2025-26 MBWA awards ballot: More love for locals after more widespread success

With the New York metropolitan area college basketball season officially in the books following St. John’s loss to Duke in the NCAA Tournament, the time has now come to recognize the best of the best among New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

For the 93rd time, the Metropolitan Basketball Writers’ Association will do just that, paying homage to the stars of the area on April 23 at its annual awards dinner, again celebrated at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel and Conference Center in Tarrytown. This year’s gala promises to be more diverse among its honorees, as multiple local teams participated in the postseason this year. I was privileged to have cast a vote in deciding the awards for a 14th consecutive season, and as I always do in this space every year, will share my ballot here for transparency.

Here goes:

Lt. Frank J. Haggerty Award: Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s

16.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.1 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 54% FG, 72% FT, 31% 3-pt FG

As close to a sure thing as there was in basketball this season, Ejiofor did whatever St. John’s needed him to do, and then some. The senior forward was the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year as the Red Storm repeated its Big East regular season and tournament championship double, and endeared himself to fans of the Johnnies by playing a workmanlike style that proved to be a perfect marriage for Rick Pitino’s system the past three years. Ejiofor will be the second straight St. John’s player to be named the area’s best, and should be crowned unanimously at that, because no one else was his equal at any point this season.

Also considered: Cruz Davis, Hofstra; Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s

Rest of All-Met first team, in alphabetical order:

Budd Clark, Seton Hall

Cruz Davis, Hofstra

Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s

Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s

Erik Pratt, Stony Brook

All-Met second team, in alphabetical order:

CJ Anthony, Iona

Preston Edmead, Hofstra

Tariq Francis, Rutgers

Jamal Fuller, LIU

Dejour Reaves, Fordham

All-Met third team, in alphabetical order:

Brandon Benjamin, Fairfield

Brent Bland, Saint Peter’s

Anquan Hill, Sacred Heart

Kenny Noland, Columbia

Braden Sparks, Fairfield

Rookie of the Year: Preston Edmead, Hofstra

16.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.4 APG, 40% FG, 83% FT, 39% 3-pt FG

Speedy Claxton’s unmatched ability to develop guards into stars manifested again on Long Island this season, taking Edmead and turning him into a multi-level scorer who raises his game in the biggest moments. If not for the Deer Park native, Hofstra may not have ended its 25-year NCAA Tournament drought, as his game-winning three in overtime of the CAA tournament semifinals got the Pride to the doorstep before a second straight MVP performance enabled March Madness to visit Nassau County. Edmead has expressed a desire to stay at Hofstra for his sophomore season, a promising sign in light of the transfer portal and a boon to the Pride’s repeat chances.

Also considered: Brandon Benjamin, Fairfield; David Bolden, NJIT

Lou Carnesecca Coach of the Year: Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall

With all due respect to Rick Pitino, who will assuredly receive some votes here for getting St. John’s to its first Sweet 16 since 1999, we knew the Red Storm would be a contender and a factor in March. Hardly anyone expected Holloway to completely turn the page from last season’s 7-25 aberration at Seton Hall and win 21 games at his alma mater one year later. Despite a smaller NIL budget compared to their Big East brethren, the Pirates embodied their leader on and off the floor, using the double-figure rotation Holloway honed at Saint Peter’s to perfection while Budd Clark became an extension of him at the point guard spot. Seton Hall should have more continuity going into next season, which will undoubtedly make Holloway’s job easier as he looks to return the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.

Also considered: Speedy Claxton, Hofstra; Bashir Mason, Saint Peter’s