Men's Basketball Ranked Fifth in Skyline Preseason Poll

Courtesy www.SkylineConference.org

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. - A year after going 27-4 and advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Championship, Farmingdale State has been picked first in the Skyline Conference men's basketball coaches' preseason poll.  SUNY College at Old Westbury, which returns its top three scorers from last season, was picked a close second with five first-place votes.

If Erik Smiles and his Farmingdale State team are to make another run at a Skyline Conference title, the Rams will have to overcome the loss of a number of key players from last season's NCAA Tournament team.  Gone is two-time Skyline Conference Player of the Year, guard Damien Santana (19.3 ppg), the school's all-time leading scorer.  Seniors Erastus Shannon (13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Joe Cammarata (9.7 ppg) and Davon Jackson (6.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg) have also departed, leaving Farmingdale State without four of its top six scorers.  Senior forward Mike Cambell, the Rams' leading scorer (19.6 ppg) and rebounder (9.5 rpg), and an All-Skyline first-team selection last season, will once again be a key player.  Several newcomers are also expected to contribute right away.

Old Westbury, which returns four of its top five scorers from last season, is expected to challenge its local rival.  Senior forward Hakiem George (15.6 ppg) was the Panthers' top scorer and an All-Skyline second-team selection last season.  Senior guards Bill Reese (14.8 ppg) and Shane DeNully (7.7 ppg, 7.0 apg) give Old Westbury an experienced backcourt.  Junior 6-10 center Lester Prosper (13.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 55 blocks) continues to emerge as one of the conference's top big men.

SUNY Maritime College continues to climb the conference ladder.  The Privateers were picked third again after finishing third last season.  Maritime's balanced offensive attack is led by senior guard Andre Cooper (12.7 ppg, 3.0 apg) and athletic junior forward Giovanni Hurley (9.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 33 blocks).

Purchase was one of the surprise teams in the conference last season, improving from 3-22 in 2007-08 to 15-11 in 2008-09 under head coach Jeff Charney.  Junior forward Marvin Billups (23.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), an All-Skyline first-team selection, is one of the conference's most explosive scorers.

St. Joseph's, which captured the Skyline Conference championship last season, lost three senior starters in first team All-Skyline selections J.J. Walsh and David Acree as well as center Chris Niblock.  The Golden Eagles return one of the conference's top point guards in sophomore Chris Jimenez.

SKYLINE CONFERENCE
MEN’S BASKETBALL
PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1. Farmingdale State   (6) 95 
2. Old Westbury        (5) 87 
3. Maritime                78 
4. Purchase                73 
5. St. Joseph's-L.I.       69
6. Mount Saint Vincent     54
7. Yeshiva                 52
8. Mount Saint Mary        38
9. NYU-Poly                24
10. Sage                   20
11. Bard                   15

(First-place votes in parentheses)