LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team was picked as the preseason favorite in the Mountain West on Wednesday as the conference announced its preseason poll and All-Mountain West Team in conjunction with the league’s annual media day. Sophomore Jake Hall was named Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year, while fellow sophomore guard Uriah Tenette joined Hall on the 10-man Preseason All-Mountain West Team.
The Lobos edged Grand Canyon by one point to earn top spot in the conference projected order of finish, although the Lopes had one more first-place vote (10-9). It marks the first time since 2013-14 that New Mexico was picked as the preseason favorite in the Mountain West. Nevada was picked third, UNLV was fourth and Wyoming rounded out the top five in the poll. Hawai’i, San Jose State, UC Davis, UTEP and Air Force rounded out the projected order of finish.
Hall becomes the third Lobo to be named Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year, joining Ruben Douglas in 2002-03 and JR Giddens in 2007-08. The 2025-26 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, he became just the third freshman in conference history to be named first-team All-Mountain West, joining Kahwi Leonard of San Diego State and Anthony Bennett of UNLV. Hall averaged 16.4 points per game, becoming the first Mountain West freshman to ever have a 600-point season (605 pts). His 117 3-pointers set a UNM single-season record and are the fourth-most ever by a Division I freshman. Hall scored in double figures in 30 games, including 11 20-point games, highlighted by a UNM freshman single-game record 32 points at Utah State.
Tenette was named to the preseason All-Mountain West Team after averaging 10.6 points and 2.9 assists per game as a freshman. His 10.6 scoring average ranked second nationally last season among freshmen under 6-0 tall. He scored double figures in 23 games, including a season-high 20 points vs. Sam Houston in the first round of the NIT.
Joining Hall and Tenette on the preseason All-Mountain West Team were Dylan Darling, Efe Demirel, Jaden Henley and Makaih Williams of Grand Canyon, Elijah Price and Vaughn Weems of Nevada, Tyrin Jones and AJ Storr of UNLV and Naz Meyer of Wyoming. Darling was the pick for preseason Newcomer of the Year and Jackson Kiss of UNLV was the preseason Freshman of the Year.
The Lobos will begin the preseason on Sunday as they visit Oklahoma State for an exhibition. Game time in Stillwater is 1 p.m. MT and the game will air on the Lobo Radio Network. New Mexico will host a pair of exhibitions at The Pit – Powered by Nusenda as part of the Power Ford Tip-Off Series. The Lobos host Washington State on Oct. 18 and Arizona State on Oct. 25, with both games tipping at 2 p.m. and airing on MW+.
2026-27 Lobo Men’s Basketball season tickets are on sale now at GoLobos.com/tickets.
Lobos Tabbed Mountain West Preseason Favorite
