(Editor's note: Big Sky Conference media release)
FARMINGTON, Utah – A two-time All-Big Sky First Team honoree, Weber State senior guard Jerrick Harding has been named the 2019-20 Big Sky Men’s Basketball Preseason MVP to headline six preseason selections as voted on by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors, and Big Sky media members. Coaches were allowed to vote for their own players.
Harding is joined on the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team by Montana senior guard Sayeed Pridgett, Montana State senior guard Harald Frey, Portland State junior guard Holland Woods, Eastern Washington senior forward Mason Peatling and Eastern Washington junior guard Jacob Davison.
Harding ranked second in the Big Sky in scoring for the second-straight season in 2018-19 with 21.4 points per game. He led the league with an 87.0 free throw percentage and ranked second with 1.7 steals per game.
The Wichita, Kan., native was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 6 First Team a season ago while guiding the Wildcats to the conference semifinals. Harding enters his senior season with 1,621 career points to rank 27th on the Big Sky scoring list.
Pridgett collected All-Big Sky First Team honors for the first time last season, averaging 15.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest. The Oakland, Calif., native led Montana to a second-straight NCAA Tournament berth after scoring 16.3 points per game in Big Sky play.
An All-Big Sky Second Team honoree, Frey averaged 17.2 points and 5.0 assists last season. The Oslo, Norway native ranked second in the league with a 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio and an 84.6 free throw percentage.
Woods joined Harding in landing a second-straight preseason all-conference nod. The Phoenix product garnered All-Big Sky Second Team accolades as a sophomore with 15.0 points, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Peatling averaged 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season to earn All-Big Sky Second Team honors. The Melbourne, Australia, native scored just over 20 points per contest in the Big Sky Championship to lead Eastern Washington back to the finals.
Davison had a breakout sophomore campaign before suffering a season-ending injury in February. The Long Beach, Calif., product averaged 18.5 points in conference play and 15.2 on the season to earn a spot on the All-Big Sky Third Team.
The 2019-20 season gets underway Tuesday, November 5 with seven teams in action. The 2020 Big Sky Basketball Championships presented by My Place Hotels take place March 9-14 at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. Tickets will go on sale next week.
2019-20 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team | ||||
| Name | Position | Class | School | Hometown |
| Jerrick Harding (MVP) | Guard | Senior | Weber State | Wichita, Kan. |
| Sayeed Pridgett | Guard | Senior | Montana | Oakland, Calif. |
| Harald Frey | Guard | Senior | Montana State | Oslo, Norway |
| Holland Woods | Guard | Junior | Portland State | Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Mason Peatling | Forward | Senior | Eastern Washington | Melbourne, Australia |
| Jacob Davison | Guard | Junior | Eastern Washington | Long Beach, Calif. |
