Logan has been tabbed to a pair of preseason All-America teams and the two-time All-NE-10 selection headlines the Skyhawks returnees. (PHOTO BY Mike Broglio/SportsPix) |
Skyhawks also receiving votes in NABC Division II Coaches' poll
Logan named to two preseason All-America squads
NABC Division II Preseason Coaches Poll
BROCKTON ENTERPRISE: "Stonehill men open Friday against Nyack"
EASTON, Mass. (November 9, 2016) – Stonehill College, the reigning NCAA Division II East Regional Champions, has been picked fourth for the rigorous Northeast Division, according to the Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball preseason coaches' poll, released by the league office this afternoon. The Skyhawks have also been listed among teams receiving votes in the National Assocation of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II preseason poll.
The NE-10's Northeast Division is predicted to be tightly contested once again this season with four teams receiving first place votes in the division and all separated by just 16 points. Franklin Pierce University has been tabbed the preseason favorites in the Northeast with 94 points and seven first place votes, followed by Saint Anselm College with 87 points and three first place votes. Southern New Hampshire University (81 points) has been picked third and received two first place votes, while Stonehill (78) is fourth and received the remaining three first place votes.
The Northeast Division placed four teams in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, with Southern New Hampshire winning the NE-10 Tournament as a four seed in the division after Bentley took the regular season crown. Stonehill swept through three Northeast Division rivals (Bentley, SNHU and Saint Anselm) on its way to its third regional championship and trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight over the last ten years. The top four teams in the Northeast Division were separated by just two games in the final regular season standings, with fifth place Franklin Pierce just two more games adrift of fourth place Southern New Hampshire.
Southern Connecticut State University, the NE-10's fifth NCAA Tournament participant from a year ago, has been tabbed as favorites in the Southwest Division with 85 points and eight first place votes. The College of Saint Rose (79 points) is ranked second with four first place votes, while Adelphi University (71) is third with the remaining three first place votes.
Walsh is a welcome returnee for the Skyhawks after missing the bulk of his junior year to injury. (PHOTO BY Mike Broglio/SportsPix) |
Stonehill fourth-year head coach Chris Kraus '06 returns eight letterwinners and two starters from last year's squad which posted a 24-9 record overall, including 15-6 in the NE-10, on its way to the Elite Eight. Senior forward Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown), a two-time All-Northeast-10 selection who was also named to the NABC All-East District second team last season, headlines the Skyhawks returnees and has been named a preseason All-American by Basketball Times and The Sporting News, as well as an honorable mention Super 16 choice from Division II Bulletin. He surpassed 1,000 points over the course of his junior year, entering his senior season with 1,277 points, 645 rebounds and 260 assists in 88 career games (all starts). Logan was the only player in the NE-10 to rank in the top ten for scoring, rebounding and assists last season, averaging 17.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and a steal per game.
Stonehill also welcomes back senior Jim Walsh (Manasquan, New Jersey/Manasquan), serving as co-captain with Logan, who averaged 10.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 23.7 minutes through nine games last year before suffering a year-ending injury. Junior Isaiah Bess (LaGrange, Maine/Hampden Academy) emerged as a starter down the stretch last season and finished averaging 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.9 minutes per game, while classmates Joel Berroa (Lawrence, Massachusetts/Central Catholic) and Ryan Roach (Weymouth, Massachusetts/Cardinal Spellman) as well as sophomore Michael Boen (Mansfield, Massachusetts/Mansfield) are also expected to increased contributions.
Junior KJ Lee (Huntington Station, New York/Long Island Lutheran), a transfer from Marist College, and freshmen Daniel Largey (Oceanport, New York/Shore Regional), Will Moreton (Minneapolis, Minnesota/Edina) and Brandon Twitty (Randolph, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) look to make an immediate impact as first year players for Stonehill.
Stonehill opens its 2016-17 season on Friday night at the Assumption College Tip-Off Classic in Worcester, Massachusetts, when it faces Nyack College at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks battle Queens (N.Y.) College on Saturday at 4 p.m., before its home opener next Wednesday, November 16, against Assumption to open its NE-10 schedule at Merkert Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.
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