‘10 is back’: Boise State men’s basketball regains another starter for 2022-23 season

Boise State’s 2022-23 starting lineup just received a boost.

Guard Marcus Shaver Jr. announced on social media Wednesday that he will return for an extra year of eligibility with the men’s basketball team. The NCAA granted all athletes on 2020-21 rosters an additional season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shaver originally declared for the upcoming NBA Draft while maintaining his final year of eligibility.

“10 is back,” Shaver Jr. wrote in an Instagram post while also announcing NIL deals with Pro Image and Crave Delivery.

At 13.3 points per game, Shaver was Boise State’s second-leading scorer last season, and he also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

He built a reputation as the Broncos’ crunch-time scorer, making a 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds of four separate games that either tied the score or gave Boise State the lead.

His heroics started with a game-winning triple with 1.4 seconds left at Utah State on Jan. 20. Two days later, he hit a go-ahead shot with 30 seconds remaining at San Diego State. The following week he sank a 3-pointer with 1 second to go to force overtime in an eventual win over Fresno State. And Shaver made a 3 from the top of the arc with 8.3 seconds left to force overtime against Colorado State in February.

“We are thrilled to have Marcus back for another season of Bronco basketball,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said in a news release. “Not only is Marcus a special player, he’s a very integral part of our program. The continuity of leadership and experience that he provides will help us continue to elevate this program to new heights.”

Shaver is one of two starters back from last year’s team, which made the NCAA Tournament after sweeping both the Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships. He joins reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Year Tyson Degenhart.

Abu Kigab exhausted his eligibility, while Mladen Armus elected not to return for an extra COVID year. Emmanuel Akot declared for the NBA Draft and entered his name in the transfer portal while maintaining his final year of eligibility. Akot has not yet announced his intentions for the 2022-23 season.