View source for Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year

{{infobox sports award
| name        = WAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
| image       = Western Athletic Conference logo, no tagline.svg
| imagesize   = 175px
| caption     =
| description = the most outstanding basketball player in the [[Western Athletic Conference]]
| presenter   =
| country     = United States
| location    =
| year        = 1981
| holder      = [[Tyon Grant-Foster]], [[2023–24 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team|Grand Canyon]]
}}
The '''Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year''' is an award given to the [[Western Athletic Conference]]'s (WAC) most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1980–81 season. [[Keith Van Horn]] of [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]] and [[Nick Fazekas]] of [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]] are the only players to have won the award three times. Three other players—[[Michael Cage]], [[Josh Grant (basketball)|Josh Grant]] and [[Melvin Ely]]—have won the award twice. [[Danny Ainge]], the first ever WAC Player of the Year, was also the [[John R. Wooden Award]] winner in 1980–81.
Utah has the most all-time winners with seven. There have been four ties in the award's history, most notably in 1982–83 when there was a three-way tie. Due mainly to [[2010–2013 Western Athletic Conference realignment|major membership turnover]] from 2010 to 2014 and [[2021–2024 NCAA conference realignment#Conference USA|further turnover in the early 2020s]], only three current WAC members ([[California Baptist Lancers men's basketball|California Baptist]], [[Utah Valley Wolverines men's basketball|Utah Valley]], and [[Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball|Grand Canyon]]) have had a winner.
==Key==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background-color:#CFECEC;" align="center" | †
| Co-Players of the Year
|-
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD;" align="center" |*
| Awarded a national player of the year award: <br>[[UPI College Basketball Player of the Year]] (1954–55 to 1995–96)<br> [[Naismith College Player of the Year]] (1968–69 to present)<br> [[John R. Wooden Award]] (1976–77 to present)
|-
| Player (X)
| Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the WAC Player of the Year award at that point
|}
==Winners==
{{Multiple image
| header =
| align = right
| direction =
| total_width = 320
| perrow = 2/2
| image1 = Danny Ainge BYU.jpg
| caption1 = [[Danny Ainge]], BYU, 1981
| image2 = Michael Cage 1982–83.png
| caption2 = [[Michael Cage]], San Diego State, 1983 and 1984
| image3 = Michael Smith calls 2011 Pacers-Clippers game.jpg
| caption3 = [[Michael Smith (basketball, born 1965)|Michael Smith]], BYU, 1988
| image4 = 20150902 Quest Multisport clinic Tim Hardaway (1).JPG
| caption4 = [[Tim Hardaway]], UTEP, 1989
}}
{{Multiple image
| header =
| align = right
| direction =
| total_width = 320
| perrow = 2/2
| image1 = Keith Van Horn.jpg
| caption1 = [[Keith Van Horn]], Utah, 1995 through 1997
| image2 = Anthony Carter cropped.jpg
| caption2 = [[Anthony Carter (basketball)|Anthony Carter]], Hawaii, 1997
| image3 = Andre Miller Wizards.jpg
| caption3 = [[Andre Miller]], Utah, 1999
| image4 = Quinton Ross.jpg
| caption4 = [[Quinton Ross]], SMU, 2003
}}
{{Multiple image
| header =
| align = right
| direction =
| total_width = 320
| perrow = 2/2
| image1 = Kirk Snyder 2011-03-26 (3).JPG
| caption1 = [[Kirk Snyder]], Nevada, 2004
| image2 = Fazekas in Akron CIMG9120 cropped.jpg
| caption2 = [[Nick Fazekas]], Nevada, 2005 through 2007
| image3 = Jaycee Carroll 20 Real Madrid Baloncesto Euroleague 20171012 (2) (cropped).jpg
| caption3 = [[Jaycee Carroll]], Utah State, 2008
| image4 = Gary Wilkinson Breakers.jpg
| caption4 = [[Gary Wilkinson (basketball)|Gary Wilkinson]], Utah State, 2009
}}
{{Multiple image
| header =
| align = right
| direction =
| total_width = 320
| perrow = 2/2
| image1 = Luke Babbitt (30303258314).jpg
| caption1 = [[Luke Babbitt]], Nevada, 2010
| image2 = Kyle Barone (cropped).jpg
| caption2 = [[Kyle Barone]], Idaho, 2013
| image3 = Daniel Mullings.jpg
| caption3 = [[Daniel Mullings]], New Mexico State, 2014
| image4 = Pascal Siakam 2018.jpg
| caption4 = [[Pascal Siakam]], New Mexico State, 2016
}}
{{Multiple image
| header =
| align = right
| direction =
| total_width = 320
| perrow = 2/2
| image1 = Jemerrio Jones.jpg
| caption1 = [[Jemerrio Jones]], New Mexico State, 2018
| image2 = Jake Toolson 122119 Postgame.jpg
| caption2 = [[Jake Toolson]], Utah Valley, 2019
| image3 =
| caption3 =
| image4 =
| caption4 =
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Season
! Player
! School
! Position
! Class
! class="unsortable" | Reference
|-
| [[1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1980–81]]
| align="center" style="background-color:#FFE6BD;" | {{sortname|Danny|Ainge}}*
| [[BYU Cougars men's basketball|BYU]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Ainge, Brandenburg Claim 1980–81 WAC Hoop Honors |url=https://newspapers.com/image/612817412 |newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |location=[[Salt Lake City, Utah]] |date=March 26, 1981 |page= 79|via =[[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1981–82]]
| {{sortname|Bill|Garnett}}
| [[Wyoming Cowboys basketball|Wyoming]]<!--Wyoming women are Cowgirls.-->
| [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =Landen| first =Bill| title=WAC honors UW player, coach |url=https://newspapers.com/image/446419078 |newspaper=[[Casper Star-Tribune]] |location=[[Casper, Wyoming]] |date=March 17, 1982 |page= 27|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#CFECEC;" rowspan=3| [[1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1982–83]]<sup>†</sup>
| {{sortname|Michael|Cage}}
| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|San Diego State]]
| [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref name=CageDurrantMannion>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Cage, Mannion, Durrant tie for MVP |url=https://newspapers.com/image/784648772 |newspaper=[[The Albuquerque Tribune]] |location=[[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] |date=March 15, 1983 |page= 19|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Devin|Durrant}}
| [[BYU Cougars men's basketball|BYU]]
| [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref name=CageDurrantMannion/>
|-
| {{sortname|Pace|Mannion}}
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref name=CageDurrantMannion/>
|-
| [[1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1983–84]]
| {{sortname|Michael|Cage}} (2)
| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|San Diego State]]
| [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=San Diego State's Cage Earns WAC Player of Year Honors |url=https://newspapers.com/image/400805347 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |location=[[Los Angeles, California]] |date=March 13, 1984 |page= 33|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1984–85]]
| {{sortname|Timo|Saarelainen}}
| [[BYU Cougars men's basketball|BYU]]
| [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Timo WAC Player of the Year |url=https://newspapers.com/image/469349068 |newspaper=[[Daily Herald (Utah)|Daily Herald]] |location=[[Provo, Utah]] |date=March 4, 1985 |page= 1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1985–86]]
| {{sortname|Anthony|Watson|dab=basketball}}
| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|San Diego State]]
| [[Forward (basketball)|F]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=SDSU's Watson wins WAC player of year |url=https://newspapers.com/image/569952085 |newspaper=[[Daily Times-Advocate|Times-Advocate]] |location=[[Escondido, California]] |date=March 11, 1986 |page= 21|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1986–87]]
| {{sortname|Fennis|Dembo}}
| [[Wyoming Cowboys basketball|Wyoming]]<!--Wyoming women are Cowgirls.-->
| [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =Durband| first =Dennis| title=Cowboys take best shot at Virginia tonight |url=https://newspapers.com/image/348574077 |newspaper=Casper Star-Tribune |location=Casper, Wyoming |date=March 12, 1987 |page= 24|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1987–88]]
| {{sortname|Michael|Smith|dab=basketball, born 1965}}
| [[BYU Cougars men's basketball|BYU]]
| [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =Queenan| first =Bob| title=Awards always a part of league tournament time |url=https://newspapers.com/image/764867790 |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Post]] |location=[[Cincinnati, Ohio]] |date=March 7, 1988 |page= 20|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1988–89]]
| {{sortname|Tim|Hardaway}}
| [[UTEP Miners men's basketball|UTEP]]
| [[Point guard|PG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =Eads| first =Derry| title=Hardaway eyes road to the pros |url=https://newspapers.com/image/799347601 |newspaper=[[El Paso Herald-Post]] |location=[[El Paso, Texas]] |date=March 15, 1989 |page= 17|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1989–90]]
| {{sortname|Mike|Mitchell|dab=basketball, born 1967}}
| [[Colorado State Rams men's basketball|Colorado State]]
| [[Forward (basketball)|F]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Roll call: Colorado State |url=https://newspapers.com/image/230980209 |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |location=[[Orlando, Florida]] |date=March 13, 1990 |page= 18|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1990–91 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1990–91]]
| {{sortname|Josh|Grant|Josh Grant (basketball)}}
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Western Athletic Conference honors |url=https://newspapers.com/image/264926437 |newspaper=[[The Honolulu Advertiser]] |location=[[Honolulu|Honolulu, Hawaii]] |date=March 5, 1991 |page= 21|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1991–92 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1991–92]]
| {{sortname|Reggie|Slater}}
| [[Wyoming Cowboys basketball|Wyoming]]<!--Wyoming women are Cowgirls.-->
| [[Forward (basketball)|F]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=New Mexico (3) vs. Wyoming (6) |url=https://newspapers.com/image/430277848 |newspaper=[[Daily Utah Chronicle]] |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |date=March 12, 1992 |page= 9|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1992–93]]
| {{sortname|Josh|Grant|Josh Grant (basketball)}} (2)
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Utah college reports |url=https://newspapers.com/image/613881451 |newspaper=Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |date=March 26, 1993 |page= 54|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1993–94 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1993–94]]
| {{sortname|Greg|Brown|dab=basketball, born 1972}}
| [[New Mexico Lobos men's basketball|New Mexico]]
| [[Point guard|PG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Lobos' Brown is WAC's top player |url=https://newspapers.com/image/568111263 |newspaper=[[South Idaho Press]] |location=[[Burley, Idaho]] |date=March 8, 1994 |page= 6|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1994–95 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1994–95]]
| {{sortname|Keith|Van Horn}}
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]] / [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}
| <ref name=VanHorn>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Utah's Van Horn nabs WAC awards |url=https://newspapers.com/image/411983001 |newspaper=[[Billings Gazette]] |location=[[Billings, Montana]] |date=March 3, 1997 |page= 15|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1995–96]]
| {{sortname|Keith|Van Horn}} (2)
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]] / [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref name=VanHorn/>
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#CFECEC;" rowspan=2| [[1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1996–97]]<sup>†</sup>
| {{sortname|Anthony|Carter|dab=basketball}}
| [[Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball|Hawaii]]<!--Hawaii women are Rainbow Wahine.-->
| [[Point guard|PG]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref name=VanHorn/>
|-
| {{sortname|Keith|Van Horn}} (3)
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]] / [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref name=VanHorn/>
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#CFECEC;" rowspan=2| [[1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1997–98]]<sup>†</sup>
| {{sortname|Lee|Nailon}}
| [[TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball|TCU]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref name=NailonShields>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=After 3 Years, Utah Relinquishes WAC Player of the Year Award |url=https://newspapers.com/image/612632494 |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |date=March 2, 1998 |page= 22|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Clayton|Shields}}
| [[New Mexico Lobos men's basketball|New Mexico]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]] / [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref name=NailonShields/>
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#CFECEC;" rowspan=2| [[1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1998–99]]<sup>†</sup>
| {{sortname|Andre|Miller}}
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
| [[Point guard|PG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref name=MillerSasser>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Utah's Miller, SMU's Sasser named WAC's top players |url=https://newspapers.com/image/266674275 |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |date=March 1, 1999 |page= 22|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Jeryl|Sasser}}
| [[SMU Mustangs men's basketball|SMU]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}
| <ref name=MillerSasser/>
|-
| [[1999–2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1999–00]]
| {{sortname|Courtney|Alexander}}
| [[Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball|Fresno State]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=March Madness: Courtney Alexander |url=https://newspapers.com/image/708531697 |newspaper=[[The Fresno Bee]] |location=[[Fresno, California]] |date=March 16, 2000 |page= 64|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2000–01]]
| {{sortname|Melvin|Ely}}
| [[Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball|Fresno State]]
| [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref name=Ely>{{cite news|last =Prisbell| first =Eric| title=Ely stands above all, again |url=https://newspapers.com/image/658447011 |newspaper=The Fresno Bee |location=Fresno, California |date=March 4, 2002 |page= D1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2001–02]]
| {{sortname|Melvin|Ely}} (2)
| [[Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball|Fresno State]]
| [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref name=Ely/>
|-
| [[2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2002–03]]
| {{sortname|Quinton|Ross}}
| [[SMU Mustangs men's basketball|SMU]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Meeking tabbed for WAC team |url=https://newspapers.com/image/226057180 |newspaper=The News-Star |location=[[Monroe, Louisiana]] |date=March 10, 2003 |page= 20|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2003–04]]
| {{sortname|Kirk|Snyder}}
| [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]] / [[Small forward|SF]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Snyder lives up to hype |url=https://newspapers.com/image/273502216 |newspaper=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |date=March 8, 2004 |page= 17|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2004–05]]
| {{sortname|Nick|Fazekas}}
| [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]] / [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}
| <ref name=Fazekas>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Kemp leads Nevada |url=https://newspapers.com/image/647456775 |newspaper=[[The Sacramento Bee]] |location=[[Sacramento, California]] |date=March 17, 2007 |page= C8|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2005–06]]
| {{sortname|Nick|Fazekas}} (2)
| [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]] / [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref name=Fazekas/>
|-
| [[2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2006–07]]
| {{sortname|Nick|Fazekas}} (3)
| [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]] / [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref name=Fazekas/>
|-
| [[2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2007–08]]
| {{sortname|Jaycee|Carroll}}
| [[Utah State Aggies men's basketball|Utah State]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Five Players to Watch |url=https://newspapers.com/image/150429380 |newspaper=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]] |location=[[Reno, Nevada]] |date=March 11, 2008 |page= 63|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2008–09]]
| {{sortname|Gary|Wilkinson|dab=basketball}}
| [[Utah State Aggies men's basketball|Utah State]]
| [[Forward (basketball)|F]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Awards / Regular-season champ represented WAC well |url=https://newspapers.com/image/149652071 |newspaper=Reno Gazette-Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |date=March 9, 2009 |page= 22|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2009–10]]
| {{sortname|Luke|Babbitt}}
| [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=WAC All-Conference |url=https://newspapers.com/image/394686450 |newspaper=[[Times-News (Idaho)|Times-News]] |location=[[Twin Falls, Idaho]] |date=March 9, 2010 |page= 27|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2010–11]]
| {{sortname|Tai|Wesley}}
| [[Utah State Aggies men's basketball|Utah State]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=All-WAC Teams |url=https://newspapers.com/image/149713126 |newspaper=Reno Gazette-Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |date=March 7, 2011 |page= 21|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2011–12]]
| {{sortname|Deonte|Burton|dab=basketball, born 1991}}
| [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]]
| [[Point guard|PG]]
| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=2011–12 WAC Men's Postseason Award Winners |url=https://newspapers.com/image/206804358 |newspaper=[[Albuquerque Journal]] |location=Albuquerque, New Mexico |date=March 6, 2012 |page= 30|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2012–13]]
| {{sortname|Kyle|Barone}}
| [[Idaho Vandals men's basketball|Idaho]]
| [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=One goal down, one to go for senior star |url=https://newspapers.com/image/691865397 |newspaper=[[Idaho Statesman]] |location=[[Boise, Idaho]] |date=March 13, 2013 |page= 1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2013–14]]
| {{sortname|Daniel|Mullings}}
| [[New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball|New Mexico State]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=WAC Awards |url=https://newspapers.com/image/692094845 |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=March 11, 2014 |page= 4|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2014–15]]
| {{sortname|Martez|Harrison}}
| [[Kansas City Roos men's basketball|Kansas City]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]] / [[Point guard|PG]]
| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =Kerkhoff| first =Blair| title=UMKC's Harrison is honored |url=https://newspapers.com/image/656134952 |newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]] |location=[[Kansas City, Missouri]] |date=March 11, 2015 |page= B5|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2015–16]]
| {{sortname|Pascal|Siakam}}
| [[New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball|New Mexico State]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Aggie Siakam named WAC's player of the year |url=https://newspapers.com/image/206609452 |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |location=Albuquerque, New Mexico |date=March 9, 2016 |page= 28|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2016–17]]
| {{sortname|Ian|Baker|dab=basketball}}
| [[New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball|New Mexico State]]
| [[Point guard|PG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=NMSU's Baker named WAC POY |url=https://newspapers.com/image/998118899 |newspaper=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]] |location=[[Las Cruces, New Mexico]] |date=March 8, 2017 |page= B1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2017–18]]
| {{sortname|Jemerrio|Jones}}
| [[New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball|New Mexico State]]
| [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=NMSU's Jemerrio Jones named WAC Player of Year |url=https://newspapers.com/image/998132220 |newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News |location=Las Cruces, New Mexico |date=March 7, 2018 |page= B1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2018–19]]
| {{sortname|Jake|Toolson}}
| [[Utah Valley Wolverines men's basketball|Utah Valley]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=GCU's Finke named first-team All-WAC |url=https://newspapers.com/image/591368391 |newspaper=[[The Arizona Republic]] |location=[[Phoenix, Arizona]] |date=March 13, 2019 |page= B3|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2019–20]]
| {{sortname|Milan|Acquaah}}
| [[California Baptist Lancers men's basketball|California Baptist]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =Martinez| first =Justin| title=WAC honors athletes from NMSU |url=https://newspapers.com/image/998377566 |newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News |location=Las Cruces, New Mexico |date=March 11, 2020 |page= B3|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2020–21]]
| {{sortname|Fardaws|Aimaq}}
| [[Utah Valley Wolverines men's basketball|Utah Valley]]
| [[Center (basketball)|C]]
| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =Martinez| first =Justin| title=Rice, Henry, McCants earn All-WAC honors for NMSU |url=https://newspapers.com/image/754608141 |newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News |location=Las Cruces, New Mexico |date=March 10, 2021 |page= B1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2021–22]]
| {{sortname|Teddy|Allen|dab=basketball}}
| [[New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball|New Mexico State]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|3|Junior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =Keefe| first =Gavin| title=It's another early exit for UConn |url=https://newspapers.com/image/984293030 |newspaper=[[The Day (New London)|The Day]] |location=[[New London, Connecticut]] |date=March 18, 2022 |page= D1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2022–23]]
| {{sortname|Qua|Grant}}
| [[Sam Houston Bearkats men's basketball|Sam Houston]]
| [[Point guard|PG]]
| {{sort|4|Senior}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Hicks, Bogues earn all-WAC basketball honors |url=https://newspapers.com/image/1013443424 |newspaper=[[Hood County News]] |location=[[Hood County, Texas]] |date=March 15, 2023 |page= A5|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = December 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2023–24]]
| {{sortname|Tyon|Grant-Foster}}
| [[Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball|Grand Canyon]]
| [[Shooting guard|SG]]
| {{sort|5|Graduate}}
| <ref>{{cite news|last =| first =| title=Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1051690334 |newspaper=[[Arizona Daily Star]] |location=[[Tucson, Arizona]] |date=March 21, 2024 |page= B15|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = June 24, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|}
==Winners by school==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! School (year joined)
! Winners
! Years
|- align="center"
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]] (1962){{efn|group=a|name=MW1999|BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah and Wyoming all left in 1999 to become charter members of the [[Mountain West Conference]] (MW). Of these schools:
* BYU and Utah are now in the [[Big 12 Conference]].
* Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, and Wyoming remain in the MW. Colorado State and San Diego State will leave the MW for the [[Pac-12 Conference]] in 2026.}}
| 7
| align="left" | 1983<sup>†</sup>, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997<sup>†</sup>, 1999<sup>†</sup>
|- align="center"
| [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]] (2000){{efn|group=a|name=MW2012|Nevada and Fresno State left for the MW in 2012. Fresno State will leave the MW for the Pac-12 in 2026.}}
| 6
| align="left" | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012
|- align="center"
| [[New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball|New Mexico State]] (2005){{efn|group=a|name=CUSA23|New Mexico State and Sam Houston left for Conference USA in 2023.}}
| 5
| align="left" | 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022
|- align="center"
| [[BYU Cougars men's basketball|BYU]] (1962){{efn|group=a|name=MW1999}}
| 4
| align="left" | 1981, 1983<sup>†</sup>, 1985, 1988
|- align=center
| [[Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball|Fresno State]] (1992){{efn|group=a|name=MW2012}}
| 3
| align="left" | 2000, 2001, 2002
|- align="center"
| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|San Diego State]] (1978){{efn|group=a|name=MW1999}}
| 3
| align="left" | 1983<sup>†</sup>, 1984, 1986
|- align=center
| [[Utah State Aggies men's basketball|Utah State]] (2005){{efn|group=a|name=WAC2013|Seven schools left the WAC for other conferences in 2013:
* Denver joined [[Summit League|The Summit League]] after only one year in the WAC.
* Louisiana Tech and UTSA joined [[Conference USA]] (CUSA), the latter after spending only one year in the WAC.
* San Jose State and Utah State joined the MW. Utah State will leave the MW for the Pac-12 in 2026.
* Texas State and UT Arlington joined the [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] after only one year in the WAC.
** UT Arlington rejoined the WAC in 2022.}}
| 3
| align="left" | 2008, 2009, 2011
|- align="center"
| [[Wyoming Cowboys basketball|Wyoming]]<!--All Wyoming women's teams are Cowgirls.--> (1962){{efn|group=a|name=MW1999}}
| 3
| align="left" | 1982, 1987, 1992
|- align="center"
| [[New Mexico Lobos men's basketball|New Mexico]] (1962){{efn|group=a|name=MW1999}}
| 2
| align="left" | 1994, 1998<sup>†</sup>
|- align=center
| [[SMU Mustangs men's basketball|SMU]] (1996){{efn|group=a|name=CUSA2005|SMU and UTEP both left in 2005 to join CUSA. SMU joined the [[American Athletic Conference]] in 2013 and moved to the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] in 2024. UTEP remains in CUSA, but will join the MW in 2026.}}
| 2
| align="left" | 1999<sup>†</sup>, 2003
|- align=center
| [[Utah Valley Wolverines men's basketball|Utah Valley]] (2013)
| 2
| align="left" | 2019, 2021
|- align=center
| [[California Baptist Lancers men's basketball|California Baptist]] (2018)
| 1
| align="left" | 2020
|- align=center
| [[Colorado State Rams men's basketball|Colorado State]] (1967){{efn|group=a|name=MW1999}}
| 1
| align="left" | 1990
|- align=center
| [[Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball|Grand Canyon]] (2013){{efn|group=a|Grand Canyon will leave for the MW no later than 2026.}}
| 1
| align="left" | 2024
|- align=center
| [[Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball|Hawaiʻi]]<!--"Men's" not necessary... all Hawaii women's teams are "Rainbow Wahine".--> (1979){{efn|group=a|Hawaiʻi left for the Big West in 2012, and will join [[Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football|its football team]] in the MW in 2026.}}
| 1
| align="left" | 1997
|- align=center
| [[Idaho Vandals men's basketball|Idaho]] (2005){{efn|group=a|Idaho left the WAC in 2014 for the [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]].}}
| 1
| align="left" | 2013
|- align=center
| [[Kansas City Roos men's basketball|Kansas City]] (2013){{efn|group=a|The University of Missouri–Kansas City, which left the WAC after the 2019–20 season to rejoin its former conference home of the [[Summit League]], changed its athletic brand to "Kansas City" after the 2018–19 season.}}
| 1
| align="left" | 2015
|- align=center
| [[Sam Houston Bearkats men's basketball|Sam Houston]] (2021){{efn|group=a|name=CUSA23}}
| 1
| align="left" | 2023
|- align=center
| [[TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball|TCU]] (1996){{efn|group=a|TCU left in 2001 for CUSA. It is now in the [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]].}}
| 1
| align="left" | 1998<sup>†</sup>
|- align=center
| [[UTEP Miners men's basketball|UTEP]] (1967){{efn|group=a|name=CUSA2005}}
| 1
| align="left" | 1989
|- align=center
| [[Abilene Christian Wildcats men's basketball|Abilene Christian]] (2021)
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Boise State Broncos men's basketball|Boise State]] (2001){{efn|group=a|Boise State left in 2011 for the MW, and will move to the Pac-12 in 2026.}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Chicago State Cougars men's basketball|Chicago State]] (2013){{efn|group=a|Chicago State left the WAC in 2022, becoming a [[NCAA Division I independent schools#Full independents|Division I independent]]. It joined the [[Northeast Conference]] in 2024.}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners men's basketball|CSU Bakersfield]] (2013){{efn|group=a|CSU Bakersfield, now in the process of an athletic rebranding as Bakersfield, left for the Big West in 2020.}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Denver Pioneers men's basketball|Denver]] (2012){{efn|group=a|name=WAC2013}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Lamar Cardinals basketball|Lamar]] (2021){{efn|group=a|Lamar left the WAC in 2022 after only one season, returning to its previous home of the [[Southland Conference]] (SLC).}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball|Louisiana Tech]] (2001){{efn|group=a|name=WAC2013}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[San Jose State Spartans men's basketball|San Jose State]] (1996){{efn|group=a|name=WAC2013}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Seattle Redhawks men's basketball|Seattle]] (2012){{efn|group=a|Seattle will rejoin the [[West Coast Conference]] in 2025.}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Southern Utah Thunderbirds men's basketball|Southern Utah]] (2022)
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks basketball|Stephen F. Austin]] (2021){{efn|group=a|Stephen F. Austin returned to its previous home of the SLC in 2024.}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Tarleton State Texans men's basketball|Tarleton State]] (2020)
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Texas State Bobcats men's basketball|Texas State]] (2012){{efn|group=a|name=WAC2013}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[UT Arlington Mavericks men's basketball|UT Arlington]] (2012/2022){{efn|group=a|name=WAC2013}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[Utah Tech Trailblazers men's basketball|Utah Tech]]{{efn|group=a|Known as Dixie State before the 2022–23 season.}} (2020)
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball|UTRGV]] (2013){{efn|grouo=a|UTRGV left the WAC for the SLC after the 2023–24 season.}}{{efn|group=a|The [[University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]] (UTRGV) entered into full operation in 2015 with the merger of the [[University of Texas–Pan American]] (UTPA), which had joined the WAC in 2013, and the [[University of Texas at Brownsville]]. Because UTRGV directly inherited the UTPA athletic program. it is credited with all UTPA historic records, and maintains UTPA's WAC membership.}}
| 0
| —
|- align=center
| [[UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball|UTSA]] (2012){{efn|group=a|name=WAC2013}}
| 0
| —
|}
{{notelist|group=a}}
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}
{{Western Athletic Conference men's basketball navbox}}
{{Men's college basketball award navbox}}
[[Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball conference players of the year]]
[[Category:Western Athletic Conference men's basketball|Player]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1981]]