LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East men’s basketball season is just over a week away as the nine member institutions will play under the “United East” moniker for the first time. Last season, only Lancaster Bible College and newcomer St. Mary's College of Maryland played any sanctioned contests with the other seven other teams cancelling their seasons due to COVID. Dating back to 2019, Penn State Harrisburg was crowned the Conference Champions and made it to the second round of the NCAA Championship before the tournament was shut down due to COVID.
The United East has provided a brief glance into each team as we move towards the 2021-22 season. Check every program out HERE:
Gallaudet University
Head Coach (# Season): Kevin Kovacs (6th season)
2019-20 Record: 5-20, 5-11 NEAC
2019-20 Postseason: None
Key Returners / Players to Watch:
- Shawn Daniels (Sr., G) - 2.4 points per game
- Rory Lewis (Jr., G) - 4.1 points per game
- Corey Smith – 11.2 points per game
- Wilford Troup
- Lance Wood
Key Losses:
- Noah Valencia
- Steve Valencia-Biskupiak
- Preston Kelly
Coach’s Season Outlook: “ After no season last year, we anxiously look forward to returning to the court with a fantastic group of young men looking forward to grow and become better people and players on and off the court to make Gallaudet and themselves proud”
Lancaster Bible College
Head Coach: Jon Mack (3 Seasons)
2020-21 Record: 13-4
2019-20 Record: 14-14
2019-20 Postseason: United East Championship Game (69-76 OT to Penn St. Harrisburg)
Key Returner/Player to Watch:
- Jordan Shewbridge (Sr., G) - 28 GP, 16.8 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.3 RPG, First Team All-Conference
- Tyler Hilton (Sr., F) - 22GP, 1.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Key Losses:
- Britton Beachy
- Tyler Norris
Penn College
Head Coach (# Season): Geoff Hensley - 8th season overall (4th at Penn College)
2019-20 Record: 7-19
2019-20 Postseason: NEAC Tournament Quarter-Finals
Key Returners / Players to Watch:
Key Losses:
- Ben Sosa
- Elijah Vazquez
- Carson Garvis
- Ryan Lockman
- Brody Baker
Coach’s Season Outlook: This will be a brand new team for the Wildcats. Due to COVID19, 75% of our roster is new and has not played in a collegiate basketball game. The team is hitting the ground running from the first day of practice trying to learn and grow and improve every time we step on the court.
Penn State Abington
Head Coach (# Season): Jon Tanous 6th season
2019-20 Record: 12-13
2019-20 Postseason: n/a
Key Returner/Player to Watch:
- Alex Salata III (Sr. G) - 21 GP, 2 GS, 5.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 26 A, 12 STL
- Mohamed Mansaray (Sr. G) - 20 GP, 11 GS, 5.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 16 A, 13 STL
- Brian Randolph III (Jr. G) - 23 GP, 4 GS, 4.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 26 A, 28 STL, 7 BLK
- Isaac Kennon (Jr. G) - 10 GP, 6 GS, 5.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 19 A, 6 STL, 6 BLK
- Alex Podolski (Jr, G) - 17 GP, 4 GS, 4.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 13 A, 11 STL
Key Losses:
- John Ryan
- Amir Hill
- Bobby Olsen
Coach’s Season Outlook: “We are excited to compete on the court this year after a year removed. We have a split team with seven veterans and eight newcomers. We will be looking for our upperclassmen to lead our younger group. Our goal is to work hard as we seek daily improvement. With the right habits on and off the court this group will be competitive. Again, we are grateful to be playing the game we love after the long hiatus.”
Penn State Berks
Head Coach (# Season): Ian Gendreau (1st Season)
2019-20 Record: 2-22 overall, 2-14 conference
2019-20 Postseason: N/A
Key Returner/Player to Watch:
- Jared Houck (Sr, G) - 24 GP, 18 GS, 14.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 20 steals, 5 blocks / 2019-20 All-NEAC Third Team
- Xavian Rodriguez (Jr, F) - 24 GP, 23 GS, 11.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, 34 steals, 11 blocks
- Jeff Lorah (Jr, G) - 22 GP, 19 GS, 10.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 26 steals, 6 blocks
- Josh Ruiz (Fr, G)
- Brody Bolyn (Fr, F)
- Ladan Graves (Fr, F)
Key Losses: None
Coach’s Season Outlook: “We will be a very young and energetic team, though very inexperienced. We have nine newcomers to the roster, and no player has played more than one season at Berks. I expect us to rely heavily on our senior captain and all-conference point guard Jared Houck. We did manage to get a bit bigger over the year off, with additions like Grant, Brody and Ladan which should help our inside presence. Overall, this is certainly the deepest team we’ve fielded in the last three seasons and I expect that there could easily be a dozen different players making an appearance in the rotation before the semester is over.”
Penn State Harrisburg
Head Coach: Don Friday (9th season)
2019-20 Record: 21-8 overall (14-2 conference)
2019-20 Postseason: NCAA Tournament Second Round, Conference Champions
Key Returners / Players to Watch:
- Donyae Baylor-Carroll (Sr., G) - 29 GP, 19.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, D3hoops.com All-Region First Team, NABC All-District Second Team, Conference Player of the Year
- Nate Curry (Jr., G) - 29 GP, 14.7 PPG, 7.9 RPG, Conference Rookie of the Year
- Brandon Coleman (Sr., G) - 2 GP, 16 PPG, 4.5 APG
Key Losses:
- Clinton Asalu
Season Outlook: Penn State Harrisburg is looking to build off the most successful campaign in program history in 2019-20. With much of the team’s core from that season back this winter, the Lions will look to defend their conference championship and make another run to the NCAA Tournament come March.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Head Coach (# Season): Chris Harney ’97 (17th Season)
2019-20 Record: 9-18 (3-7 CAC)
2019-20 Postseason: CAC Semifinals as No. 5 seed
Key Returner/Player to Watch:
- Gary Grant (Jr., F) – 2019 All-CAC 2nd Team, 17.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .457 FG%, .457 3FG% (2020-21)
- Olumide Lewis (So., G) – 12.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .439 FG%, .400 3FG% (2020-21)
Key Losses:
None
Coach’s Season Outlook: "We are excited to represent St. Mary's College in the new conference. Our young team has been making strides every day."
SUNY Morrisville
Head Coach (# Season): Joseph Smith (12th season)
2019-20 Record: 16-11, 12-4 NEAC
2019-20 Postseason: NEAC Semifnals
Key Returners/Players to Watch:
- Jon Brennen (PG, Sr.) - 27 GS, 27 GP, 5.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 34 steals, 1 block)
- Brison Hall (G/F, Jr.) - stats from 2018-19 season – 18 GP, 1 GS, 10.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 18 steals, 15 blocks
- Tron Smith (G, Jr.) – transfer from SUNY Broome – avg 19.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.0 APG
- Isiah Walker (F, Fr.)
Key Losses:
- Kevin Dennis
- Tyrin Miller
- Derek Beames
Coach’s Season Outlook : "This will truly be a new year and a new look for the Mustangs. We will rely on newcomers to step up immediately. This might be the youngest team I have coached at Morrisville. The loss of Morrisville’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder Kevin Dennis will require a team effort to overcome. The success of our team this year will be dependent upon our ability to learn quickly and play together. I look forward to coaching this young group of guys who are excited to get started and hopefully continue Morrisville’s winning ways."
Wells College
Head Coach (# Season): Joe Wojtylko (14)
2019-20 Record: 5-20 (4-12)
2019-20 Postseason: N/A
Key Returner/Player to Watch:
- Ty McBride (JR, G)
- Ransel Rodriguez (FR, G)
- Jarek Feliz (FR, F)
Key Losses:
None
Coach’s Season Outlook: " We will be a young Express squad with only 3 upper-classmen and 18 under-classmen currently on the roster. Looking forward to see what roles are accounted for and by whom as we continue to evolve as a team. With our first time on the court in nearly two years we are certainly excited about getting back out there."
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The United East has nine NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Wells College. The United East also includes three associate members in the sport of men’s golf including Rosemont College, Rutgers University – Camden and Wilson College. The United East has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse and the North Atlantic Conference in men's tennis and women's tennis. For more information, please visit: gounitedeast.com.