Lets see. Returners (7): Fagbemi, Sevilla, Stokes, Rawlins, Esso-Essi, Chappell, and Suljanovic. HS (1): Caspian Jones. Transfers (4): Veniamin Abosi, Clarence Massamba, Julian Margrave, and Nnadalu Noble. Assuming all are on some kind of scholly, that's 12 (unless I missed someone). Fully funded is up to 15. I doubt we get that high, but it does feel like we could get one more and maybe a walk on. And for those who care about these things, size wise we go 2x6'10, 1x6'9", 2x6'8", 2x6'6", 3x6'5", 1x6'1", 1x6'0". Doesn't really tell us much about the true size of the team as it will all depend on who earns playing time.

This roster has no chance. Tom Abatemarco is on staff? What a clown show. The only interesting thing to watch will be at what point they pull the plug on Les.

I’ll bite my words if I’m wrong, but I really don’t think Les is going to work with this move to the MW. I believe it’s going to be a difficult transition anyways and don’t see a stale formula being the thing that helps bring us to the next level. I have personal gripes with how he seems to talk to players and his general demeanor, but I think he’s overall been a good coach, assuming good dude, but it feels like it’s time to pass the torch imo.

Now I can also see a scenario where Les is the exact coach we need to continue providing a sense of consistency in perspective and staffing in a big move, but even then I don’t see this staff (the longest continuously tenured unit) making sense in our new conference long term.

I've noticed a couple of things when looking for recruiting news by the Aggies. Verbalcommits.com is slow to update the changes in affiliation in the Big West and the Mountain West. They are now showing Sac State and Cal Baptist recruiting in the Big West but are still showing Hawaii and the Aggies in the BW also.

When looking at the MW, they are still showing Fresno State and others who are moving to the PAC12 and they have not added the Aggies or Hawaii to that conference yet. I have also noticed that the teams in the MW are making offers to lots of HS juniors and younger players even an occasional freshman. I imagine that we'll have to adapt to that strategy as well and begin creating relationships with younger HS players and their families in order to keep pace the other schools in the conference. This will most certainly take more time and money for us to begin doing the same to help stay competitive recruiting in the MW.

https://www.verbalcommits.com/conferences/mountain-west

This sports writer is picking the Ags to finish in 7th place in the MW this season:

7. UC Davis

Last season: 19-14, 11-9 (tied for sixth place in Big West)

2026-27 outlook: The Aggies have been a solid Big West team in recent seasons, going 72-58 overall and 45-38 in the Big West the last four years. But things will be more challenging in the MW. UC Davis has not financially invested in basketball at a high level, which is required in the new NIL era. The Aggies retained Connor Sevilla (13.3 ppg, 39.9 3PT%), Brayden Fagbemi (7.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 spg), Jalen Stokes (4.7 ppg), Isaiah Chappell (8.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and Omer Suljanovic (5.6 ppg) this offseason, which gives the team five solid players. UC Davis also added Tennessee transfer Clarence Massamba, a former four-star recruit. But depth and size are an issue for coach Jim Les, who will get the most out of his talent but is likely to be at a talent deficit as the Aggies transition to the MW.

Whole article here: https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/offseason-mountain-west-basketball-power-rankings-new-hope-with-powers-off-to-the-pac-12