On the Hardwood: Preseason All-Metro Area Team
The best college basketball players in the local scene
Posted on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 5:39 PMMark my words, the 2009-10 college basketball season will provide a resurgence to the New York metropolitan area. There are plenty of teams that will be better than years past and plenty of players to make this a special winter. Below is my Preseason All-Metro Area team:
CHARLES JENKINS, HOFSTRA
The winner of last season's prestigious Haggerty award that goes to the top collegiate player in the New York area, Jenkins was one of six players in the country last year that averaged 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists a game. This year, he'll lead Hofstra in an ambitious non-conference schedule that includes trips to Kansas and UCONN along with a showdown in the Holiday Festival at MSG with St. John's in December.
MIKE ROSARIO, RUTGERS
Scarlet Knights head coach Fred Hill likens Rosario to former Scarlet Knight and current Toronto Raptor Quincy Douby and the comparison could be a spot on match. Like Douby, Rosario knows how to score and can do it in a variety of ways. He'll look to build on an impressive freshman year as he looks to help Rutgers climb the Big East standings.
JEREMY HAZELL, SETON HALL
Armed and ready, this sharpshooter has the potential to be the best guard in the Big East. Coming off a season in which he was second in the Big East in scoring at 22.7 PPG, Hazell should benefit from a stronger supporting cast that has many people putting the Pirates in the same sentence as the NCAA Tournament.
RYAN THOMPSON, RIDER
The MAAC pre-season player of the year, Thompson is a nightmare for any team to matchup with. Versatile and tough to handle at 6-foot-6, Thompson will look to do what his older brother and current Sacramento King Jason couldn't; win the MAAC conference tournament.
D.J. KENNEDY, ST. JOHN'S
Tougher than a two week vacation with your in-laws, Kennedy is one of the top glue guys in the Big East and maybe even the country. A fierce defender, the southpaw from Pittsburgh can guard up to five different positions and should have the Red Storm back in the mix of the toughest conference in college basketball.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Herb Pope, Seton Hall: The power forward could be the best player Pirates coach Bobby Gonzalez has ever coached.
Paris Horne, St. John's: Similarities to Royal Ivey are scary.
Rico Pickett, Manhattan: Former Alabama star picked the Jaspers over UCONN and Florida.
Scott Machado, Iona: Combo guard needs to build on stellar freshman year under Gaels coach Kevin Willard.
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