Led by Boise State signee Nash Humpherys, Madison looks to build for another postseason run

REXBURG – Nash Humpherys grew up a Boise State fan. At the time, he probably wasn’t thinking about life as a college player or wearing the blue uniform, but that’s now changed.

The Madison senior guard recently signed with the Broncos after attending their elite camp this summer and eventually making an official visit in late August.

“That was it for me,” Humpherys said. “I knew that’s where I wanted to be. It wasn’t really a hard decision for me at all … It was a no-brainer for me.”

Humpherys described the BSU offer and signing as surreal, and said he looks forward to competing at the next level.

But first comes senior season, which begins Wednesday.

Madison has played in the state semifinals the past two seasons, losing to eventual state champions Lake City and Owyhee, respectively. The Bobcats brought home a third-place trophy last season and have come home with state trophies five of the past seven years.

Entering the new season, there are no postseason projections just yet, coach Shane Humpherys said, noting the team is still relatively young and untested.

Last year the Bobcats began the season with five returning starters off of a state tournament team and finished 24-3 with two losses coming to eventual state champ Owyhee and the other coming to California power Corona Centennial.

“It’s different this year because the last few years we haven’t had this much change,” coach Shane Humpherys said.

Nash Humpherys is the team’s lone returning starter and averaged nearly 20 points and 4.6 assists as a junior all-state first-teamer.

“Some guys will have to step up and play a major role in what we’re trying to do,” Shane Humpherys said. “There are still a lot of moving pieces and still some things we have figure out.”

There will likely be changes to the starting lineup over the next few weeks as players compete for minutes and the team begins to gel overall, the coach said.

“I’ve got to earn my paycheck,” Shane Humpherys said with a laugh.

“There are a lot of new hungry guys coming in,” Nash Humpherys said. “It’s completely different this year, a lot of new opportunities. It’s created a competitive nature from a lot of these guys.”

The Bobcats were 6-0 in conference a year ago and beat rival Rigby three times.

Canyon Ridge joins the conference this year after winning the 4A Great Basin Conference regular season a year ago.