With two conference games having already been played and the return of league play beckoning this weekend, so too comes the reprisal of MAAC Monday for this, the 2019-20 college basketball season. For those unfamiliar with this weekly look at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the opening segment traditionally revolves around a particular team that is thrust into the spotlight, followed by an updated set of league leaders, plus conference-wide power rankings as judged by Jaden and Vinny. However, as the dawn of a new decade appears ever so closer on the horizon, this year's curtain-raiser will be the announcement of the best players to come through the MAAC over the past ten seasons, as Jaden and Vinny have selected their all-decade MAAC team.
MAAC ALL-DECADE TEAM
Criteria: All players and coaches must have competed in at least two MAAC seasons between 2010-11 and 2019-20 in order to gain eligibility
Initially, this list was going to be comprised of twelve players and four coaches, but after heavy deliberation, the list of players was expanded to fifteen. Before we go any further, here are the honorable mentions that were discussed, but ultimately did not make the cut. All honorable mentions are listed in alphabetical order by school and name:
Canisius: Jermaine Crumpton
Fairfield: Derek Needham
Iona: E.J. Crawford, Mike Glover, associate head coach Jared Grasso, Momo Jones, Jordan Washington
Loyola Maryland: Dylon Cormier, Erik Etherly
Manhattan: Emmy Andujar, Shane Richards
Marist: Khallid Hart, Brian Parker
Monmouth: Head coach King Rice, Micah Seaborn
Niagara: Kahlil Dukes, Juan'ya Green, Antoine Mason, Marvin Prochet
Quinnipiac: Ousmane Drame, Zaid Hearst
Rider: Stevie Jordan, Daniel Stewart
Saint Peter's: Marvin Dominique, Desi Washington
Siena: Brett Bisping, Lavon Long, Javion Ogunyemi, Jalen Pickett, Rob Poole
PLAYERS (in alphabetical order)
O.D. Anosike, Siena (2009-2013)
The Staten Island native was one constant for Siena while Mitch Buonaguro failed to live up to Fran McCaffery's overwhelming success, leading the nation in rebounding in both his junior and senior seasons, averaging 12.5 boards per game as a junior in 2011-12 and 11.4 caroms in 2012-13, solidifying himself alongside Ryan Rossiter as the foundation of the Saints' front line.
Sean Armand, Iona (2010-2014)
Among the first batch of Tim Cluess and Jared Grasso recruits to change the culture in New Rochelle, Armand worked his way from unheralded prospect to sixth man to superstar guard on his way to carving out a successful professional career overseas. His ten three-point field goals at Madison Square Garden against Siena in 2012 was merely the beginning for the sharpshooter becoming a household name for years to come.
Billy Baron, Canisius (2012-2014)
Very few transfers into the MAAC have left behind them the legacy of transforming a program into a perennial contender the way Baron did at Canisius when he came to Buffalo after his father, Jim, replaced Tom Parrotta as head coach in 2012. A Player of the Year as a senior, averaging 24.1 points per game in the process, Baron set the standard for dominant point guards in the conference, a bar that was exceeded by two other players on this list.
George Beamon, Manhattan (2009-2014)
The most prolific offensive weapon in Steve Masiello's arsenal, Beamon demonstrated a knack for scoring and rebounding like few players his size, stretching the floor and causing matchup problems for taller players despite his 6-foot-4 frame. One particular outburst stands out when recalling Beamon's explosive scoring prowess, his 31-point virtuoso performance against Monmouth in 2016, one in which he scored 24 points in the first half and left no doubt as to his potential.
Rhamel Brown, Manhattan (2010-2014)
Three times the MAAC's Defensive Player of the Year, Brown was the centerpiece behind Manhattan's interior defense and galvanized the Jaspers en route to a conference championship and near-upset of Louisville in the NCAA Tournament his senior year. No further was Brown's legacy felt than when Masiello compared Rich Williams to his former high school teammate for his leadership in timeouts four years later.
When A.J. English returned from a broken hand that cost him the second half of his freshman year, hardly anyone could have expected him to become the next great Iona legend, but the blend of dynamic scorer and floor general took matters into his own hands over his final three seasons. Highlighted by a 46-point magnum opus against Fairfield in 2015, English's unmatched combination of fierce competitor and selfless, humble teammate lifted the Gaels to new heights, even if he was just simply playing Iona basketball.
David Laury, Iona (2012-2015)
Well-traveled before even landing in New Rochelle, Laury was a different breed for Tim Cluess over his three years in maroon and gold: A big man who ran the floor like a point guard, instincts that never went away after a late growth spurt. One of three Gaels to win MAAC Player of the Year honors this decade, Laury's near-automatic double-double in every game as a senior propelled Iona to a second straight regular season conference championship.
Chavaughn Lewis, Marist (2011-2015)
Marist's all-time leading scorer, Lewis could always be counted on for a basket as the Red Foxes found their way through the woods under three different coaches during the swingman's four years in Poughkeepsie. His three-quarter-court shot at the buzzer to send Iona into a second overtime in a 105-104 Marist win remains his signature moment.
Scott Machado, Iona (2008-2012)
Perhaps the best pure passer the MAAC has ever seen, Machado blossomed when he was reunited with Tim Cluess, who coached him in high school when the Queens native starred at St. Mary in Manhasset. Averaging a double-double with points and assists per game as a senior, Machado turned in just the second triple-double in Iona history in 2012, when he registered 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Marist en route to Player of th Year honors.
Rickey McGill's story has been told many times before: Seldom played as a freshman, advised to transfer because he wasn't performing to the level required at his program, only to be the hardest-working player in the conference by the time he exited his final game, against North Carolina last March. By the way, McGill just happens to be the only player in MAAC history to win four conference championships, and his drive to better himself now becomes a positive example for all young players to follow.
Tyler Nelson, Fairfield (2014-18)
Nelson's destiny was apparent the moment Martin Bahar recruited him to the Stags' campus, and Sydney Johnson brought out the best in his Massachusetts product, turning him from lethal marksman into Fairfield's all-time leading scorer. At the same time, Nelson spearheaded the change in identity from a methodical, deliberate offense into the Running Stags approach that brought he and his team to the precipice of a MAAC championship in a final game remembered for his prolonged and heartfelt embrace with Johnson in its final minutes.
When talking about the best of the MAAC this decade, Justin Robinson should either be the first or second name mentioned, depending on how frequently you saw him work. The first player in 13 years to capture back-to-back MAAC Player of the Year awards, the 5-foot-8 Robinson matched his outsized personality and selfless nature off the court with an effortless attacking style on it, earning himself a place in both the hearts of Monmouth fans and the annals of mid-major college basketball over an unforgettable career.
Matt Scott, Niagara (2014-2018)
Quite possibly the MAAC's most underappreciated player, Scott never truly got his due during a career on Monteagle Ridge where the Brooklyn guard averaged seven rebounds per game in each of his last three seasons. Sadly, an ankle injury at the end of his senior season compromised a potential championship run for Niagara in the 2018 MAAC tournament, but Scott's impact was still felt on a Purple Eagle program still searching for a player of his caliber under current head coach Greg Paulus.
Marquis Wright, Siena (2014-2018)
Jimmy Patsos' first recruit to the Capital Region, following his coach from Loyola to Siena, Wright became a four-year warrior and a 1,000-point scorer as the Saints returned to the top half of the MAAC during his time at the point. Alongside Brett Bisping, Lavon Long and Javion Ogunyemi, Wright was a scorer and passer rivaled by a select few in the MAAC, and played a major role in Siena reaching a conference championship game in 2017.
Cameron Young, Quinnipiac (2016-2019)
Recruited by Tom Moore and developed under Baker Dunleavy, Young's meteoric rise from rotation piece to leading scorer and MAAC Player of the Year accelerated Quinnipiac's climb up the conference ladder. A record-breaking wing who scored 55 points in a game against Siena last season, Young solidified the Bobcats as a major player in the MAAC once again after the program's first two years in the conference yielded similar promise.
COACHES
When one of the coaches in the MAAC is responsible for five conference tournament championships, six NCAA Tournament appearances, eight 20-win seasons, and nine postseason appearances in as many years, it goes without saying that he is the first name on the list for all-decade coaches. So it is for Cluess, whose transition from Division II LIU Post to New Rochelle as Kevin Willard's successor in 2010 was smooth and seamless, building the MAAC's third true dynasty, joining the La Salle teams of the early 1990s and Fran McCaffery's late-2000s Siena outfits. Iona becoming the first school in MAAC history to win four consecutive conference tournaments is just the latest bullet on a resume that gets richer with each passing year.
After Tim Cluess, Masiello is clearly next in line in terms of success over this decade, having guided Manhattan to a pair of MAAC championships in 2013-14 and 2014-15, the first for the Jaspers since 2004, when Masiello was an assistant under Bobby Gonzalez. With two 20-win seasons in his first three years at the helm, and a record of 79-53 after bringing the second of the two aforementioned conference titles to Riverdale, Masiello set the tone for Manhattan's matchup zone and pressure defense to become one of the more recognizable brands among MAAC programs.
At the end of the day, despite a sub-.500 record, Dunne does have a pair of testimonials on his ledger: Saint Peter's 2011 MAAC tournament championship and the Peacocks' victory in the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Dunne also possessed the innate ability to continuously get the most out of a roster judged to rank among the least during his years in Jersey City, and his first year-and-a-half at Marist suggests similar results are on the way, even in the face of a considerable rebuild this season. For that, and his steady presence in a changing conference landscape, he gets recognized here.
The only coach this decade to cut down nets for two different schools, Patsos won a MAAC tournament in 2012 at Loyola, then directed Siena to a College Basketball Invitational crown two years later upon replacing Mitch Buonaguro at the helm of the Saints. Say what you want about Patsos' theatrics and entertaining press conferences, but the former Gary Williams assistant corroborated his vast knowledge off the court with a style of basketball that was responsible for cultivating four 1,000-point scorers in his next-to-last senior class at Siena, as well as a full-scale turnaround at Loyola from one-win team to championship unit.
Scoring Leaders
1) Rich Kelly, Quinnipiac (17.1 PPG)
2) Jalen Pickett, Siena (16.8)
3) E.J. Crawford, Iona (16.1)
4) Elijah Burns, Siena (16.1)
5) Tajuan Agee, Iona (16.0)
6) Landon Taliaferro, Fairfield (15.9)
7) Tyere Marshall, Rider (15.7)
8) Deion Hammond, Monmouth (15.6)
9) Frederick Scott, Rider (14.9)
10) James Towns, Niagara (14.7)
Rebounding Leaders
1) Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (13.5 RPG)
2) Manny Camper, Siena (11.6)
3) Tyere Marshall, Rider (10.6)
4) Tajuan Agee, Iona (8.3)
5) Frederick Scott, Rider (6.7)
6) Dimencio Vaughn, Rider (6.6)
7) Mustapha Traore, Monmouth (6.5)
8) Tykei Greene, Manhattan (6.4)
T-9) Elijah Burns, Siena (6.0)
T-9) Pauly Paulicap, Manhattan (6.0)
Assist Leaders
1) Malik Johnson, Canisius (5.5 APG)
2) Stevie Jordan, Rider (4.9)
3) Rich Kelly, Quinnipiac (4.4)
4) Jalen Pickett, Siena (4.1)
5) Asante Gist, Iona (3.4)
6) Isaiah Washington, Iona (3.3)
7) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (3.3)
8) Samuel Chaput, Monmouth (3.2)
9) Ray Salnave, Monmouth (3.1)
10) Taj Benning, Fairfield (3.0)
Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Tyere Marshall, Rider (.608)
2) Elijah Burns, Siena (.596)
3) Tajuan Agee, Iona (.550)
4) Jalanni White, Canisius (.548)
5) Greg Kuakumensah, Niagara (.519)
6) Manny Camper, Siena (.500)
7) Frederick Scott, Rider (.480)
8) James Towns, Niagara (.467)
9) Raheem Solomon, Niagara (.466)
10) Pauly Paulicap, Manhattan (.466)
Free Throw Percentage Leaders
1) Donald Carey, Siena (.895)
2) Isaiah Ross, Iona (.875)
3) James Towns, Niagara (.849)
T-4) Taj Benning, Fairfield (.846)
T-4) Ray Salnave, Monmouth (.846)
6) E.J. Crawford, Iona (.824)
7) Stevie Jordan, Rider (.813)
8) Elijah Burns, Siena (.792)
9) Tajuan Agee, Iona (.778)
10) Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (.774)
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Doug Edert, Saint Peter's (.512)
2) Matthew Lee, Saint Peter's (.481)
3) Ray Salnave, Monmouth (.477)
4) Landon Taliaferro, Fairfield (.440)
5) Rich Kelly, Quinnipiac (.424)
6) Frederick Scott, Rider (.414)
7) Jacob Rigoni, Quinnipiac (.403)
8) Matt Herasme, Marist (.400)
9) Tyler Sagl, Marist (.390)
10) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (.389)
Steal Leaders
1) Malik Johnson, Canisius (2.7 SPG)
2) Stevie Jordan, Rider (2.3)
3) Isaiah Washington, Iona (2.0)
4) Samir Stewart, Manhattan (1.9)
5) Ray Salnave, Monmouth (1.7)
Blocked Shot Leaders
1) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's (2.4 BPG)
2) Pauly Paulicap, Manhattan (1.6)
3) Tajuan Agee, Iona (1.6)
4) Seth Pinkney, Quinnipiac (1.3)
5) Jalen Pickett, Siena (1.2)
Power Rankings
1) Rider (7-3, 1-0 MAAC)
Last Game: Saturday 12/21 at Temple (L 78-66)
Next Game: Tuesday 12/31 at Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
2) Siena (5-5, 1-0 MAAC)
Last Game: Sunday 12/29 vs. Holy Cross (W 74-62)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 vs. Monmouth, 7 p.m.
3) Monmouth (6-5)
Last Game: Saturday 12/21 vs. Albany (W 72-70)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 at Siena, 7 p.m.
4) Quinnipiac (5-5)
Last Game: Saturday 12/21 vs. Bowling Green (W 69-64)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 at Marist, 7 p.m.
5) Fairfield (4-7)
Last Game: Saturday 12/28 at Wagner (W 66-54)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 at Niagara, 7 p.m.
T-6) Manhattan (4-5)
Last Game: Sunday 12/22 at Hofstra (L 63-51)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 at Canisius, 7 p.m.
T-6) Canisius (5-6, 0-1 MAAC)
Last Game: Monday 12/23 at Siena (L 73-72)
Next Game: Monday 12/30 at Pitt, 12 p.m.
8) Iona (2-5)
Last Game: Sunday 12/29 at Colorado (L 99-54)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 vs. Saint Peter's, 7 p.m.
T-9) Saint Peter's (3-6)
Last Game: Saturday 12/28 vs. Hampton (L 70-67)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 at Iona, 7 p.m.
T-9) Niagara (2-9)
Last Game: Saturday 12/28 at Syracuse (L 71-57)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 vs. Fairfield, 7 p.m.
11) Marist (1-9, 0-1 MAAC)
Last Game: Saturday 12/28 at Columbia (L 69-54)
Next Game: Friday 1/3 vs. Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.
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