EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has announced the 2020-21 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and Preseason All-MAAC Selections. Iona is voted second in the Preseason Coaches' Poll and two student-athletes receive preseason distinction.
Seniors
Asante Gist and
Isaiah Ross are members of the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team.
ASANTE GIST
Asante Gist is entering his third year with Iona. Thus far in his Maroon & Gold career, Gist has appeared in 48 games, averaging 11.7 points per game, shooting 38% from the floor and 36% from beyond the arc.
Gist was voted Preseason All-MAAC Second Team last year, but had his season cut short due to injury. Before being sidelined, Gist scored a season-best 23 points in 45 minutes against Princeton at the Barclays Center. Later in the season he made a season-best eight field goals against Monmouth.
As a junior, Gist had nine games with 20+ points. He scored a season-best 22 points on three separate occasions. He made five three-point field goals in two separate games; he made multiple long-range field goals in 19 games.
ISAIAH ROSS
Isaiah Ross enters his second season with Iona, looking to build upon a strong redshirt junior effort. During the 2019-20 season, Ross appeared in 29 games and made 21 starts. He finished the season ranked 20th in the MAAC in scoring at 11.0 points per game, sixth in three-point field goal percentage at 40.1% and third in in three-point field goals per game with 2.4.
Ross scored a season-best 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting against Canisius. He had five games this season with five or more three-point field goals. Ross twice made six trifectas against Fairfield and Canisius.
MAAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The Gaels placed second in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 103 votes. Siena is the unanimous preseason favorite with 121 votes and all 11 first place votes. Monmouth and Saint Peter's tied for third in the poll with 89 votes.
The middle tier of the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll begins with Manhattan in the fifth spot with 77 votes, followed by Niagara and Quinnipiac. Fairfield is eighth with 39 votes, followed by Marist, Canisius and Rider.
| PLACE |
TEAM |
VOTES |
| 1. |
Siena |
121 (11) |
| 2. |
Iona |
103 |
| T3. |
Monmouth |
89 |
| T3. |
Saint Peter's |
89 |
| 5. |
Manhattan |
77 |
| 6. |
Niagara |
63 |
| 7. |
Quinnipiac |
54 |
| 8. |
Fairfield |
39 |
| 9. |
Marist |
36 |
| 10. |
Canisius |
31 |
| 11. |
Rider |
24 |
MAAC PRESEASON TEAMS
First Team
Jalen Pickett, Siena*
Manny Camper, Siena*
Deion Hammond, Monmouth*
Marcus Hammond, Niagara*
KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's
*unanimous selection
Jalen Pickett was voted the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year
Second Team
Asante Gist, Iona
Majesty Brandon, Canisius
Warren Williams, Manhattan
Isaiah Ross, Iona
Tyrese Williams, Quinnipiac
Third Team
Jacob Rigoni, Quinnipiac
Jesus Cruz, Fairfield
Doug Edert, Saint Peter's
Raheem Solomon, Niagara
Daryl Banks, Saint Peter's
Iona's season begins on the road on Wednesday, November 25 against Fordham. Tip-off from Rose Hill Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 PM.
Be sure to follow Iona College athletics on all social media platforms:
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