ARLINGTON, Texas—Utah Valley University guard Drake Allen has been named to the Preseason All-WAC team as voted on by the league's head coaches. Utah Valley was picked to finish fourth by the coaches in the Preseason WAC Coaches' Poll.
 
Allen, a transfer from Southern Utah, heads into his junior season after a stellar sophomore campaign for the Thunderbirds during the 2022-23 season. He played all 37 games while averaging 11.0 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals a game last year. He shot nearly 50 percent from the field (151-of-303) and knocked down 27 threes during the season. Allen was named to the WAC All-Newcomer team for his efforts during the 2022-23 season. 
 
Utah Valley was selected fourth in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Grand Canyon was picked as the favorite to win the league with 99 points and nine first place votes. Stephen F. Austin was picked second (87), followed by Seattle U third (86), Utah Valley fourth (61), Abilene Christian fifth (60), Tarleton State sixth (49), California Baptist seventh (47), UT Arlington eighth (43), Southern Utah (26) and UTRGV tied for ninth (26), and Utah Tech 11th (21).
 
Grand Canyon's Ray Harrison was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year. 

Todd Phillips enters his first season as the head coach of the Utah Valley men's basketball team. The Wolverines head into the 2023-24 season fresh off their most successful season in school history as the team won a WAC regular season championship and made a run to the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) with wins over New Mexico, Colorado, and Cincinnati. 
 
Utah Valley returns two players that saw time on the floor during the 2022-23 season, including Ethan Potter (1.8 ppg., 2.5 rpg.) and Jaden McClanahan (2.2 ppg., 0.9 apg.). Phillips welcomes 11 newcomers to the team, including seven transfers and four true freshmen. 
 
Utah Valley will open the 2023-24 season at home against Carroll College on Monday, Nov. 6 at the UCCU Center. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
 
2023-24 WAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	Team (1st Place Votes)	Points
1.	Grand Canyon (9)	99
2.	Stephen F. Austin (2)	87
3.	Seattle U	86
4.	Utah Valley	61
5.	Abilene Christian	60
6.	Tarleton State	49
7.	California Baptist	47
8.	UT Arlington	43
T9.	Southern Utah	26
T9.	UTRGV	26
11.	Utah Tech	21

2023-24 Preseason All-WAC Team
Ray Harrison, Jr., G, Grand Canyon 
Gabe McGlothan, R-Sr., F, Grand Canyon 
Cameron Tyson, R-Sr., G, Seattle U
Sadaidriene Hall, Jr., F, Stephen F. Austin 
Drake Allen, Jr., G, Utah Valley

WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Ray Harrison, Jr., G, Grand Canyon