.

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As Dayton Morinaga covers more of the Rainbow Warriors Marine base workout, will Coach Gib Arnold bring in a drill sergeant to fill his assistant coach opening? Our choice: R. Lee Ermey whose latest is a certain GEICO commercial:

• Patient: “And that’s why yellow makes me sad I think”
• Sarge: “That’s interesting… You know what makes me sad? YOU DO! Maybe we should chug on over to namby-pamby land where maybe we can find some self confidence for you ya jackwagon. Tissue?” throws box at patient

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Pete Thamel of the NYTimes reports on unofficial visits -- a key quote:

"... Newman Baker of the N.C.A.A. said she was skeptical of coaches who claim they have no idea how prospects paid their way to campus. “The thought or concept that coaches don’t really know what’s going on isn’t an accurate reflection of reality,” she said. “I’m not buying that ...”

Every coach knows how each visiting prospect got to his or her campus, even on unofficials. Sometimes playing dumb is dumb.

Sunday morning WAC basketball hymnal

David White fills readers in on former Fresno Stater Paul George who unfortunately has a lot of time on his hands.

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Dayton Morinaga reports that the Rainbow Warriors didn't travel to the halls of Montezuma nor to the shores of Tripoli but to Kaneohe in order to experience a workout U.S. Marines-style.

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At this Warrior Sports Network MB page, go to the Head's up for UH hoops fans string and look for the posts by dave44 and colorblind23 as each offers insightful recaps of Gib Arnold's visit to Jeff Portnoy's radio show the other night.

Your Saturday WAC basketball digest

Brian McInnis is blogging about UH's Hoopfest and open tryouts.

Dayton Morinaga goes multimedia again with Rainbow Warrior workouts. 

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Per Anthony Ray (a Rivals sub is required), Westwind (Phoenix) International 5-foot-11 point Juwan Moody has gained Louisiana Tech's interest.

Courtesy of Coach Adam Desautels, here is Moody's Westwind page.

Nevada checking out a 2012 point

Alex Kline/The Recruit Scoop has tweeted:

"Former Purdue commit Kyle Molock, a 2012 PG from Coffman (OH), is hearing from West Virginia, Stanford & Nevada, among others"

Another JUCO guard targeted by the Vandals

After missing on DaShawn Gomez last year, Idaho has persevered and Mel Grussing reports another Antelope Valley College guard will be tripping to Moscow come October.

With two junior college backcourter verbals already in hand, Coach Don Verlin is seriously looking to replace the departing Deremy Geiger and Landon Tatum.

Friday's WAC hoops roundup

Brad Winton/Juco Recruiting (do bookmark him) has an addition for the Vandals:

"Denzel Douglas, a PG out of Casper College (WY), has committed to Idaho"

He's a 5-foot-10 point out of Los Angeles who averaged 7.7 points per game as a freshman, shooting 44% overall, 29% from long distance and 65% from the foul line. He led the Thunderbirds with four assists and 2.4 steals a contest.

Will this be in addition to Tim Johnson out of LA Trade Tech, as reported earlier? Johnson is 6-foot-0 but with more offensive firepower than Douglas.

Both are rockets in the backcourt.

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Hoopstalk is back. Plus, here's more from Jeff Portnoy.

From Brian McInnis comes a few details (the first two paragraphs of the article) on Coach Gib Arnold's new contract.

Not WAC-related but...

What do you think? Old Dominion Coach Blaine Taylor and the former New York Met Keith Hernandez -- separated at birth?

The effect on the WAC?

Reading Matt Norlander's latest and wondering about the effect on the WAC? Football would be the most financially impacted, especially at schools already underwater financially. Adding a couple of grand for every student-athlete on an athletic scholarship is a needed move but it further separates the NCAA haves and the have nots.

Thursday's galaxy of WAC basketball

Jason Groves works through the New Mexico State schedule in a lengthy piece, prognosticating wins and losses.

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Even after this (warning, the written portion is coarse so you may want to stick to the video), recruit Kyndahl Hill didn't commit to Utah State. What's the guy thinking? Them Aggies know when to schedule a visit.

Blue Zertuche @ Texas Hoops (a sub required) offers a feature on Hill's decision to go with Weber State. Key quotes:

"... It's a great feeling that I have committed to Weber State," said Hill. "The coaches have been there the longest and really made me feel wanted by them ..."

and

"... Weber State wants me to play the three for them ..."

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 The USUStats site serves up a feature on Aggie commit Sean Harris.

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Tyrone Wallace, a  6-foot-4, 180 pound 2012 point out of the Bakersfield CA area, has October visits planned to Cal, Colorado, Oregon and a fourth school. Anyone been able to determine the latter? Fresno State has offered.

He would be the type of talent that just might influence big Robert Upshaw to remain in the San Joaquin.

Warped values

Gary Parrish writes about how loyalty has 'paid off' for a couple of former Tennessee assistants.

Tell the truth and you are a rat and destined to never be hired again. Just what kind of values are being demonstrated here? And by 'leaders' of young men and women?

Those all hot and bothered by the 'don't snitch' atmosphere in certain parts of society need to broaden their horizons because it's alive and 'well' on campuses throughout this country as well as Wall Street, government and elsewhere.

Call it a commonplace value.

Wednesday's WAC-aroo

A Braeden Anderson update from Jeff Goodman:

"New Mexico flew to Canada today to see former Kansas signee Braeden Anderson. UNLV and Tennessee have also expressed interest - per source"

It looks definite that Anderson wants to go higher than the WAC.

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Mel Grussing writes about a blossoming love affair between Idaho and a certain Antelope Valley College backcourter who is also doing it academically.

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Greg Crawford/Craw's Corner has a new post up all about various coaches in the western U.S. and, though not necessarily WAC-related, you'll gain information by reading it and that's what blogging is all about, or should be.

Hill to another Utah school

Kyndahl Hill -- this hurts more than most -- has gone with Weber State. The Texas prep forward's decision came after a visit to Logan this weekend.

Josh Gershon (do bookmark him): "Weber State just landed a commitment from Kyndahl Hill from Houston, per a source"

There's nothing as yet on Hill's Twitter account.

Randy Rahe is miracle working it in Ogden as Hill is the second Texas prep frontcourter to commit to Weber for 2011.

Another look at the WAC commits to date

So here's how recruiting is so far for this season's WAC members (remember that Nevada is departing):

IDAHO

* Tim Johnson, guard, LA Trade Tech

LOUISIANA TECH

* Demetrius Moore, forward, Northwest Florida State College

UTAH STATE

* Sean Harris, forward, Yuba College

NEVADA

* Rafael Carter, forward, Diablo Valley College

* Marqueze Coleman, guard, CA HS

Is there a sense that these verbals can help get the WAC into a position of having a pair of entries into the Big Dance?

The answer: it's a mixed bag.

Johnson will be a good addition at Idaho but, like the other commits, more as a solid component to the team than a talent on his way to the NBA.

Moore's numbers as a freshman didn't register on the impressive meter but he has another go-around to do so before heading to Ruston. Louisiana Tech needs frontcourt size, which Moore adds but maybe more importantly, his capacity to get up and down the floor, which is the style of play Coach Mike White wants to implement, is a key.

Harris looks to be a bit like a larger version of former Aggie Nate Harris but with a broader skills set and more athleticism. He will really help the Aggies and is the likeliest to have pro possibilities.

Carter is projected as a role player (defense, rebounding) but looks to be a solid replacement for senior Dario Hunt. With Coleman, it's simply too early to prognosticate on the only freshman in the list.

There are no Babbits, Johnsons or Georges among this group and that's the caliber of recruit WAC teams need to land every so often in order to gain back some degree of national attention.

Otherwise, it's incumbent on solid talents simultaneously and cohesively maturing and that is entering harmonic convergence territory.

Tueaday's WAC basketball compendium (a brief two items)

Reading the tea leaves -- tweet interpretation is getting interesting on the USU Fans site Stew Morrill MB as Aggie recruiting target Kyndahl Hill has tapped out a tweet indicating leaving the Lone Star State is a possibility.

Follow him here. A college scholarship is a blessing but the decision process can be a curse.

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Another Texas prep frontcourter, Zeldric King, will be moving one state up as he has chosen Tulsa. Nevada, San Jose State University and a number of others were involved to some degree.