Montana’s Williams named preseason MVP

FARMINGTON, Utah — A season removed from being named the league’s Top Reserve, Montana’s Money Williams has been named Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Most Valuable Player.  

Williams was the lone unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Conference Team, coming off a campaign that led all the way to the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 13.2 points per game and dished out 110 assists during the course of the year. 

Portland State had Terri Miller Jr., Jaylin Henderson and Tre-Vaughn Minott all receive preseason honors, as the Vikings return an impressive core of talent. 

Miller Jr. was a Second Team All-Big Sky player a season ago, averaging 12.1 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. Henderson was an Honorable Mention to the All-Conference Team, he averaged 13.0 points per game. Minott is the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year and was a member of the All-Defensive Team a season ago. 

The Vikings are the first team to feature three players on the Preseason All-Conference Team since 2021, when Southern Utah had a trio of student-athletes named to the squad. 

Eastern Washington’s Andrew Cook earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference Team after averaging 16.1 points per game for the Eagles a season ago. Cook also earned a Player of the Week title during the 2024-25 campaign. 

The final spot on the squad was awarded to Idaho’s Jack Payne. Payne, who was named to the All-Tournament Team in Boise, averaged 10.8 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Vandals. 

2025-26 Big Sky Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team  

Money Williams, Montana (Preseason Most Valuable Player) * 

Terri Miller Jr., Portland State 

Jaylin Henderson, Portland State 

Andrew Cook, Eastern Washington 

Tre-Vaughn Minott, Portland State 

Jack Payne, Idaho 

* - Unanimous Member of the Preseason All-Conference Team