FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 19, 2023) – In a Big Sky Conference first, Weber State’s Dillon Jones has been named Preseason Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player by a unanimous decision from both coaches and media, the league office announced today along with the rest of the six-man squad.
The Big Sky has been awarding Preseason MVP awards for men’s basketball since 2015, and this season marks the first that has been a fully unanimous vote.
Jones is a two-time All-Big Sky Conference and a two-time All-District performer, including first-team honors in 2022-23.
In three seasons at Weber State, Jones has played in 88 career games with 65 starts. He is fifth in school history with 833 career rebounds and eighth in career rebounding average. He is also fifth in career steals with 147 and ranks 22nd in career scoring with 1,138 career points.
The Columbia, S.C. native is the only player in Weber State history with at least 1,000 career points, 800 rebounds, 250 assists, and 100 steals. He spent much of his summer going through the NBA Draft process, but ultimately decided to return to Weber State for at least one more season.
Aanen Moody from Montana received the second-most votes, following up on a season where he was a Second Team All-Big Sky performer and a member of the All-Tournament Team. Moody transferred to Montana by way of Southern Utah ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, where he amplified his production.
Coming off an Honorable Mention nod to last year’s All-Conference Team, Eastern Washington’s Ethan Price has been named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. He started all 34 games for EWU a season ago, and averaged 9.6 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game and 1.5 assists per game. He has played in and started 68 games as an Eagle. Following the 2021-22 season he was named Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year.
Joining his teammate Jones on the squad, Weber State’s Steven Verplancken Jr. received the preseason not as well. Last season he was a Third Team All-Conference performer after transferring in from Southern Illinois. He started all 33 games for Weber State and averaged 13.2 points per game in the process.
Representing Idaho State on the list, Brayden Parker gets the not following a strong campaign. Last season, the Preston, Idaho native was a Third Team All-Big Sky performer after being a force in the paint all season long. He made 31 appearances, staring in 21 of them and averaging 11.6 points per game.
Rounding out the list, Portland State’s Jorell Saterfield secured the final spot on the Preseason All-Conference Team. Last year he was the only Viking to start every game and averaged 13.1 points per game while doing so. Saterfield transferred to PSU by way of UTEP ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
Yesterday the league office revealed that the Weber State Wildcats have been voted as the preseason favorites by both coaches and media.
A full breakdown of the Preseason All-Conference Teams and Polls can be seen on the Big Sky Conference Basketball Tipoff show, that will air on Tuesday, October 31
st at 12:00 p.m. MT.
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2023-24 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Most Valuable Player –
Dillon Jones, Weber State *
Aanen Moody, Montana
Ethan Price, Eastern Washington
Steven Verplancken Jr., Weber State
Brayden Parker, Idaho State
Jorell Saterfield, Portland State
* Unanimous Selection for Preseason MVP (Coaches & Media)