Pridgett named to Preseason All-Big Sky team

Sayeed Pridgett has two possessions on him at all times. One is a 2018 Big Sky championship ring, worn proudly on his left index finger. The other is a similar one, earned after Montana won a second consecutive title in 2019, which he wears daily on his left ring finger.

"I love them," Pridgett proclaimed. "I wear them every day. I'd even wear them on the court, if I could."

The rings serve a dual purpose: First, as a reminder, second as motivation.

The reminder: Montana is one of the few schools in Big Sky Conference history to win back-to-back league titles, both during the regular season and the conference tournament. The Grizzlies have won a school-record 52 games over the past two seasons, and have ended both seasons playing on the biggest stage in the NCAA tournament.

The motivation: The rings aren't just handed out or given to anyone. They're earned. Only a select number of athletes across the country receive them, and Pridgett wants to cap his career with a third to go along with his other two.

When Pridgett learned he was named to the Preseason All-Big Sky Conference team – a group of the top six players entering the season, voted on by the league's coaches and announced Wednesday by the conference, he was appreciative. But his simple, straight-forward response of, 'Cool' when he learned the news, shows he's interested in bigger hardware.

The preseason recognition should come as no surprise. After all, Pridgett was on the 2019 All-Big Sky first team in March – the postseason one, that actually counts – so why wouldn't he be predicted to again be among the league's top players?

As a junior in 2019, Pridgett was the only Big Sky player to rank in the top 15 for scoring (sixth), field-goal percentage (second), steals (11^th), assists (13^th) and rebounds (15^th). He not only averaged 15.1 points per game, but did so on .605 shooting, the 19^th-best rate in the nation. Pridgett was three times named the Big Sky Player of the Week.

The biggest indicator of Pridgett's ability to be a repeat first-team all-conference selection and player-of-the-year candidate, though, has been his rapid and steady progression. As a freshman in 2016, Pridgett averaged 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting at a .524 clip (ninth in Big Sky). As a sophomore, he was Montana's top player off the bench, averaging 8.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while adding 1.2 steals per contest (11^th in Big Sky). His breakout season came a year later, when he not only was one of the league's top all-around players, but added even more versatility to his game with the development of a three-point shot and added defense.

After each of his three seasons, Pridgett has earned the team's Ryan Dick Award, given to the most improved player.

"Sayeed is one of those guys who always comes ready to play, and he always continues to progress regardless of any past success," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "We don't really talk about his progression, he just does it."

Pridgett was strong from start to finish in 2019, but the turning point, he said, was when Jamar Akoh went down with what ended up being a season-ending injury. Needing someone to fill Akoh's role – who was the team's leading scorer and rebounder at the time – Pridgett not only stepped up on offense, but on defense, as well.

Over the final 14 games of the season without Akoh, Pridgett led the Griz for scoring nine times, averaging 19.4 points per game on .671 shooting. He added 15 steals, six blocks and 5.4 rebounds per game.

"I think at that point, I kind of realized we all needed to step up to fill Jamar's void, so I took it upon myself to do that in any way I could."

Pridgett will be asked to do a lot this year, as well. On the court, he's Montana's top returning player, while off of it, he's one of two returning seniors who will be tasked with integrating seven newcomers. The Oakland, California, native would like to again be named to the All-Big Sky first team in March. He even admitted it would be cool to be named the Big Sky's player of the year. But more than anything, he'd like a third ring.

If Montana is able to do that, it will likely be because Pridgett had a season similar to what the league's coaches expected he could do.

University of Montana Athletics

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