UNCW men picked 9th in preseason CAA basketball poll, UNCW women picked 10th

WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — UNCW senior forward Cedrick Williams has garnered Preseason All-CAA recognition from the league’s coaches, media relations directors and media members on the eve of the 2014-15 men’s college basketball season.

In the team balloting, the Seahawks were picked to finish ninth in the annual poll, which was announced during Tuesday’s CAA Basketball Media Day in Baltimore, Md.

Northeastern, which returns six of its top seven scorers from last season, is favored to win the men’s basketball championship in 2014-15. The Huskies were followed in the voting by William & Mary, Hofstra and Drexel. Selected fifth was James Madison, followed by College of Charleston, Towson, Delaware, UNCW and Elon.

Williams was one of the CAA’s top big men last season and is poised to have a banner year for the Seahawks and new skipper Kevin Keatts. The 6-9 225-pound Williams is UNCW’s top returning scorer (11.5 ppg) and rebounder (6.6 rpg) and was ranked among the CAA’s leaders in several statistical categories one year ago.

The Seahawks meet NCAA Division II Catawba in an exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 8, before kicking off the regular season on Nov. 15 at Old Dominion.

Season tickets to watch the Seahawks are still available and may be purchased by calling 1-800-808-UNCW, 910-962-3233, or by visiting UNCWsports.com.

2014-15 CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. Northeastern
2. William & Mary
3. Hofstra
4. Drexel
5. James Madison
6. College of Charleston
7. Towson
8. Delaware
9. UNCW
10. Elon

2014-15 CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

First Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School
Scott Eatherton, Northeastern# Sr. F 6-8 219 Hershey, Pa./Hershey/St. Francis (Pa.)
Juan’ya Green, Hofstra Jr. G 6-2 195 Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll/Niagara
Damion Lee, Drexel Jr. G 6-6 200 Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall/St. Thomas More
Andre Nation, James Madison^ Jr. G 6-5 200 Plant City, Fla./Faith Baptist Christian
Marcus Thornton, William & Mary* Sr. G 6-4 185 Upper Marlboro, Md./Bishop McNamara

Second Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School
Adjehi Baru, College of Charleston Sr. F 6-9 225 Abidjan, Ivory Coast/The Steward School
Quincy Ford, Northeastern Jr. F/G 6-8 212 St. Petersburg, Fla./Gibbs
Dion Nesmith, Hofstra^ Gr. G 6-1 215 Union, N.J./Union/Monmouth
Omar Prewitt, William & Mary So. G/F 6-6 180 Mount Sterling, Ky./Montgomery County
Cedrick Williams, UNCW Sr. F 6-9 225 Murfreesboro, Tenn./Siegel

CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Marcus Thornton, William & Mary

Honorable Mention: Tavon Allen, Jr., G, Drexel; Kyle Anderson, Sr., G, Delaware; Ron Curry, Jr., G, James Madison; David Walker, Jr., G, Northeastern

*1st team All-CAA in 2013-14
#2nd team All-CAA in 2013-14
^3rd team All-CAA in 2013-14

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WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Follow our sports on Twitter at @WWAYSports

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — Senior playmaker Kelva Atkins of UNCW has been named Preseason First-Team All-CAA by the league’s coaches, media relations directors and media members on the eve of the 2014-15 women’s college basketball season.

The results of the annual poll were announced during Tuesday’s CAA Basketball Media Day in Baltimore, Md.

The Seahawks, who return all five starters from one year ago, were picked to finish 10th in the conference. Defending champion James Madison was tabbed to repeat its title from 2013-14 and was followed in the voting by Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra, Towson, Elon, Northeastern, William & Mary, College of Charleston and UNCW.

JMU welcomes back three starters from last year’s 29-6 squad that captured the 2014 CAA Championship and knocked off sixth-seeded Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Dukes, who won 20 of their last 22 games, went 15-1 in CAA action and received votes in the national polls at season’s end.

Atkins, a versatile performer from Stem, N.C., was a Second-Team All-CAA selection last season after averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Seahawks and third-year Head Coach Adell Harris. She made the All-Tournament Team at the CAA Championships after averaging 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in a pair of games in Upper Marlboro, Md.

The Seahawks entertain NCAA Division II Mount Olive in an exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 8, before kicking off the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 16, with a 2 p.m. matchup against UNC Pembroke.

Season tickets to watch the Seahawks are still available and may be purchased by calling 1-800-808-UNCW, 910-962-3233, or by visiting UNCWsports.com.

2014-15 CAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. James Madison
2. Delaware
3. Drexel
4. Hofstra
5. Towson
6. Elon
7. Northeastern
8. William & Mary
9. College of Charleston
10. UNCW

2014-15 CAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

First Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Hometown/Previous School
Kelva Atkins, UNCW* Sr. G 5-4 Stern, N.C./Granville Central/Columbia St.
Toia Giggetts, James Madison* Sr. F 6-0 Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor
Precious Hall, James Madison* Jr. G 5-8 Tallahassee, Fla./Maclay School
LaTorri Hines-Allen, Towson* Sr. F 6-1 Montclair, N.J./Montclair/Virginia Tech
A’lece Mark, Northeastern# Sr. G 5-7 Springfield, Mass./Loomis Chaffee Acad.

Second Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Hometown/Previous School
Courtni Green, Delaware Jr. G 5-7 Winchester, Va./Millbrook
Jazmon Gwathmey, James Madison Jr. G 6-2 Bealeton, Va./Liberty
Mikaela Hopkins, Coll. of Charleston Sr. F/C 6-5 Augusta, Ga./Thomas Sumter Acad.
Rachel Pearson, Drexel# Jr. G 5-11 West Chester, Pa./Archbishop Carroll
Marlena Tremba, William & Mary So. G 5-9 Vienna, Va./Paul VI

CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Precious Hall, James Madison

Honorable Mention: Joy Caracciolo, Jr., F, Delaware; Elo Edeferioka, So., F, Hofstra; Dominique Johnson, Jr., G, Towson; Brie Mobley, So., G, UNCW

*2nd team All-CAA in 2013-14
#3rd team All-CAA in 2013-14