MAAC Monday: Monmouth’s upside, stat leaders, power rankings

Deion Hammond leads Monmouth into senior year where Hawks are prominent MAAC contenders. (Photo by Karlee Sell/Monmouth University Athletics)

MAAC Monday returns this week in a more traditional format than last week’s season debut. While stat leaders and power rankings are reprised in the second and third segments, the team spotlights take center stage in the opening once again, beginning with a team that was shut down three times before finally raising the curtain on 2020-21 this past Tuesday for its first of three games.

Picked in a third-place tie when the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s preseason coaches’ poll was revealed, the general consensus surrounding Monmouth was that of a program with returning upside despite the loss of Ray Salnave to DePaul in the offseason. With Deion Hammond, Samuel Chaput and George Papas all back in West Long Branch to join senior forwards Melik Martin and Marcus McClary, the Hawks remained a deep and talented outfit even if the most recognizable name on the roster a year ago was no longer around.

Paused three times due to positive COVID-19 tests, the last of which coming hours before its November 25 opener against Hofstra was to be played, Monmouth finally made up for lost time last week, rescheduling the Hofstra game last Tuesday before opening MAAC play Friday and Saturday against Saint Peter’s. Although coming away with a 1-2 record, the main takeaway for a team that put up 88 points in its first live action was the mounds of promise that will certainly manifest itself further as the year goes on.

“We’ve got a freshman class that’s really big-time, and we’ve got some seniors that are pretty good,” head coach King Rice said of the infusion of Myles Ruth, Klemen Vuga, Myles Foster and Jack Holmstrom to the core group of upperclassmen in the program. “I think our versatility is what’s going to make us have a chance. Jarvis (Vaughan) gives us a toughness we have not had in my ten years, Donovann (Toatley) does some things that you’re not going to believe until you see it, and together — when you implement them with the whole group — I really like our chances.”

With Hammond already regarded as a first team all-MAAC player and potential player of the year, Monmouth knew what to expect from its senior sharpshooter. Papas, even with his experience and trust from Rice and his staff, has been a revelation during this young season, a status only boosted after his 32-point explosion against Hofstra, when the former Union Catholic standout connected on nine 3-point field goal attempts to tie a school record.

George Papas has gotten off to hot start, averaging over 20 points per game for Monmouth in his senior season. (Photo by Karlee Sell/Monmouth University Athletics)

“My first three years, I’ve always felt like I wasn’t playing my best ball,” Papas admitted, attributing his offseason growth to his intense workout program in a home gym set up by his brother, Thomas, a personal trainer who oversaw the growth of George and Hammond in what came to be called The Chamber. “I worked on tough shots a lot all summer long, so I really got better. I worked on those a lot, step-back situations, I’ve been doing that for years. Now that I’m a senior, I’ve just got to keep pushing. I want this team to succeed more than myself.”

“That dude has zero fear,” acting Hofstra head coach Mike Farrelly said after Papas’ opening salvo. “I saw him in prep school in Maine, I drove 14 hours up there, and he’s just a fearless, fearless dude. Awesome shooter, unlimited range, and a terrific player.”

In two games off the bench, Toatley has posted double-figure point totals in each contest. Nobody will ever live up to the legacy of Justin Robinson in the Monmouth program, but early returns have shown Toatley to perhaps be the next successful point guard to don the Hawks’ blue and white, and the Maryland native looks to already be thriving in Rice’s uptempo system.

“Donovann’s a firecracker, man,” Hammond proclaimed, praising his former high school teammate with whom he is now reunited. “He can bring a lot to the team. He’s quick off the dribble and he can score a lot, he knows the proper positions to find guys in. He’s pretty much everything you could ask for.”

“Don is explosive,” Rice added. “He’s really good. We’ve got to get him used to playing with all our guys. He’s someone you can give the ball to and he’ll come back with a lot of points. He’s working with me, getting better, and you’re going to see great basketball from that young man.”

The last time Monmouth had this many options in its arsenal, a special two years ensued wherein the Hawks won 55 games and earned consecutive National Invitation Tournament berths. This year’s iteration may not be that far along yet, but Rice firmly believes it is on the right track.

“This is who we are,” he said. “We’re going to come after you. That’s what we’re going to do. Hopefully by the end of the season, we’ll have played enough games and we’ll have a chance. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Scoring Leaders

1) Isaiah Ross, Iona (21.4 PPG)

T-2) Deion Hammond, Monmouth (20.3)

T-2) George Papas, Monmouth (20.3)

4) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (20.0)

5) Majesty Brandon, Canisius (18.5)

6) Dwight Murray, Rider (15.2)

7) Malek Green, Canisius (14.5)

8) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (13.6)

9) Jason Douglas-Stanley, Manhattan (12.8)

10) Elijah Buchanan, Manhattan (12.7)

Rebounding Leaders

1) Malek Green, Canisius (10.0 RPG)

2) Fousseyni Drame, Saint Peter’s (8.0)

3) Dwight Murray, Rider (7.2)

4) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (6.9)

5) Nikkei Rutty, Monmouth (6.3)

6) Dylan van Eyck, Iona (6.1)

7) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (6.0)

8) Berrick JeanLouis, Iona (5.9)

T-9) Elias King, Quinnipiac (5.8)

T-9) Jacob Rigoni, Quinnipiac (5.8)

Assist Leaders

T-1) Matthew Lee, Saint Peter’s (5.0 APG)

T-1) Dwight Murray, Rider (5.0)

3) Jacco Fritz, Canisius (4.5)

4) Savion Lewis, Quinnipiac (3.5)

5) Samuel Chaput, Monmouth (3.3)

6) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (3.3)

T-7) Jordan Henderson, Canisius (3.0)

T-7) Brendan McGuire, Quinnipiac (3.0)

T-7) Kobi Nwandu, Niagara (3.0)

10) Caleb Green, Fairfield (2.9)

Field Goal Percentage Leaders

1) Brendan McGuire, Quinnipiac (.625)

2) Melik Martin, Monmouth (.588)

3) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (.559)

4) George Papas, Monmouth (.559)

5) Berrick JeanLouis, Iona (.524)

6) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (.521)

7) Isaiah Ross, Iona (.520)

8) Majesty Brandon, Canisius (.517)

9) Christian Ings, Rider (.514)

10) Kobi Nwandu, Niagara (.511)

Free Throw Percentage Leaders

1) Nikkei Rutty, Monmouth (1.000)

2) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (.917)

T-3) Taj Benning, Fairfield (.909)

T-3) Justin Roberts, Niagara (.909)

5) Armon Harried, Canisius (.889)

6) Ricardo Wright, Marist (.852)

7) Elias King, Quinnipiac (.818)

8) Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Rider (.813)

9) Jalen Leach, Fairfield (.810)

10) Dwight Murray, Rider (.808)

3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders

1) Brendan McGuire, Quinnipiac (1.000)

2) George Papas, Monmouth (.571)

3) Rodney Henderson, Rider (.484)

4) Jeremiah Pope, Rider (.467)

5) Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter’s (.465)

6) Taj Benning, Fairfield (.464)

7) Tymu Chenery, Quinnipiac (.455)

T-8) Berrick JeanLouis, Iona (.444)

T-8) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (.444)

10) Braden Bell, Marist (.438)

Steal Leaders

1) Deion Hammond, Monmouth (2.7 SPG)

2) Majesty Brandon, Canisius (2.5)

3) Berrick JeanLouis, Iona (2.4)

T-4) Elijah Buchanan, Manhattan (2.0)

T-4) Melik Martin, Monmouth (2.0)

T-4) Myles Ruth, Monmouth (2.0)

Blocked Shot Leaders

1) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s (3.3 BPG)

2) Seth Pinkney, Quinnipiac (3.0)

3) Elijah Buchanan, Manhattan (1.7)

T-4) Armon Harried, Canisius (1.5)

T-4) Jordan Jones, Marist (1.5)

Power Rankings

1) Saint Peter’s (5-3, 3-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 1

Last Game: Saturday 12/19 at Monmouth (W 78-76)

Next Game: Wednesday 12/23 at St. Francis Brooklyn, 2 p.m.

2) Marist (5-1, 3-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 7

Last Game: Sunday 12/20 at Manhattan (W 72-67)

Next Game: Friday 1/1 vs. Quinnipiac, 5 p.m.

3) Monmouth (1-2, 1-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 3

Last Game: Saturday 12/19 vs. Saint Peter’s (L 78-76)

Next Game: Sunday 12/27 vs. Canisius, 2 p.m.

4) Iona (4-3, 3-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 6

Last Game: Saturday 12/19 at Rider (W 72-64)

Next Game: Wednesday 12/23 vs. Coppin State, 7 p.m.

5) Siena (0-0)

Last Week: 2

First Game: Sunday 1/3 vs. Monmouth, 3 p.m.

6) Niagara (2-3, 2-2 MAAC)

Last Week: 11

Last Game: Saturday 12/19 vs. Fairfield (W 81-61)

Next Game: Tuesday 12/22 vs. Albany, 3 p.m.

7) Quinnipiac (2-2)

Last Week: 8

Last Game: Sunday 12/6 vs. New Hampshire (W 64-58)

Next Game: Friday 1/1 at Marist, 5 p.m.

8) Canisius (1-1, 1-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 9

Last Game: Saturday 12/12 vs. Marist (W 56-52)

Next Game: Sunday 12/27 at Monmouth, 2 p.m.

9) Rider (1-5, 1-3 MAAC)

Last Week: 5

Last Game: Saturday 12/19 vs. Iona (L 72-64)

Next Game: Wednesday 12/23 vs. NJIT, 2 p.m.

10) Manhattan (1-3, 1-3 MAAC)

Last Week: 4

Last Game: Sunday 12/20 vs. Marist (L 72-67)

Next Game: Friday 1/15 at Canisius, 7 p.m.

11) Fairfield (1-7, 1-3 MAAC)

Last Week: 10

Last Game: Saturday 12/19 at Niagara (L 81-61)

Next Game: Tuesday 12/22 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 3 p.m.