2024-25 NEC Basketball Preview

Conference Overview

Join us for our 2024-25 NEC Basketball Preview, where we dive into one of college basketball’s most unpredictable conferences. Last season, Wagner, despite having a losing record in conference play and only half of its team healthy, won the NEC tournament with stellar defense, advanced to the NCAA Tournament, and even won the play-in game against a solid Howard team. This season brings major changes as Merrimack and Sacred Heart depart the NEC, with Chicago State joining from independent status and Mercyhurst transitioning from Division II. In this new-look conference, the question remains: who will emerge as the top contender this season?

Wagner leads the NEC as a favorite despite losing breakout star Melvin Council, Jr., boasting one of the conference’s most complete teams. Though they lack a clear go-to star this season, Wagner’s strong backcourt, anchored by returning point guard Javier Ezquerra, should help carry them far. Zaire Williams also returns from injury, and Green Bay transfer Zae Blake joins after sitting out last season.

Central Connecticut State, another strong contender, features Player of the Year favorite Jordan Jones, a steady scorer and leader at point guard. The Blue Devils strengthened their backcourt by adding two Division II transfers, whose skills align well with the level of the NEC. This added depth should position them as strong contenders to challenge Wagner for the top spot.

Le Moyne may be an underrated top team in the NEC this year, having added depth and quality transfers to the roster. They welcome Siena transfer Zek Tekin, a pass-first point guard, and Robby Carmody from Mercer, who brings Power 5 experience from his time at Notre Dame and is a former four-star recruit.

LIU added Malachi Davis from Arizona State, a top-10 JUCO prospect two years ago, who is expected to thrive with an expanded role this season. Their frontcourt is likely to be composed of a Division II transfer and a JUCO player, both expected to step up this season.

Fairleigh Dickinson, only two years removed from its historic upset of #1 seed Purdue in the NCAA Tournament, struggled with high expectations last season. This year, FDU will combine two key returners with a JUCO and Division II transfer in their starting lineup. Look out for Dylan Jones, a standout JUCO prospect who could play a pivotal role for the Knights.

Chicago State, though new to the NEC, returns defensive standout Noble Crawford, likely one of the conference’s top defenders. With a lean roster in terms of minutes played, Chicago State will need maximum contributions from each player. Mercyhurst, also transitioning from Division II, brings significant talent with two returning starters and another Division II transfer, all averaging double digits last season. New NEC teams transitioning from Division II have found success in the past, and Mercyhurst hopes to follow this trend.

Saint Francis lost players to the transfer portal and will rely heavily on a backcourt trio this season, which includes a JUCO standout and two returning guards looking to step into larger roles. Stonehill, after an encouraging season two years ago, struggled last season and lacks a double-digit scorer in their projected starting lineup. For Stonehill to rise in the standings, multiple returners and transfers must step up.

The NEC’s defining characteristic is its unpredictability, as highlighted in our 2024-25 NEC Basketball Preview. Whether it’s a new team from Division II making an immediate impact, an NEC team pulling off an NCAA Tournament upset, or an injury-depleted squad going on a conference tournament run, surprises await at every turn, promising another thrilling season.

NEC Basketball Preview: Projected Standings

1. Wagner
2. Central Connecticut State
3. Le Moyne
4. LIU
5. FDU
6. Chicago State
7. Mercyhurst
8. Saint Francis
9. Stonehill

NEC Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners

Player of the Year: Jordan Jones, Central Connecticut State

Defensive Player of the Year: Noble Crawford, Chicago State

Newcomer of the Year: Malachi Davis, LIU

Freshman of the Year: Josiah Francis, FDU

Coach of the Year: Donald Copeland, Wagner

NEC Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First Team

Jordan Jones, Central Connecticut State

Zae Blake, Wagner

Robby Carmody, Le Moyne

Malachi Davis, LIU

Darrick Jones, Jr., Le Moyne

Central Connecticut State Blue Devils

Projected Starters:

PG: Jordan Jones (13.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.6 apg)

SG: Jaelen McGlone (12.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg @ D2 East Stroudsburg)

SF: Devin Haid (15.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.4 apg @ D2 Notre Dame)

PF: Jayden Brown (8.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.1 apg)

C: Abdul Momoh (4.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.3 apg)

6M: Joe Ostrowsky (4.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.0 apg)

Chicago State Cougars

Projected Starters:

PG: Gabe Spinelli (1.9 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Monmouth)

SG: Jalen Forrest (5.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.9 apg @ JUCO South Plains)

SF: Noble Crawford (7.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.2 apg)

PF: Quincy Allen (3.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.0 apg)

C: Gerald Jones III (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.0 apg @ USF)

6M: DeShawn Jean-Charles (5.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.1 apg)

FDU Knights

Projected Starters:

PG: Ahmed Barba-Bey (13.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.1 apg @ D2 Thomas Jefferson)

SG: Terrence Brown (7.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.2 apg)

SF: Dylan Jones (13.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.4 apg @ JUCO Snow)

PF: Jo’el Emmanuel (10.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.8 apg)

C: Bismark Nsiah (11.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.6 apg @ D2 Thomas Jefferson)

6M: Cameron Tweedy (3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.5 apg) 2022-2023 Stats

Le Moyne Dolphins

Projected Starters:

PG: Zek Tekin (9.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.0 apg @ Siena)

SG: Robby Carmody (7.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.8 apg @ Mercer)

SF: Darrick Jones, Jr. (8.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.0 apg)

PF: Freds Pauls Bagatskis (6.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.0 apg @ UT Arlington) 2 Games

C: Dwayne Koroma (4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.6 apg @ UT Arlington)

6M: Ocypher Owens (8.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.4 apg)

LIU Sharks

Projected Starters:

PG: Terell Strickland (7.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.6 apg)

SG: Brent Davis (9.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.2 apg @ Chicago State)

SF: Malachi Davis (0.6 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Arizona State)

PF: Jamal Fuller (18.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5 apg @ D2 Academy of Art)

C: Tyrone Baker (11.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.4 apg @ JUCO Florida Southwestern State)

6M: Xinyi Li (3.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Manhattan)

Mercyhurst Lakers

Projected Starters:

PG: Shemar Rathan-May (2.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.3 apg @ UNCW)

SG: Bernie Blunt III (20.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.1 apg @ D2 Edinboro)

SF: Aidan Reichert (12.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.4 apg)

PF: Jeff Planutis (17.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 apg)

C: Charles McClennehan, Jr. (11.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.6 apg @ JUCO Butler)

6M: Max Jusianiec (5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Saint Francis Red Flash

Projected Starters:

PG: Ace Talbert (8.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg)

SG: Riley Parker (13.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.6 apg @ JUCO Cochise)

SF: Bobby Rosenberger III (9.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 apg)

PF: Aidan Harris (4.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.6 apg)

C: Gestin Liberis (5.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.3 apg)

6M: Miles Webb (3.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.5 apg)

Stonehill Skyhawks

Projected Starters:

PG: Amir Nesbitt (4.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.6 apg @ Hampton)

SG: Chas Stinson (7.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)

SF: Josh Morgan (7.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg @ Incarnate Word)

PF: Todd Brogna (5.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7 apg)

C: Louie Semona (4.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.9 apg)

6M: Alex Bates IV (2.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Iona)

Wagner Seahawks

Projected Starters:

PG: Javier Ezquerra (7.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.4 apg)

SG: Zae Blake (8.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.7 apg @ Green Bay) 2022-2023 Stats

SF: Zaire Williams (9.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)

PF: Tyje Kelton (5.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.5 apg)

C: Keyontae Lewis (6.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.4 apg)

6M: Rahmir Moore (8.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)

Coming Next

Thank you for reading the 2024-25 NEC Basketball Preview. To view the conference preview release schedule, keep up to date with us on X @collegehoopsrpt. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out one of our other conference previews linked below! Next up is the Ohio Valley Conference. Thank you for reading, and we appreciate all the support!

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• CAA Conference Preview
• CUSA Conference Preview
• Horizon Conference Preview
• Ivy Conference Preview
• MAAC Conference Preview
• MAC Conference Preview
• MEAC Conference Preview
• Missouri Valley Conference Preview
• Mountain West Conference Preview

Cover Image: Photo Credit: Northeast Conference (NEC)