Northeastern University senior guard Ricky Cranford, the only current America East player to earn all-conference accolades last season, and 2001 America East Rookie of the Year T.J. Sorrentine of University of Vermont highlight the preseason all-conference team selected by the conference's coaches.
Cranford and Sorrentine are joined on the preseason team by sophomore Jason Grochowalski and junior Matt Turner of Boston University and senior Trevor Gaines of Vermont.
The 6-4 Cranford is the leading returning scorer in America East after averaging 16.6 points per game in his first season with the Huskies last year. He shot 49.4 percent from the floor (179-of-362) last season.
Sorrentine led the conference in assists with 159 and also led all rookies with 14.8 ppg. The 5-11 guard was third in America East with 70 three-pointers, despite sharing the offensive backcourt load with Tony Orciari, who finished his career ranked second on the America East list with 305 treys.
Grochowalski, a 6-6 forward, was named to the all-rookie team last season after scoring 12.7 ppg and adding 4.3 rpg. He also led America East in free throw percentage (.860), making 80-of-93 attempts.
Turner provided offense off the bench for the Terriers last season when he averaged 11.5 ppg with 52 three-pointers. The 5-9 guard showed his offensive flair in the Terriers’ final game last season when he scored 35 points and tied a tournament record with seven three-pointers in a loss to Maine in the America East quarterfinals. Turner scored 14 points in the final 2:21 of regulation to force overtime in that game.
Gaines is the leading active rebounder in America East with 562 career caroms. The 6-7 forward averaged 12.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg while shooting better than 50 percent (.505) from the floor last year.