The Mountain West Conference has seen San Diego State become the figurehead of the conference in recent years, very comparable to what Villanova is doing 2,600 miles away within the Big East. While the Aztecs head into the 2015-2016 campaign as the perceived favorites again, Boise State and Fresno State have the talent and returning experience on hand to cause some damage up top. Beyond this year, it would seem like Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah State are all bringing the needed requisites to compete for a league title, something that can only better the conference.

The end all and be all within the conference whenever it comes to bringing talent onto one’s campus these past few years has been UNLV. This year is a similar story as the Runnin’ Rebels landed the top overall prospect in Justin Jackson. The 6-foot-7 forward is the best NBA prospect as well where he should be a leader on the stat sheet from day one on campus in Vegas.

The buck doesn’t just stop with Jackson as the MWC squad brings in three others from all across the nation. Christian Vital, a 6-foot-2 guard from New York, brings a big time jump shot and some passion to the off guard spot. Carlos Johnson is built like a linebacker at 6-foot-5, can score the ball on hard drives to the basket, and is the perfect, small-ball 4-man. Lastly, Jaylen Fisher is a quality facilitator in the backcourt with good size at 6-foot-2 where the native of Memphis is a half-court orchestrator who should fit in immediately out in the desert.

In the 2016 class, UNLV signed prospects from Canada, New York, Arizona, and Tennessee; that is pretty impressive. The Rebels are not a national brand as much as Duke, UCLA, Arizona, and Kentucky, but they were able to nab four top-200 recruits from all across the continent.

It has been a while since things have been running on all cylinders in Reno, Nevada, but with the hiring of Eric Musselman, a coach with an NBA pedigree, the new head man at the University of Nevada has put together quite the three-man class.

Devearl Ramsey is as speedy as they come and the top-150 recruit selected the Wolfpack over a few Pac 12 programs; his defense will be felt from day one and don’t be surprised to see the California native be an all-conference guy early in his career. Alongside him is a quality, long-term piece with Kenneth Wooten. The 6-foot-8 forward can practically guard the 2-5 on the floor and should work well in high-tempo affairs. Lastly, Josh Hall joins the fray after originally committing to Rice and the 6-foot-6 wing can play point in a pinch and is the final touch in the early signing period for what looks to be a top-40 recruiting class nationally.

Tim Duryea takes over for long-time head coach Stew Morrell at Utah State and the former assistant landed quite the combo guard with Koby McEwen. Two others have joined him in the 2016 class but by selecting the Aggies over Wake Forest and Georgia Tech, the top-150 Canadian recruit should be an impact guy immediately in Logan.

Times haven’t been as good at New Mexico lately but the 2016 class brings some versatility and talent to Albuquerque as Damien Jefferson headlines the class. A native of Indiana, the cross-country recruit brings great toughness, slashing skills, and versatility at the small forward spot and should be a guy that gives solid minutes from the onset of his career for Craig Neal’s crew.

Irshad Hunte is the gem of Wyoming’s class as the long and mobile big man is far from a finished product but he is an ideal rim runner and someone who controls his area down low by way of his rebounding abilities and shot blocking skills.

Two programs fighting for conference supremacy with potential player of the year candidates set to graduate next spring will hope that its signees in the early period can offset the loss next year. Boise State and Fresno State each sign two respectively and with the looming exiles of Anthony Drmic and Marvelle Harris, each MWC squad hopes that Alex Hobbs to Boise, and Johnny McWilliams to Fresno, can each provide quality production within their own right come next winter.

The depth headed to the Mountain West is pretty solid. We haven’t even touched on San Diego State, who has just one recruit signed in Jalen McDaniels. However, no one might have a better upside than the 6-foot-8 forward from the state of Washington. The senior forward is an ideal fit due to his long body, defensive mix and match abilities, and face-up skills all the way out to the perimeter.

Air Force brings in a seven person class, a group of individuals that should provide broad contributions during their time in Fort Collins and San Jose State welcomes in three, where they hope the incoming talent can help them escape the doldrums of the MWC.

Corey Evans’ take: UNLV is always going to recruit at a high level as they welcome in another top-25 recruiting class to Vegas. However, it is the incoming talent to its in-state brethren in the University of Nevada that has people talking. First year head coach Eric Musselman outmuscled a bevy of high-major programs for its future star point guard Devearl Ramsey, while also swooping in for excellent, long-term and versatile pieces with Josh Hall and Kenneth Wooten. It is this three-man class that will put the Wolfpack back on solid ground and reach success similar to that during the days of when Mark Fox was roaming the sidelines in Reno.

Biggest recruiting story: Not only is UNLV bringing in top-150 talent, but New Mexico, Nevada, Utah State, and San Diego State brought in guys that said no to several power conference programs and because of it, should bring well-needed star power to the MWC in the years ahead.

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TEAM RANKINGS

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

MOUNTAIN WEST CLASS SUPERLATIVES