DENVER - The Western Athletic Conference announced its men's basketball preseason polls and all-WAC teams Tuesday with the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior men's basketball team picked to finish fourth by both the coaches and media.
 
Nevada was selected as the preseason favorite by the coaches, while Utah State was picked as the top team by the media. Wolf Pack sophomore guard Devonte Burton was tabbed the league's preseason Player of the Year by the coaches, while Utah State senior guard Brockeith Pane earned the honor from the media.
 
UH tallied 32 points in the coaches' poll as Nevada paced the league with 46 points and five first-place votes. In the media poll, UH received 126 points, including three first-place votes. Defending regular-season and tournament champion Utah State garnered 174 points and 13 of the 24 first-place votes by the media.
 
A trio of Rainbow Warriors also received preseason recognition. Zane Johnson earned a spot on both the coaches and media's preseason all-WAC first teams. Johnson, who led the team in scoring last year at 15.8 ppg, was an all-WAC newcomer last year. Junior post player Vander Joaquim was named to the coaches' preseason first team. The native of Luanda, Angola, averaged 11.9 ppg and team-high 9.1 rpg in league play last year. Meanwhile, freshman guard Shaquille Stokes was slotted as the media's Preseason Newcomer of the Year. The Harlem native earned New York City Player of the Year honors following his senior year at Lincoln High School.
 
Hawai'i finished the 2010-11 WAC regular-season in a tie for fifth place with an 8-8 mark. UH, under the direction of second-year head coach Gib Arnold, returns six players from last year's squad and welcomes six newcomers. Three players who redshirted last year will also be able to suit up for UH this season.
 
The Rainbow Warriors officially began fall practice Friday, Oct. 14 and will host its annual  'Ohana Hoopfest this Friday, Oct. 21, at the Stan Sheriff Center following the women's volleyball match versus Utah State. The free event will include team introductions, celebrity games and an autograph session. UH plays an exhibition games versus Hawai'i Pacific (Nov. 11), before opening the regular season versus Cal State Northridge on Nov. 14.
 
 
Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Nevada (5)…………..46
2. New Mexico State…..41
3. Utah State (3)……….38
4. Hawai'i ……………...32
5. Idaho………………. .24
6. Fresno State………..18
7. San Jose State……..14
8. Louisiana Tech…….11
 
Preseason All-WAC Coaches Teams
First Team
Deonte Burton, So., G, Nevada
Vander Joaquim, Jr., C, Hawaii
Zane Johnson, Sr., G, Hawaii
Wendell McKines, Sr., F, New Mexico State
Brockeith Pane, Sr., G, Utah State
 
Second Team
Kyle Barone, Jr., C, Idaho
Dario Hunt, Sr., F, Nevada
Hernst Laroche, Sr., G, New Mexico State
Brady Jardine, Sr., F, Utah State
Malik Story, Jr., G, Nevada
 
Coaches Preseason Player of the Year: Deonte Burton, So., G, Nevada
 
Media Preseason Poll Results
1. Utah State (13)………. .174
2. Nevada (5)………….. ...162
3. New Mexico State (3)…150
4. Hawai'i (3)……………...126
5. Idaho………………. …...89
6. San Jose State…………66
7. Fresno State………........59
8. Louisiana Tech………...38
 
Media Preseason All-WAC Team
Deonte Burton, So., G, Nevada
Dario Hunt, Sr., F, Nevada
Zane Johnson, Sr., G, Hawaii
Wendell McKines, Sr., F, New Mexico State
Brockeith Pane, Sr., G, Utah State
 
Media Preseason Player of the Year: Brockeith Pane, Sr., G, Utah State
Media Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Shaquille Stokes, Fr., G, Hawaii