The Western Athletic Conference went through realignment just as most other leagues did early in the decade. When the new WAC was formed, New Mexico State dominated. The Aggies, who are one of the best mid-major programs in the country, won five titles and made seven NCAA appearances. However, other programs have also had great players in the prior decade.
Western Athletic Conference 2010s All-Decade Team
Starters
Guard – Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State
Daniel Mullings was one of the league’s better defenders during his time with the Aggies. He made the defensive team three times while also being a first-team member twice. Mullings capped off a fantastic junior year by winning the conference’s player of the year honor.
For his career, he averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. He is the Western Athletic Conference’s career points produced leader. Mullings also sits in the top five in steals, steal percentage, and offensive rating. While he only won one title with the Aggies, Mullings did play in four NCAA Tournaments while with the program.
Guard – Ian Baker, New Mexico State
Ian Baker played in the middle of the decade for New Mexico State from 2013-17. He was a two-time member of the WAC’s first-team. He also took home the player of the year award as a senior in 2017. Baker earned an honorable mention spot on the AP All-American team that season as well.
He averaged 11.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game for his career. Baker sits fifth on the conference’s career list for points produced. He also is in the top 20 in free-throw percentage, defensive win shares, and total win shares. New Mexico State won two titles while he was with the program while also making three NCAA Tournaments.
Guard – Joshua Braun, Grand Canyon
Joshua Braun made an impact throughout his time with Grand Canyon from 2014-18. As a freshman, he made the all-newcomer team in 2015. Braun also made the conference’s first-team in his sophomore and junior seasons.
He averaged 14 points and 4.6 rebounds per game for his career. He is the WAC’s career leader in offensive rating. Braun also sits in fourth in career points produced and sixth in three point percentage. He was a member of the Antelopes as they were transitioning from Division II, helping the program produce a winning record in each of his four seasons. As a result, Grand Canyon played in two CITs and one CBI during his time there.
Forward – Pascal Siakam, New Mexico State
Pascal Siakam is probably the most well-known player to come out of the league in the past decade. He spent two seasons with the Aggies, making a huge impact. Siakam was the freshman of the year in 2015 and won the player of the year one season later as a sophomore. His second season in Las Cruces saw him also be named a finalist for both the mid-major player of the year and power forward of the year honors.
Siakam averaged 16.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game for his career. He is in the top five in Western Athletic Conference history in player efficiency rating and defensive rating. He is also in the top ten in offensive rebounds and field goal percentage. Siakam led the NCAA in made two-point field goals in 2016. He helped the Aggies win two titles and play in one NCAA Tournament. He has gone on to a successful NBA career, helping the Toronto Raptors win the championship last season.
Center – Kyle Barone, Idaho
Kyle Barone is one of a few players from the old WAC that made the team. He won the league’s ultimate honor as the player of the year for his senior season in 2012-13. That was the first WAC player of the year recognition for an Idaho player in program history. Barone led the league in rebounding that season and was named an honorable mention on the AP All-American team.
For his career, he averaged 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He also shot 58.5 percent for his career from the field. Barone is the Western Athletic Conference’s career leader in defensive rebounds and also sits in the top five in field goal percentage and offensive rebounds. He helped the Vandals play in two CITs.
Bench
Guard – Milan Acquaah, Cal Baptist
Milan Acquaah is the only current player to make the team, just finishing up his junior season at Cal Baptist. He won the most recent player of the year award for the 2019-20 season. This comes after he won the newcomer of the year for last season. Acquaah is a transfer from Washington State who joined the Lancers for their first two seasons at the Division I level.
He has averaged 18.5 points, five rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game during his two seasons at Cal Baptist. Acquaah led the conference in scoring for the 2018-19 season and currently sits in seventh on the career assists percentage list. He has been a big reason why the Lancers have had winning seasons in their first two years at this level. They played in the CBI last year and were poised for another postseason appearance this season.
Guard – Jake Toolson, Utah Valley
Jake Toolson started and ended his career at BYU, but he spent two great seasons at Utah Valley in between there. His second year with the Wolverines was especially great as he was named the conference’s player of the year for the 2018-19 season. Toolson had five games of 20 or more points during conference play that season.
During his time at Utah Valley, Toolson averaged 13.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He also shot 41.6 percent from beyond the arc. He led the WAC in field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage, true shooting percentage, offensive win shares, and total win shares in 2018-19. Toolson helped Utah Valley play in two CBIs during his time there.
Guard – Deonte Burton, Nevada
Deonte Burton played his first two seasons in the conference before Nevada left for the Mountain West. He won the league’s freshman of the year in 2011 and the player of the year in 2012. Burton was also named to the AP All-American team as an honorable mention for the 2011-12 season.
He averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game during his two seasons in the Western Athletic Conference. Burton was already in the top 25 in league history in assist percentage and free-throw percentage before the Wolf Pack switched conferences. He could have climbed many career league lists otherwise. Burton helped Nevada win one title and make the NIT quarterfinals.
Forward – Tai Wesley, Utah State
Tai Wesley played just one season in the decade, but it was a good one. Wesley was awarded the conference’s player of the year for the 2010-11 season. He also was named to the AP All-American team as an honorable mention. Wesley led the Aggies that season in scoring, rebounding, and steals.
During the 2010-11 season, he averaged 14.8 points, eight rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Wesley also led the Western Athletic Conference in seven statistical categories that season, including field goal percentage (59.9 percent). He is the conference’s career leader in player efficiency rating and helped the Aggies win the regular-season title and play in the NCAA Tournament that season.
Center – Aly Ahmed, Cal State Bakersfield
Aly Ahmed played three seasons for the Roadrunners after transferring up from the JUCO level. He was named to the league’s first-team in two of those three years. In doing so, he became the first Roadrunner in program history to be named as a member of the first-team.
Ahmed averaged 12.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for his career. He was a big presence on the boards and sits in 14th place on the WAC’s all-time list for defensive rebounds. He was a big reason why Bakersfield won the 2016 conference tournament and made their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
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