RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley men's basketball team enters its fourth season under head coach Lew Hill and expectations are high.
 
After winning 20 games and reaching the postseason for the second year in a row last season, the Vaqueros are looking to take another step forward, with eyes set squarely on winning the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
 
"We've been changing our strategies both on the offensive and defensive side," UTRGV head coach Lew Hill said. "We're just mentally preparing the team for a long season as we have our eyes on the WAC Championship."
 
UTRGV returns three starters from last year's team, including reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Year Javon Levi. Only a junior, Levi was named a finalist for the Lefty Driesell award, presented annually to the top defensive player in men's basketball last season as he was the only player in the NCAA to average at least 5.5 assists (5.7), 2.5 steals (2.95) and 2.1 turnovers or less (2.03) per game last season. He was also the only player in the NCAA to average at least 9.9 points (9.9), 3.9 rebounds (3.9), 5.5 assists (5.7), and 2.5 steals (2.95) per game. Levi ranked second in the NCAA and first in the WAC in total steals with a program record 109, the second-highest total in WAC history. He ranked third in the NCAA and first in the WAC with 2.95 steals per game, the third-highest total in WAC history. Levi led UTRGV in scoring twice, rebounding seven times and assists 31 times. He reached double-figures in scoring 20 times and assists five times.
 
"Levi has been improving offensively, shooting the ball, and finishing layups," said Hill. "What has been more impressive is his growing confidence in his leadership ability."
 
UTRGV also returns starters Lesley Varner II, a senior forward, and Jordan Jackson, a graduate student guard.
 
Last season, Varner is UTRGV's leading returning scorer (11.2 points per game) and rebounder (5.4 per game). He also averaged 1.4 steals per game. Varner led UTRGV in scoring 10 times, rebounding 18 times and assists once while reaching double-figures in scoring 19 times, including four games of 20+ points, and reaching double-figures in rebounding twice.
 
Jackson averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game last season. He led the Vaqueros in scoring four times, rebounding three times and assists three times. He reached double-figures in scoring 16 times.
 
"Varner, Jackson and Levi… they're being challenged this season. For them, the goal is to make All-Conference this season," Hill said. "Only one of them making it is not enough. If we have them all on the All-Conference list, that means we've had a great season."
 
There is a lot of strong competition for the remaining two starting spots as well as who will be coming off the bench. UTRGV has two other returners who saw action in senior forward Isaiah Fontaine and sophomore guard Uche Dibiamaka. Fontaine averaged just 5.8 minutes per game last season, but Hill call Fontaine his most improved player following summer workouts. A year ago, Hill said that Varner had been his most improved player over the summer, and Varner went on to score more point and grab more rebounds than he had in his first two years combined.
 
UTRGV also has a pair of returners who redshirted as freshmen last season in guard Quinton Johnson II and forward Jamal Gaines. Johnson last played at Next Level Prep in 2017-18 after graduating high school as the No. 25 ranked player in Oklahoma. Gaines came out of Universal Academy in 2018 as one of the top 50 players in Texas.
 
Among the newcomers, Hill has called 6-5 junior guard Rob McClain Jr. his best athlete. McClain was an NJCAA All-American at United Tribes Technical College last season, averaging 23.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.2 blocks and 2.3 steals per game.
 
Also in the back court is 6-6 Chris Freeman, who averaged 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game for Northwest Kansas Technical College last season.
 
Junior Anthony Bratton, a transfer from Indian Hill Community College, adds size, as he joins Fontaine as another 6-8 presence.
 
UTRGV has one true freshman in Connor Raines, the No. 25 ranked player in Connecticut and No. 71 ranked player in New England, who earned All-State honors during each of his last two seasons at Notre Dame of West Haven.
 
"There's a lot of newcomers with a lot of talent that we have to look out for," Hill said. "They've all had their moments and I think once they find the rhythm in what we are doing, they will be great."
 
UTRGV opens the season on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at South Dakota Stata. UTRGV then hosts Howard Payne on Nov. 11 at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Tickets are available at UTRGVTickets.com.

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