Each week, we'll come out with a list of five must-see D2 men's basketball players from a different conference. This week has us taking a look at the PacWest Conference, and the boys on the list have not disappointed. High scoring and all-around stats helped them land a spot, but let us know in the comments if you think we did anything wrong!
Stephen Grosey, F, Concordia-Irvine
Academic All-American and Pre-Med student Stephen Grosey has seen a bit of a dip in his rebound production since last season, but part of that can be attributed to the fact that Concordia made the jump from the NAIA to D2 this last season. It's not to say his rebounding hasn't been solid — 8.9 rebounds per game is nothing to scoff at — but it pales in comparison to his school record average of 12.1 last year. He has also put up 12.8 points per game this season, and is a clear double double threat. Concordia better hope that he continues his pre-game ritual of listening to 50 Cent — so far it's been working out.
Michael Smith, G, Cal Baptist
Michael Smith has improved vastly this season compared to last year's stats, which is scary considering he's only a junior. He did well in 2014-15, averaging 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds. But he's on a completely different level now, averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.
Cal Baptist has other players worth noting on their team as well, such as guard Gelaun Wheelwright, but Smith has made a huge jump that needs to be recognized.
Joshua Crum, G, Holy Names
Joshua Crum averaged 12.9 points per game last season, and as a senior this year he's averaging 19.3 points AND 4.9 assists. With those stats, he has a good chance of making First Team All-PacWest — one of his personal goals.
Crum has been able to contribute even more on the offensive end this season due to his work during the off-months, saying, "I added a pull up and step up jumper. Most people expect me to drive to the basket, and now I can add something different to my game."
Josh Rodriguez, G, Point Loma
Josh Rodriguez should be a favorite to win PacWest Freshman of the Year this season, as he's been averaging 16.4 points, 2 steals per game and a conference-best 6.9 assists as well.
To him, it's not hard to get so many assists each game, "my coaches put me in a position to thrive with the players around me. We have so many great shooters on this team that open up the floor for me, which then makes it easier to make plays for everyone on the team."
Ian Harward, F, BYU-Hawaii
After transferring from the main BYU campus, Ian Harward has found his flow at BYU-Hawaii. This season he's averaging 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. If you went to school in Hawaii, you'd realize there was something in the water as well.
