HARTFORD, Conn. — The three returning first-team all-conference selections from last season highlight the 2009-10 America East Preseason All-Conference Team as determined in a vote by the league’s head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players. University of Vermont’s Marqus Blakely (Metchuen, N.J./Metchuen) and Boston University’s tandem of John Holland (Bronx, N.Y./St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) and Corey Lowe (Newton, Mass./West Newton) were unanimous selections. They were joined by Stony Brook University’s Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich./Holt/Lansing CC) as well as University at Albany’s Tim Ambrose (Brentwood, N.Y./Our Savior New American) and University of Hartford’s Joe Zeglinski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), who tied for the squad’s final spot.
Blakely, a 6-foot-5 power forward, joined elite company last season, becoming one of just six players to win the Kevin Roberson Player of the Year award multiple times. He was also the first repeat winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award, which has been given out for each of the past seven seasons. A senior, Blakely ranked fifth in America East last season in scoring (16.1 ppg) and led the league in rebounding (9.0 rpg), blocked shots (2.7 bpg) and steals (2.0 spg), becoming the first player since Northeastern’s Reggie Lewis, and only the second ever, to finish the season as the league leader in all three of those categories.
Holland took home first-team all-conference honors one season after being named Rookie of the Year. The 6-foot-6 guard/forward from the Bronx was one of just two players to average 20 points per game in league play (20.2 ppg) and ranked third in the league with 18.1 points per contest overall. A junior, Holland was also a force defensively, finishing fourth among America East leaders in steals (1.8 spg) and 10th in rebounding (5.5 rpg).
Lowe, a 6-foot-3 junior combo guard, earned first-team All-America East honors last season after taking home second-team accolades in 2007-08. One of the most prolific scorers in the league, Lowe was fourth last season pouring in 17.1 points per game and led the conference with 2.9 made 3-pointers per game. The league’s active leading scorer with 1,334 career points, Lowe was also was fourth in assists (4.1 apg) and sixth in 3-point percentage (.373).
El-Amin, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, was the leading scorer for a Stony Brook team that won 16 games last season, its most since the 2000-01 campaign. A second-team All-America East choice in 2008-09, El-Amin was seventh in scoring (15.7 ppg) and one of the most proficient shooters in the league, finishing second in free throw percentage (.822) and sixth in three-point shooting (384).
Ambrose, a 6-foot-2 junior shooting guard, was a third-team all-league selection last season after earning All-Rookie accolades as a freshman. He ranked ninth among America East leaders in scoring (14.3 ppg) and 13th in rebounding (5.1 rpg). Ambrose, who set an Albany record by scoring 28 points in one half of a game last year, was also among the league’s best free-throw shooters, hitting 78.1 percent of his attempt.
Zeglinski, a 6-foot junior guard, was a first-team all-conference selection and led Hartford to its first America East Championship game two seasons ago, but played in just 10 games last year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Zeglinski averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest before the injury last season. During the 2008-09 campaign, he ranked eighth in scoring with 16.2 points per contest.