Fresno State Men’s Basketball: Recruiting Class ranked No. 1 in Mountain West by Athlon Sports

Fresno State Men’s Basketball: Recruiting Class ranked No. 1 in Mountain West by Athlon Sports

9/14/2016 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

2016-17 Men's Basketball Season Ticket Pre-Sale Form 2016-17 Men's Basketball Roster

Men’s Basketball season ticket packages are on sale now for the 2016-17 season, which features 15 regular season home games, including Saturday afternoon games against Cal Poly (Dec. 10), Nevada (Dec. 31), Boise State (Jan. 14), San Diego State (Feb. 4), New Mexico (Feb. 18) and UNLV (March 4).

By: By Stephen Trembley / Director of New Media

Athlon Sports College Basketball Preview
Recruiting Roundup (by Scout.com)

1 - Fresno State
2 - San Diego State
3 - Nevada
4 - Utah State
5 - New Mexico
6 - San Jose State
7 - UNLV
8 - Boise State
9 - Colorado State
10 - Air Force
11 - Wyoming

FRESNO, Calif. – With less than two months left before the Fresno State men's basketball team opens the 2016-17 season, the Bulldogs' talented recruiting class was ranked as the best in the Mountain West by Athlon Sports in its annual preseason College Basketball Preview magazine.

Fresno State, who won the 2016 Mountain West Championship and finished 25-10 while reaching the NCAA Tournament last season, returns three starters with an experienced frontcourt and talented guards ready to take over in the backcourt.

The Bulldogs' top-ranked recruiting class features two Division I transfers, one junior college transfer and six freshmen:

Jaron Hopkins: Redshirt Junior, Guard, 6-6, 205 lbs. (Colorado)
Deshon Taylor: Redshirt Sophomore, Guard, 6-1, 180 lbs. (UMKC)
Jacob Holland: Junior, Guard, 6-4, 195 lbs. (Otero Junior College)
Ryan Beddeo: Freshman, Guard, 6-2, 185 lbs. (Brewster Academy)
Darryl McDowell-White: Freshman, Guard, 6-1, 175 lbs. (Wishart State School)
William McDowell-White: Freshman, Guard, 6-5, 185 lbs. (Ignatius Park College)
Johnny McWilliams: Freshman, Guard, 6-6, 195 lbs. (San Marcos HS)
Lazaro Rojas: Freshman, Forward/Center, 6-11, 235 lbs. (Score Academy)
Bryson Williams: Freshman, Forward, 6-8, 225 lbs. (Roosevelt HS)

Fresno State also gets even more size and depth in its frontcourt with the addition of 6-8 freshman forward Nate Grimes, who redshirted last season.

Senior forward Cullen Russo was also named the league's "Most Underrated Player." Russo, a 2015-16 honorable mention All-Mountain West selection last season, averaged 7.8 points, six rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while playing in 34 games with 15 starts as the 'Dogs won nine straight games en route to winning the conference championship.

The Bulldogs start the season on Nov. 11 versus UTSA to tip off a three-game season-opening homestand at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State men's basketball season tickets are currently on sale at www.GoBulldogs.com, the Bulldog Ticket Office at the northeast corner of the Save Mart Center or by calling 559-278-DOGS. Season ticket packages start at $149.

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.