2024-25 NAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll Announced

2024-25 NAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll Announced

WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2024-25 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Men’s Basketball Preseason Polls have been announced with Husson University and SUNY Delhi favored to finish atop the standings in the East and West Divisions, respectively.

SEE BELOW FOR 2024-25 TEAM CAPSULES

In the East Division, Husson was the unanimous choice as the top team as the Eagles received all five first-place votes with 25 total points. UMaine-Farmington has been forecasted to place second with 20 points while UMaine-Presque Isle is ranked third (13 pts), Maine Maritime Academy is fourth (10 pts), and Thomas College caps the poll with seven points.

In the West Division, SUNY Delhi claimed four first-place votes with 22 total points, slightly ahead of SUNY Cobleskill, which secured the other first-place bid with 20 points. VTSU Johnson placed third in the rankings with 14 points while VTSU Lyndon (11 pts) and Lesley University (8 pts) round out the poll.

The 2025 NAC Tournament field will feature eight teams, with four from each division qualifying for postseason play. The top seeds in each division will host the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds on Fri-Sat, February 21-22, with the winning team from each bracket advancing to the NAC Championship, which will be hosted by the East Division winner on Saturday, March 1st.

The NAC Men’s Basketball Champion earns the conference’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA DIII National Tournament, which begins on Friday, March 7th.

Husson University clinched the 2024 NAC Championship and leads the current NAC membership with nine men’s basketball titles.

East Division Preseason Poll:
 
Rank Team Pts (1st)
1 Husson University 25 (5)
2 UMaine-Farmington 20
3 UMaine-Presque Isle 13
4 Maine Maritime Academy 10
5 Thomas College 7

West Division Preseason Poll:
 
Rank Team Pts (1st)
1 SUNY Delhi 22 (4)
2 SUNY Cobleskill 20 (1)
3 VTSU Johnson 14
4 VTSU Lyndon 11
5 Lesley University 8
 
EAST DIVISION:
8Husson University
2023-24 Record: 23-6 (11-3 NAC, 1st in East Division)
Head Coach: Warren Caruso (31st Season, 561-268)
NAC Championships: (9) 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024
# Starters Returning / Lost: 3 / 2
# Returning Players: 11
Top Returners: Senior guard Riles Neff (Camarillo, Calif.) / 16.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG / NAC First Team / Maine State Player of the Year; Senior guard Jeremy Moronta (Brooklyn, N.Y.) / 14.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG / NAC Second Team / All-State Second Team; Sophomore guard Andre McCauley (Upper Marlboro, Md.) / 10.5 PPG, 1.9 RPG / All-State Rookie Team
2024-25 Opener: vs. Lasell University – Fri. 11/8, 7:00 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: vs. Maine Maritime Academy – Wed. 12/4, 7:30 PM
9819UMaine-Farmington
2023-24 Record: 18-9 (9-5 NAC, 2nd in East Division)
Head Coach: Quinn Newton (1st Season)
NAC Championships: 2010 (4x Runner-up)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 / 1
# Returning Players: 13
Top Returners: Senior forward Dylan Griffin (Saco, Maine) / 11.0 PPG / 6.7 RPG; Junior forward Jordan Anthony (Farmington, Conn.) / 12.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG / 3rd Team All-NAC / MMBCWA All-Defensive Team; Senior guard Simon Chadbourne (Portland, Maine) / 12.6 PPG / 4.1 RPG; Senior forward Will Harriman (Biddeford, Maine) / 10.6 PPG / 4.9 RPG; Sophomore forward Jason Reynolds (Winslow, Maine) / 9.7 PPG / 7.4 RPG; Sophomore guard Brock Flagg (Brewer, Maine) / 8.1 PPG / 2.3 RPG
Top Newcomers: Six incoming freshmen
2024-25 Opener: at Suffolk University – Sat. 11/9, 2:00 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: at Thomas College, Wed. 12/4, 7:30 PM
9843UMaine-Presque Isle
2023-24 Record: 12-14 (7-5 NAC, 3rd in East Division)
Head Coach: Dan Kane (8th Season, 80-84)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 / 1
# Returning Players: 14
Top Returners: Senior guard Gilbert Jean Mendez (Clearwater, Fla.) / 13.3 PPG / 5.3 RPG; Sophomore forward Doug McCalla (West Palm Beach, Fla.) / 16.0 PPG / 5.5 RPG; Junior guard Akhe McMichael (St. Petersburg, Fla.) / 7.4 PPG / 2.8 RPG; Senior guard Myles Jones (Mattapan, Mass.) 6.8 PPG / 6.2 RPG
Top Newcomer: Junior guard/forward Dwaine Williams (Port St. Lucie, Fla. / Adelphi University)
2024-25 Opener: at University of Southern Maine – Fri. 11/8, 6:00 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: at Husson University – Fri. 12/13, 7:30 PM 
6Maine Maritime Academy
2023-24 Record: 10-15 (6-8 NAC, 4th in East Division)
Head Coach: Cedric Gillette (1st Season)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4.5 / 0.5
# Returning Players: 10
Top Returners: Senior center Curt Heinz (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) / 19.6 PPG / 15.4 RPG / D3Hoops.com Region 1 Third Team / MMBCWA Co-Player of the Year / NAC First Team All-Conference / NAC Defensive Player of the Year; Senior forward Carter Rubin (Littleton, Colo.) / 7.9 PPG / 3.6 RPG; Senior guard Markus Ramirez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) / 11.4 PPG / 2.8 RPG; Junior guard Josiah Dancy (Orlando, Fla.) / 10.0 PPG / 3.8 RPG
Top Newcomers: Freshman guard Patrick Dagan (Castine, Maine), freshman forward Gabe Hagar (Newcastle, Maine), freshman center Wade Hill (Auburn, Ala.)
2024-25 Opener: at Messiah - Fri. 11/8, 7:30 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: at Husson University – Wed. 12/4, 7:30 PM
10019Thomas College
2023-24 Record: 9-16 (6-8 NAC, 5th in NAC East Division)
Head Coach: Marquis Mason-Pollard (3rd Season, 12-37)
NAC Championships: None (3x Runner-up)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 1 / 4
# Returning Players: 13
Top Returners: Senior guard Parker Desjardins (Jackman, Maine) / 9.6 PPG / 3.6 RPG; Senior forward Metin Yavuz (Istanbul, Turkey) / 8.6 PPG / 5.3 RPG; Senior forward Jackson Ruelke (Belmont, N.H.) 6.6 PPG / 5.8 RPG
Top Newcomers: Grad student Camryn Yorke (Auburn, Maine / Saint Joseph’s), junior forward Luke Briggs (Augusta, Maine / SMCC)
2024-25 Opener: at University of New England – Fri. 11/8, 12:01 AM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: vs. UMaine-Farmington – Wed. 12/4, 7:30 PM
 
WEST DIVISION:
9580SUNY Delhi
2023-24 Record: 14-13 (7-7 NAC, 4th in West Division)
Head Coach: Jonathan Annan (2nd Season, 14-13)
NAC Championships: 2023
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 /1
# Returning Players: 9
Top Returners: Senior point guard Isiah Barnes ( Elmont, N.Y.) / 10.6  PPG / 4.0 RPG; Senior guard Lester McCarthy (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) / 14.2 PPG / 4.5 RPG
2024-25 Opener: vs. VTSU Castleton, Fri. November 8th, 3:00 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: at SUNY Cobleskill, Tue. December 3rd, 7:30 PM 
10010SUNY Cobleskill
2023-24 Record: 17-11 (10-4 NAC, 3rd in West Division, NAC West Champions)
Head Coach: Justin Maxwell (4th Season, 28-40; 8th Overall, 85-110)
NAC Championships: None (2024 Runner-up)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 0 / 5
# Returning Players: 10
Top Returners: Junior guard Quanire Greene (Albany, N.Y) / 5.0 PPG; Senior guard Devin Dennard (Elmira, N.Y) / 5.0 PPG; Senior forward Chalik Rush (Brooklyn, N.Y.) / 4.0 PPG; Junior forward Chace Peterson (Troy, N.Y.) / 3.0 PPG
Top Newcomers: Sophomore guard Elijah Morris (Mount Vernon, N.Y.); Freshman guard Nasir Snell (Spackenkill, N.Y.)
2024-25 Opener: at Hartwick College, Fri. November 8th, 8:00 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: vs. SUNY Delhi, Tue. December 3rd, 7:30 PM 
9783VTSU Johnson
2023-24 Record: 5-20 (3-11 NAC, 7th in West Division)
Head Coach: Alfred Johnson (4th Season, 26-48; 25th Overall, 289-328)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 2 / 3
# Returning Players: 6
Top Returners: Senior forward Raymond Baka (Atlanta, Ga.) / 17.5 PPG / 10.7 RPG / 50.9 FG% / 2024 3rd Team All-Conference; Graduate center David Greer (Ocean Springs, Miss.) / 9.9 PPG / 7.4 RPG
Top Newcomers: Freshman point guard Dashawn Hall (Louisville, Ky.); Freshman guard Matthew Carter (Corinth, Texas), Freshman point guard Lukas Sward (Bristol, Conn.); Freshman forward Joshua Barthelemy (Lake Worth, Fla.); Freshman wing Jamar Callum (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
2024-25 Opener: vs. Framingham State (at Randolph Center, Vt.), Sat. November 9th, 5:30 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: vs. VTSU Lyndon, Sat. December 7th, 3:00 PM 
5VTSU Lyndon
2023-24 Record: 3-22 (3-11 NAC, 6th in East Division)
Head Coach: David Pasiak (8th Season, 34-126; 26th Season, 317-362 Overall)
NAC Championships: None (2011 Runner-up)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 1 / 4
# Returning Players: 5
Top Returners: Senior guard Gregory Gonyea, Jr. (Dolgeville, N.Y. / 18.1 PPG / 4.0 RPG / 2022-23 NAC Rookie of the Year; Sophomore guard Owen Traynor (Rutland, Vt.) / 6.7 PPG / 2.0 RPG; Senior forward Matt Doyle (Whitesboro, N.Y.) / 2.5 PPG / 3.1 RPG; Junior guard Chad Martin (Henniker, N.H.) / 1.2 PPG / 2.3 RPG
Top Newcomers: Grad forward Dakota Holbrook (Jordan, N.Y.); Sophomore guard Wesley McIntyre (Troy, N.Y.); Freshman guard Victor Kukta Reyes (Fitchburg, Mass.); Freshman guard Tyler Cooper (Sterling, N.Y.); Freshman forward Deshawn Ford (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.); Freshman guard Christian Hathorn (Wilder, Vt.)
2024-25 Opener: at VTSU Randolph, Sat. November 9th, 3:30 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: at VTSU Johnson, Sat. December 7th, 3:00 PM 
11677Lesley University
2023-24 Record: 4-21 (2-12 NAC, 7th in East Division)
Head Coach: Devon Mayo (8th Season, 11-109)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 / 1
# Returning Players: 11
Top Returners: Senior forward Malachi Howard (Winter Haven, Fla.) / 17.0 PPG / 6.0 RPG / 35.0% 3FG%; Junior point guard Tarell Joseph (Hempstead, N.Y.) / 12.6 PPG / 3.9 RPG / 2.4 APG; Senior guard Christian Castro (Virginia Beach, Va.) / 10.0 PPG / 42.3% 3FG%
Top Newcomers: Freshman guard Tavon Rhodes (Dorchester, Mass.); Junior wing CJ Leonard (Brockton, Mass.); Freshman guard Angelo Blas (North Port, Fla.); Junior wing Jaxon Miles (Arlington, Texas)
2024-25 Opener: vs. Gordon College, Fri. November 8, 7:30 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: at SUNY Delhi, Fri. December 6th, 7:30 PM