Photo by: U.S. Air Force Photo by Dylan Sm
Air Force To Participate In 2026 MW Men’s and Women’s Basketball Media Day Wednesday
10/6/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
2026-27 Mountain West Men's and Women's Basketball Media Day
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Palms Casino Resort - Las Vegas, NV
Air Force MBB MW Network Live Show slot (4:20-4:40 pm PT)
Air Force head coach Joe Crispin, along with sophomore guard Kam Sanders and senior forward Caleb Walker represent the Academy men's team at the 2026 Old Trapper Mountain West Men's and Women's Basketball Media Day at The Palms in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 7.
Fans can watch the Mountain West live show free on MW+. The Air Force women's team is slated to be on from 4:00-4:20 pm (PT), with the men's team following from 4:20-4:40 pm PT. The Falcons will also be on the Field of 68 Podcast from 1:40-2:00 pm PT.
The other day's events include the filming of promos across several media platforms, talking with The Field of 68 Podcast, an NCAA photoshoot and open forums with print media and local television.
Air Force MBB Media Day Notes:
The Joe Crispin Era Begins
Joe Crispin enters his first season as head coach for Air Force men's basketball in 2026-27. He is the 10th head coach in program history. Crispin comes to the Academy after three seasons on the staff at his alma mater of Penn State. Prior to his stint at Penn State, Crispin was the head coach for seven seasons at Div. III Rowan University in Pitman, NJ, where he guided the Profs to a 114-54 record, including two runs to the NCAA Div. III Championships during his last two seasons there. As a player, Crispin is one of the all-time greats at Penn State, where he scored 1,986 career points, which ranks fourth all-time for the Nittany Lions.
Almost Everybody's Back
Air Force returns all five starters and 16 of 18 total players that ended the season off the 2025-26 roster.
Returning Starters (5)
Sr. 7-0, C Wesley Celichowski - 4.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.6 bpg
So. 6-4, G Ethan Greenberg - 6.6 ppg, 52 three's
So. 6-8 F Lucas Hobin - 11.4 ppg, 70 three's
Jr. 6-6 F Eli Robinson - 7.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg
So. 6-3 G Kam Sanders - 12.5 ppg, 3.8 apg
Other Notable Returners
Sr. 6-9, F Caleb Walker - 10.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .669 fg%
Sr. 6-5, F Kolby Gilles - 32 gp, 3.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Jr. 6-3, G AJ Patterson - 29 gp, 2.2 ppg, 1.6 apg
So. 6-6, F Riley Dering - 14 pg, 5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .608 fg%
Percentage Returning for Air Force in 2026-27
Scoring - 98%
Rebounding - 98%
Assists - 97%
Games Started - 100%
Minutes - 98%
Newcomers
Air Force welcomes six freshmen, with four players being 6-foot-6 or taller.
Freshmen Pos. Ht. Hometown (Previous School/High School)
Grant Best G 6-3 Chicago, IL (USAFA Prep/Mt. Carmel HS)
Mark Caslaru F/C 6-10 Fort Mill, SC (Catawba Ridge HS)
Caleb Fay F 6-6 Denver, CO (Kent Denver HS)
Diggy Griffin G 6-6 Portland, OR (USAFA Prep/Rosemary Anderson Prep)
Tre Keene G 6-1 San Antonio, TX (USAFA Prep/Brennan HS)
Mayson Thomas F 6-6 San Antonio, TX (Pieper HS)
Air Force roster breakdown by grade
Seniors - 4
Junior - 3
Sophomores - 7
Freshmen - 6
Coaching Staff
Air Force has strong blend of new staff members and those with former ties to the Academy.
First Season at Air Force (6):
Joe Crispin - Head coach
Carson Cunningham - Associate Head Coach
Eric Brennan - Assistant
Michael Lyons - Assistant (USAFA Class of 2013)
Tanner Massey - Assistant
Chris McCarron - Assistant
Returning staff (2):
Jon Jordan - Assistant/Operations (USAFA Class of 1985)
Capt. Sid Tomes - Assistant (USAFA Class of 2020)
Falcons play both Army and Navy for first time since 1985
Air Force plays both Army and Navy in the same season for the first time since 1985, a span of 41 years and for the first time in the continental United States since 1977, a span of 49 years. Air Force played Navy last year, which was the first meeting in 20 years, going back to 2005. Air Force last played Army in 2021. It is just the third time ever that Air Force will play both Army and Navy in one season.
Sanders and Hobin return after historic freshman campaigns
Sophomores Kam Sanders and Lucas Hobin return after standout and historic freshman campaigns for Air Force in the 2025-26 season.
Sanders set the school freshman records for points (400) and assists (121). Hobin set the program freshman record for three's made (70).
Sanders led the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 ppg, and Hobin was second, averaging 11.4 ppg.
WALKER SETS FG PERCENTAGE RECORDS
Junior forward Caleb Walker set school records in both field goal percentage and field goal percentage in conference play for Air Force.
Walker shot 66.9 percent from the field, surpassing the previous school record of 59.6 by Aaron Benson in 1990. Walker also set the school record for field goal percentage in MW play at 64.1, surpassing the previous record of 56.3 percent by Byron Brown in 2023-24.
- Walker went 6-for-6 from the field twice this season and went 4-for-4 vs. Utah State.
- Walker shot over 50 percent from the field in 19
of 24 games, including 18 in a row at one point.
NON-CONFERNCE SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
vs. Wright State - last meeting in 2024.
vs. Calumet - first-ever meeting.
vs. Idaho St. - first meeting since 2021.
vs. Loyola Chicago - first meeting since 1985.
at Pacific - first trip to Stockton since 2018.
at UTSA - first-ever meeting.
vs. Army - first meeting since 2021.
vs. Brown - first meeting since '84 and first Ivy League opponent since '07.
vs. Navy - first visit by Midshipmen since 2005.
at Austin Peay - 2026 ASUN regular season co-champs.
vs. Alabama St. - Falcons won last year's meeting at Clune.
vs. EKU - first-ever meeting.
at Utah - First trip to SLC since 2011. Will be 64th meeting of series.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Palms Casino Resort - Las Vegas, NV
Air Force MBB MW Network Live Show slot (4:20-4:40 pm PT)
Air Force head coach Joe Crispin, along with sophomore guard Kam Sanders and senior forward Caleb Walker represent the Academy men's team at the 2026 Old Trapper Mountain West Men's and Women's Basketball Media Day at The Palms in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 7.
Fans can watch the Mountain West live show free on MW+. The Air Force women's team is slated to be on from 4:00-4:20 pm (PT), with the men's team following from 4:20-4:40 pm PT. The Falcons will also be on the Field of 68 Podcast from 1:40-2:00 pm PT.
The other day's events include the filming of promos across several media platforms, talking with The Field of 68 Podcast, an NCAA photoshoot and open forums with print media and local television.
Air Force MBB Media Day Notes:
The Joe Crispin Era Begins
Joe Crispin enters his first season as head coach for Air Force men's basketball in 2026-27. He is the 10th head coach in program history. Crispin comes to the Academy after three seasons on the staff at his alma mater of Penn State. Prior to his stint at Penn State, Crispin was the head coach for seven seasons at Div. III Rowan University in Pitman, NJ, where he guided the Profs to a 114-54 record, including two runs to the NCAA Div. III Championships during his last two seasons there. As a player, Crispin is one of the all-time greats at Penn State, where he scored 1,986 career points, which ranks fourth all-time for the Nittany Lions.
Almost Everybody's Back
Air Force returns all five starters and 16 of 18 total players that ended the season off the 2025-26 roster.
Returning Starters (5)
Sr. 7-0, C Wesley Celichowski - 4.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.6 bpg
So. 6-4, G Ethan Greenberg - 6.6 ppg, 52 three's
So. 6-8 F Lucas Hobin - 11.4 ppg, 70 three's
Jr. 6-6 F Eli Robinson - 7.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg
So. 6-3 G Kam Sanders - 12.5 ppg, 3.8 apg
Other Notable Returners
Sr. 6-9, F Caleb Walker - 10.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .669 fg%
Sr. 6-5, F Kolby Gilles - 32 gp, 3.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Jr. 6-3, G AJ Patterson - 29 gp, 2.2 ppg, 1.6 apg
So. 6-6, F Riley Dering - 14 pg, 5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .608 fg%
Percentage Returning for Air Force in 2026-27
Scoring - 98%
Rebounding - 98%
Assists - 97%
Games Started - 100%
Minutes - 98%
Newcomers
Air Force welcomes six freshmen, with four players being 6-foot-6 or taller.
Freshmen Pos. Ht. Hometown (Previous School/High School)
Grant Best G 6-3 Chicago, IL (USAFA Prep/Mt. Carmel HS)
Mark Caslaru F/C 6-10 Fort Mill, SC (Catawba Ridge HS)
Caleb Fay F 6-6 Denver, CO (Kent Denver HS)
Diggy Griffin G 6-6 Portland, OR (USAFA Prep/Rosemary Anderson Prep)
Tre Keene G 6-1 San Antonio, TX (USAFA Prep/Brennan HS)
Mayson Thomas F 6-6 San Antonio, TX (Pieper HS)
Air Force roster breakdown by grade
Seniors - 4
Junior - 3
Sophomores - 7
Freshmen - 6
Coaching Staff
Air Force has strong blend of new staff members and those with former ties to the Academy.
First Season at Air Force (6):
Joe Crispin - Head coach
Carson Cunningham - Associate Head Coach
Eric Brennan - Assistant
Michael Lyons - Assistant (USAFA Class of 2013)
Tanner Massey - Assistant
Chris McCarron - Assistant
Returning staff (2):
Jon Jordan - Assistant/Operations (USAFA Class of 1985)
Capt. Sid Tomes - Assistant (USAFA Class of 2020)
Falcons play both Army and Navy for first time since 1985
Air Force plays both Army and Navy in the same season for the first time since 1985, a span of 41 years and for the first time in the continental United States since 1977, a span of 49 years. Air Force played Navy last year, which was the first meeting in 20 years, going back to 2005. Air Force last played Army in 2021. It is just the third time ever that Air Force will play both Army and Navy in one season.
Sanders and Hobin return after historic freshman campaigns
Sophomores Kam Sanders and Lucas Hobin return after standout and historic freshman campaigns for Air Force in the 2025-26 season.
Sanders set the school freshman records for points (400) and assists (121). Hobin set the program freshman record for three's made (70).
Sanders led the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 ppg, and Hobin was second, averaging 11.4 ppg.
WALKER SETS FG PERCENTAGE RECORDS
Junior forward Caleb Walker set school records in both field goal percentage and field goal percentage in conference play for Air Force.
Walker shot 66.9 percent from the field, surpassing the previous school record of 59.6 by Aaron Benson in 1990. Walker also set the school record for field goal percentage in MW play at 64.1, surpassing the previous record of 56.3 percent by Byron Brown in 2023-24.
- Walker went 6-for-6 from the field twice this season and went 4-for-4 vs. Utah State.
- Walker shot over 50 percent from the field in 19
of 24 games, including 18 in a row at one point.
NON-CONFERNCE SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
vs. Wright State - last meeting in 2024.
vs. Calumet - first-ever meeting.
vs. Idaho St. - first meeting since 2021.
vs. Loyola Chicago - first meeting since 1985.
at Pacific - first trip to Stockton since 2018.
at UTSA - first-ever meeting.
vs. Army - first meeting since 2021.
vs. Brown - first meeting since '84 and first Ivy League opponent since '07.
vs. Navy - first visit by Midshipmen since 2005.
at Austin Peay - 2026 ASUN regular season co-champs.
vs. Alabama St. - Falcons won last year's meeting at Clune.
vs. EKU - first-ever meeting.
at Utah - First trip to SLC since 2011. Will be 64th meeting of series.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
Forward/Center
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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