I just found the early top 10 rankings for the national D-2 University and like D-1 Early Ranking it looks like D-2 college basketball in the West is also weak!
I know that its very early to rank basketball teams but, I have noticed at Antelope Valley College(and other Cal JUCO’s) that many of the top JUCO D-2 level players are being missed by west coast D-2 universities.
Instead they are getting full ride scholarships at D-2 power houses east of the Mississippi. Not only are these Cal JUCO transfers making the east D-2 teams stronger(usually play year after year in national NCAA Tournament), but after they graduate they go on to play professional basketball! Just using AVC as an example;
- Reggie Murphy, Henderson State University, European Pro
- Shelton Boykin, Angelo State University, South American Pro
- Vadal Faniel, Texas A and M International, European Pro
A bit of good news on the Horizon for the west coast D-2 teams? A increasingly large number of West D-2 teams(along with D-1 U’s) are recruiting often and aggressively at AVC this year.
Here is Sporting News top 10 D-2 ranking for 2016-17.
Sporting News
2016-17 Preseason Poll
1. West Liberty(West Virginia)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas(New York)
3. Alaska- Anchorage(Alaska)
4. Arkansas – Fort Smith(Arkansas)
5. Angelo State(Texas)
6. Queens University(North Carolina)
7. Colorado School of the Mines(Colorado)
8. Saginaw Valley State(Michigan)
9. West Texas A&M(Texas)
10. St. Cloud Stat(Minnesota)
