PITMAN --- New Jersey City, off of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and an NJAC regular season title, was selected as this year’s preseason favorite in a poll of the league’s coaches.
TCNJ was predicted to finish second, followed by Montclair State and Ramapo in third and fourth. Rowan (5), William Paterson (6), Stockton (7), Rutgers-Newark (8), Kean (9), and Rutgers-Camden (10) round out the 2019-20 preseason predictions.
NJCU returns two-time NJAC Player of the Year and All-American Sam Toney along with NJAC all-conference honoree Denzel Banks and experienced senior guard Jeff Haddock. Toney averaged 16.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in his junior season, and recorded a team-high 26 blocks. Banks was the second-leading scorer with 11.5 points, and led the squad with 42 steals. The Gothic Knights lost six seniors to graduation and will look to a large class of newcomers to fill in the vacant roles. Among the newcomers are senior transfers Jaimik Moore (via Brookdale Community College and Claflin University) and Quadri Moore (via Cincinnati). Reigning Coach of the Year Marc Brown put together a challenging schedule for 2019-20.
TCNJ looks to move up in the standings after finishing sixth last year with a 9-9 league record. The Lions return a pair of seniors, including all-conference first team honoree Randy Walko and experienced forward Ryan Jensen. Walko averaged over 20 points per game last year and was an efficient 84.4 percent from the free throw line. Juniors Travis Jocelyn (7.4 ppg) and PJ Ringel (6.9 ppg) are expected to step up, and the Lions also welcome a handful of true freshmen to the lineup. Head Coach Matt Goldsmith is in his fifth season with the Lions.
Montclair State is under the direction of new head coach Justin Potts, and the Red Hawks are expected to continue to be among the top once again after tying for third last year. The Red Hawks return a quartet of seniors, including all-conference honorable mention Akbar Hoffman along with Justin Porter, Jalen Parham, and Eddie Emedoh. Hoffman led the Red Hawks with 16.3 points per game last year. Senior transfer Nate Nahirny, a guard via Mississippi Valley State, is also expected to be in the mix along with newcomers Steve Breeman from Jefferson Township High School and Keyon Pryce out of Roselle Catholic.
Ramapo, guided by 22-year veteran head coach Chuck McBreen, is expected to contend once again after tying for third last season and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Roadrunners are senior-loaded, with Rob McWilliams, Matt Latka, Jordan Zagadou, Connor Romano, and Andre Morgan leading the charge. McWilliams is the leading returning scorer, averaging 12.3 points last season. Sophomore Jason Battle, who averaged nearly 30 minutes a game as a rookie, is also back; he led the Roadrunners with 3.0 assists per game last year while chipping in 6.9 points.
Defending conference champion and NCAA Second Round participant Rowan lost an accomplished senior class to graduation, including top four scorers Nick DePersia (15.3 ppg), DaRon Curry (14.4 ppg), Defensive Player of the Year Ramon Wright (12.0 ppg/6.2 rpg), and Rob DePersia (10.9 ppg). The Profs return three-time Rookie of the Week Connor Dickerson, who averaged 8.8 points as a true freshman. Seniors Diante Bah and Austin Kearney, along with juniors Matt Green and Ryan Legler, are expected to fill in the vacated roles along with a handful of newcomers. Joe Crispin is in his fourth season as head coach, compiling a 52-30 record including last year’s 22-7 campaign.
William Paterson is predicted to finish sixth this season after tying for third last year. The Pioneers do return top two scorers Sean Smith (16.4 ppg) and Domenic Mignone (14.1 ppg). Smith was a First Team All-Conference honoree last year and Mignone earned honorable mention. The duo will lead a roster of eight returning juniors and seniors as well as a handful of newcomers who are expected to contribute right away.
Stockton, which is predicted to repeat its seventh place finish from last year, features a young group. All-Conference honoree Steve Ferebee and classmate Jordan Taylor are the two leading returning scorers, averaging 10.6 and 10.4 points respectively last year. Kyion Flanders, a two-time NJAC Rookie of the Week, is back for his sophomore campaign after chipping in 7.6 points per game last year. Head Coach Scott Bittner, in his fourth season, also looks to a talented and deep group of newcomers to contribute.
Rutgers-Newark is coming off of an ECAC Championship title last season, and returns leading scorer Chase Barneys (15.7 ppg). The Scarlet Raiders, however, look to replace the services of graduated seniors Mark Thomas and Tyler Ofray, who contributed a combined 28.4 points last year. Junior guard Mike Vick (4.8 ppg/4.1 rpg) and junior forward Quincy Rutherford (7.3 ppg) return to the lineup as well. Joe Loughran is in his 19
th season at the helm.
Kean, this year’s dark horse selection, looks to improve on last year’s 5-13 conference record. With a season under their belts, second-year head coach Adam Hutchinson and reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year Jailen Jamison look to build on the team’s strong finish to last year. Jamison averaged 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds, and led the team with 93 assists (3.7 apg) and 42 steals (1.7 spg) is the leading returning scorer this season. Jared Latane is also back after averaging double figures last season. Hutchinson welcomes a handful of newcomers, including transfer Josh Jackson from St. Elizabeth.
Rutgers-Camden welcomes new head coach Stuart Pradia, who looks to improve the Scarlet Raptors after a tough 2018-19 season. Pradia will lean on leading returning scorer Ian McCarthy, who averaged 9.9 points overall and 11.4 in conference play last season. Issac Destin also returns to the lineup after a one-year hiatus; he led the Raptors in 2017-18 with 16.3 points per game.
The 2019-20 season tips off on Thursday, Nov. 7, when NJCU heads down the road for an exhibition game at Division I Saint Peter’s. The regular season opens on Friday with Montclair State heading to Oregon to face Whitman. Kean, Ramapo, and Rutgers-Camden open on Saturday.
2019-20 Preseason Poll (First place votes in parentheses)
- NJCU (8)
- TCNJ
- Montclair State (1)
- Ramapo (1)
- Rowan
- William Paterson
- Stockton
- Rutgers-Newark
- Kean (dark horse)
- Rutgers-Camden