Lyon Edges Out Top Spot on Preseason Poll

10/24/2024 11:35:59 AM

Preseason #1 - Lyon College SCOTS

 

Lyon is in good position to follow up last year's regular season co-championship, returning four starters from a team that went 13-5 in SLIAC play. The Scots are led by a trio of All-Conference players in Frank Toney, Kylon McCullough, and Israel Palmer. Toney averaged 13.7 points per game while finishing second in the league in assists. McCullough put up 13.7 points per game while connecting on 41 three's while Palmer led the team with 15.1 points per game. Also back is defensive standout Malik Madison, who set a school record with 104 blocks while putting up 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Trenton Bell (team high 46 three's) and John Paul Morgan (7.9 ppg and 6.8 rpg) add to the team's depth. Head Coach Rodney Mayes adds Colbie West, Karlin Hardy, Brody Tucker, Johnzelle Bush, and Kennedy Warren to the roster. 
 

 

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Preseason #2 - Spalding University GOLDEN EAGLES

 

Spalding returns all five starters from last year's team that recorded the program's first winning season since 2014-15. All-Conference guard Anthony Dillard is fully healthy after missing almost half the season last year. Dillard was still able to put up 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and is one of the toughest players to stop in the lane, shooting 63-percent from field. Caden Bradford (12.7 ppg) and Andre Crawford (10.8 ppg) also averaged in double-figures. Also back are Jacoby Johnson, Devonte McCampbell, Kameron Jones, Emanual Rislin, Marlin Byron, and Tamir Johnson. Among the newcomers for head coach Kevin Gray are Jaelen Leavell, Xavier Burton, Levi Langley, Dajon Congleton, and Sheldon Lewis.

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Preseason #3 - Webster University GORLOKS

 

The Gorloks return four starters from a program that went 10-8 in conference play last season. Among those returners is Karl Moore, the two-time reigning SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year. Moore averaged 9.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, shooting 51-percent from the floor and recording 48 blocked shots; becoming the SLIAC all-time leader in blocked shots. Jemard Sykes II was second on the team in scoring last season at 10.5 points per game  while Alpha Diallo and Justin Ugo are also returning. Top newcomers for head coach Chris Bunch are Gabe McCrary, John Renken, and Cooper Kelley. 

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Preseason #4 - Greenville University PANTHERS

 

No Team Information Provided

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Preseason #5 - Fontbonne University GRIFFINS

 

The Griffins are back-to-back SLIAC Champions and will have one more run at the title in school history. Head Coach Lance Thornhill will have to replace three All-Conference players but is expecting last year's SLIAC 6th Man of the Year, Charles Nelson to step up. Nelson, a sophomore forward, averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game last year while shooting 44-percent from the floor. Jordan Lewis played in all 27 games as a freshman last year, putting up 4.4 points per game. Kendall Horton is also back after missing last season. 

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Preseason #6 - Blackburn College BEAVERS

 

The Beavers are an experienced group with 13 returners from last year's team including three starters. Guard Darius Duff is the team's top returning scorer at 13.3 points per game. A trio of other returners in Cayden Paquette, Cameron Johnson, and Odis Grissom all averaged more than 7 points per game last season. Brody Barr and Tyson Johnson are guards that can provide scoring from three-point range with both connecting on over 38-percent. Head Coach Austin Kirby brings in transfer Nick Cook, who will provide some size to go with several freshmen joining the team. 

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Preseason #7 - Westminster College BLUE JAYS

 

Westminster will look to continue building the program as head coach Todd Creal enters his third season. The Blue Jays upped their conference wins by five from the previous season and return four starters from last year's squad. Leading the way is the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, Walker Gohring. The sophomore guard averaged 12.1 points per game while hitting on 34-percent of his three-point shots. Other returners include Jack Fessenden (9.7 ppg), Brysan Jeffries (4.4 ppg), and Ben Eberlin (10.6 ppg). The program brings in a pair of transfers (Kolton Garner and Roman Phillips) as well as several freshmen including Jamile Johnson, Jaden Rochester, and Kobe Jones. 

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Preseason #7 - Eureka College RED DEVILS

 

Head Coach Chip Wilde returns three starters from last year's squad including All-Conference guard Pee Wee Brown. Brown averaged 19.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while ranking in the top five of the SLIAC in steals. Among the other 13 returners are Jalen Johnson and Ben Carter (8.8 ppg). Top newcomers to the program are Emaryon Byrd, Jaxson Provost, Amariyae Wilson, Jacob Gonzale, Justous Harvey, and Caleb Senyo. 

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Preseason #9 - Mississippi University for Women OWLS

 

Head Coach Dean Burrows returns three starters from an Owls team that went 7-18 overall in its first season with the SLIAC. Cam Smith averaged 7.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while finishing second on the team in assists last year, his first with the program. Dariun Doss put up 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while Josh Dukes averaged 7.6 points per game while shooting 53-percent from the floor. New players that could see time on the floor are James Dukes, Trenton Walker, Jackson Reid, Eric Bass Jr., and Ridge Harrison. 

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Preseason #10 - Principia College PANTHERS

 

First-year head coach Neyko Dominguez will have to reload the Panthers program after the departure of three long-time fixtures. He will begin with returning starter Isaiah Parker and fellow returners Bobby Alford III and Jordan Williams. Parker averaged 4.8 points per game while Williams averaged 5.2 points per game. Alford is the team's top returning scorer at 12.0 points per game and shot 57-percent from the field last year. New to the program this year are DeMontrel Jones, Nolan Simon, and Eaton Smith. 

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