LAS CRUCES, N.M. - As basketball season inches closer, preseason polls are beginning to roll out. Among them is Chris Dortch's Blue Ribbon Yearbook, with his picks for Conference USA releasing on Friday. NM State transfer guard Zawdie Jackson was chosen as CUSA Newcomer of the Year, with the Blue-Ribbon Forecast also choosing NM State to finish sixth in the conference standings. Louisiana Tech was selected as the favorite to take the top spot. 

Blue Ribbon was introduced in the 1981-82 season by Chris Wallace and is used across the college basketball world for preparation by various television networks such as ESPN, CBS and others. It also serves as a point of reference for NCAA tournament selection committee members throughout the season as they choose teams for bracket spots.  

In his 2023-24 campaign, Jackson turned in one of the greatest individual seasons in West Georgia history, adding an All-American selection to a list of accolades that includes Gulf South Conference Player of the Year, Division II South Region Player of the Year, First-Team All-District, and GSC All-Academic. Along with having his best season to date, Jackson led West Georgia to a 27-6 record, a GSC Regular Season & Tournament Championship and an appearance in the DII South Region Semifinals for the second consecutive season. 

CONFERENCE USA 

BLUE RIBBON FORECAST 

1. Louisiana Tech 

2. Sam Houston 

3. Western Kentucky 

4. Middle Tennessee 

5. Liberty 

6. New Mexico State 

7. UTEP 

8. Jacksonville State 

9. Kennesaw State 

10. FIU 

  

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM 

F-Zach Cleveland, JR, Liberty 

C-Daniel Batcho, R-SR, Louisiana Tech 

G-Don McHenry, SR, Western Kentucky 

G-Jestin Porter, SR, Middle Tennessee 

G-Lamar Wilkerson, SR, Sam Houston 

  

PLAYER OF THE YEAR 

Daniel Batcho, R-SR, Louisiana Tech 

  

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 

Zawdie Jackson, SR, New Mexico State 

For complete coverage of NM State men's basketball during the 2024-25 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Men's Basketball), Twitter (@NMStateMBB) and Instagram (@NMStateMBB) 

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