Rick Pitino’s maiden voyage at Iona resulted in MAAC championship, and first full season may only be the beginning as Gaels enter this year as consensus league favorite. (Photo by Iona College Athletics)
Who, if anyone, can stop the Gaels from tightening their stranglehold on the MAAC tournament, an event that has seen the maroon and gold cut the nets five consecutive times?
Pitino smartly reloaded in the wake of graduating Isaiah Ross and Asante Gist, landing Elijah Joiner, Tyson Jolly and Quinn Slazinski in the transfer portal from Tulsa, SMU and Louisville, respectively. The trio joins returning starters Berrick Jean-Louis and reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Nelly Junior Joseph to form one of the more intimidating top fives in recent conference history. Moreover, senior Dylan van Eyck is back as a sixth man of sorts, and if sophomore Ryan Myers — lauded by Pitino this offseason for his shooting improvement in the Hall of Fame coach’s vaunted player development sessions — can take an incremental leap, the high expectations already placed in and around New Rochelle may very well be exceeded.
Leading the challengers will be the three New Jersey schools, each of whom brings back a significant piece from its past. Saint Peter’s, arguably the most fearless team in the MAAC, was able to bring KC Ndefo back for his senior season after it was widely assumed he would not return when he entered the transfer portal. Ndefo, along with Daryl Banks III and the most underrated point guard in the conference in Matthew Lee, will be the keys for Shaheen Holloway to slay the giant. The Peacocks also return twins Fousseyni and Hassan Drame, along with Doug Edert, Marty Silvera and Oumar Diahame while welcoming a hungry, young core that will be able to make an immediate impact.
Monmouth lost Deion Hammond and Melik Martin from a roster that found a way to share of the regular season crown last year, but the Hawks retained George Papas after the Garden State native elected to come back to West Long Branch, as did Marcus McClary. King Rice added a trio of incoming freshmen and a pair of transfers in Shavar Reynolds (Seton Hall) and Walker Miller (North Carolina) to solidify his program’s habitual place among the top half of the MAAC. Rider is one of two schools to attract a former player back, as two-time first team all-MAAC forward Dimencio Vaughn has resurfaced in Lawrenceville to use his COVID year after a season at Ole Miss. Dwight Murray, Jr., who should have been a first team all-conference selection last year, will co-anchor the Broncs’ efforts, with help from a supporting cast headlined by transfers Mervin James and Sedrick Altman, as well as Allen Powell and point guard Corey McKeithan, who has recovered from a torn ACL to free up Murray to be more of a scoring threat.
Fairfield, last year’s MAAC tournament runner-up, has a pair of seniors in Taj Benning and Jesus Cruz to team with Jake Wojcik and Caleb Green as head coach Jay Young continues to change the culture in the Stags’ program. Elsewhere in the Nutmeg State, Quinnipiac also saw a familiar face come home again, as Kevin Marfo transferred back to Hamden from Texas A&M. Along with Jacob Rigoni, Tymu Chenery and Luis Kortright; plus a healthy Elias King, Baker Dunleavy has quite possibly his most potent arsenal in what is now his fifth season at the helm.
Siena, the regular season champion of the past two seasons, has a new look about them after Manny Camper turned pro, while Jalen Pickett and Jordan King transferred to Penn State and East Tennessee State, respectively. Head coach Carmen Maciariello recruited the transfer portal more actively than anyone this offseason, bringing Anthony Gaines, Jayce Johnson, Colby Rogers, Jordan Kellier, Michael Baer and Mike Tertsea to the Capital Region to mesh with returning forward Jackson Stormo and sophomore point guard Aidan Carpenter to keep the Saints forwardly placed. Marist brings back the bulk of its roster as Jordan Jones anchors the paint and Ricardo Wright leads the backcourt in his sophomore season, but head coach John Dunne has been high on incoming freshman Jao Ituka, who will contend for all-rookie honors alongside fellow newcomer Noah Harris.
Niagara also has its most experienced roster coming back under Greg Paulus, with Marcus Hammond returning for his senior season to lead a supporting cast that includes Raheem Solomon, Justin Roberts, Greg Kuakumensah and South Alabama graduate transfer Sam Iorio. Crosstown rival Canisius has a promising core in place behind Malek Green, Jordan Henderson and Ahamadou Fofana. Finally, Manhattan has its deepest and most talented roster since winning the MAAC championship in 2015. Newcomers Josh Roberts and Jose Perez join Anthony Nelson, Warren Williams, Elijah Buchanan, Samir Stewart and Samba Diallo to give Steve Masiello a multitude of options as the Jaspers seek their first winning season since winning it all six years ago.
Projected Order of Finish
1) Iona — Bet against Rick Pitino at your own risk, even though the Gaels’ road to the top will not be the runaway most people expect.
2) Saint Peter’s — KC Ndefo’s return was the biggest boost to a scrappy Peacocks team that finds ways to win better than most. Shaheen Holloway should have a more cohesive group this season, and will no doubt have his team ready for all situations.
3) Monmouth — The Hawks have been one of few constants atop the MAAC the past several years, and that should not change this season. Shavar Reynolds and Samuel Chaput will give King Rice an interchangeable point guard pairing to free up George Papas and Marcus McClary. If Walker Miller can use his size efficiently, Monmouth could finish even higher.
4) Fairfield — The Stags may be the most deceptively strong team in the MAAC between its steady backcourt play and suffocating defense. Jay Young has not gotten anywhere near as much credit as he deserves for turning Fairfield into a quiet contender.
5) Siena — Carmen Maciariello has made over the roster in the offseason, but the Saints are faster and more athletic this year, and should have no problem exceeding expectations.
6) Marist — John Dunne’s group will have legitimate hype this season. The Red Foxes will need Jordan Jones and Ricardo Wright to take the next step in tandem with their supporting cast.
7) Rider — Dimencio Vaughn’s return cannot be understated, as he and Dwight Murray will help the Broncs make up a lot of ground this year. Corey McKeithan’s arrival at point guard will allow both Vaughn and Murray to intimidate defenses off the ball easily.
8) Manhattan — Steve Masiello brings into Riverdale the most talent in the program since its back-to-back MAAC championships in what will be a pivotal year for the Jaspers.
9) Quinnipiac — Kevin Marfo’s second stint in Hamden should allow Jacob Rigoni to be more comfortable as a shooter, while the Bobcats’ depth could be the strongest in the conference.
10) Niagara — The good news for the Purple Eagles is that Greg Paulus has his most experienced roster. The bad news is that the MAAC as a whole has improved just as much.
11) Canisius — Malek Green will need to be the X-factor for the Golden Griffins, but Reggie Witherspoon has always gotten his role players to improve. Expect more of the same this season.
All-MAAC Preseason Predictions
Preseason Player of the Year: KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s
Preseason Rookie of the Year: Jao Ituka, Marist
First team
Marcus Hammond, Niagara
Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona
Dwight Murray, Jr., Rider
KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s
Dimencio Vaughn, Rider
Second team
Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter’s
George Papas, Monmouth
Jacob Rigoni, Quinnipiac
Warren Williams, Manhattan
Jake Wojcik, Fairfield
Third team
Taj Benning, Fairfield
Malek Green, Canisius
Jordan Jones, Marist
Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac
Anthony Nelson, Manhattan
Jackson Stormo, Siena
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