Men's Basketball

America East Releases Men’s #AEHoops 2025-26 Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team


BOSTON – Vermont was once again picked first in the 2025-26 America East Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll after finishing second last year in the regular season, as announced by the league on Monday morning.
 
Vermont earned seven first place votes and had 63 total points. The Catamounts went 21-12 overall and 13-3 in conference play as they saw their streak of consecutive regular season championships end at eight. This year the team brings back Preseason All-Conference selections TJ Hurley and TJ Long. Hurley was a first-team all-conference pick last year, while Long was a third-team all-conference selection in 2023-24.
 
Last season’s #AEHoops runner-up Maine earned one first place vote and had 47 points total to tie for second with UAlbany, which also had 47 points. The Black Bears were 20-14 last season and went 10-6 in league play as they took down UVM at home to advance to last year’s championship game. UAlbany went 17-16 overall and 8-8 in league play, advancing to the conference semifinals and they return Preseason All-Conference honoree Amir Lindsey.
 
UMass Lowell earned the final first place vote and had 39 total points, while Binghamton was fifth with 37 points and defending champion Bryant placed sixth with 35 points. UMBC was close behind in seventh with 31 points.
 
The preseason poll and preseason all-conference team were voted on by the league’s nine head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own team or players.
 
2025-26 Men’s #AEHoops Preseason Poll
1. Vermont 63 (7)
T2. Maine 47 (1)
T2. UAlbany 47
4. UMass Lowell 39 (1)
5. Binghamton 37
6. Bryant 35
7. UMBC 31
8. NJIT 13
9. New Hampshire 12
 
This year’s Preseason All-Conference Team features two past all-conference performers, four returning America East players and a pair of transfers.
 
Quincy Allen, Bryant – Fifth Year, Guard, Silver Spring, Md.
  • Last season averaged 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 17 contests at Chicago State.
  • Scored double digits in 8 of 9 games to conclude the regular season, including 22 points at Saint Francis.
  • Previously played at Chicago State, James Madison and Colorado.
 
TJ Hurley, Vermont – Sr., Guard, Pelham, Ont.
  • Averaged 15.8 points and 2.4 rebounds while ranking fourth in the league with 78 three-point fields on 38.2 percent shooting.
  • 2024-25 First-Team All-Conference selection.
  • Elevated scoring to 17.8 points per game in conference play, shooting a league-best 46.4 percent from three with 3.2 threes per game.
 
Demetrius Lilley, Binghamton – Sr., Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • Last season averaged 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 26 appearances with 18 starts at La Salle.
  • Connected on 25 three-point field goals and shot 73.7 percent from the free throw line.
  • Previously played at La Salle and Penn State, where he appeared in 25 games over two seasons.
 
Amir Lindsey, UAlbany – So., Guard, Framingham, Mass.
  • Appeared in 31 games as a freshman, averaging 6.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
  • Named to the America East All-Rookie Team last season.
  • Scored double figures eight times and helped UAlbany reach AE Semifinals for the first time since 2017.
 
TJ Long, Vermont – Gr., Guard, Rockville Centre, N.Y.
  • Averaged 11.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game with 18 threes in eight games before a season ending injury.
  • 2023-24 Third-Team All-Conference honoree.
  • In 2023-24, averaged 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 threes per game while shooting 36.3 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Josh Odunowo, UMBC – Gr., Forward, Laurel, Md.
  • Appeared in 30 games, averaging 11.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56.5 percent from the floor.
  • Scored double figures in 19 games while also averaging 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
  • Played three seasons at Columbia University and in 2023-24 averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
 
The #AEHoops regular season begins on November 3, with seven team in action, including Binghamton at Syracuse, New Hampshire at Clemson and UAlbany at Marquette. Bryant also faces Marquette and Maine is at George Washington. All home games for America East schools will be on AE on ESPN domestically and then AmericaEast.tv for international viewers.
 
Conference action kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 3, with a defending champion Bryant traveling to face Maine in a championship rematch. Teams will via for home advantage in the 2026 #AEPlayoffs, where once again all games will be played at the higher seed.

The men’s regular season ends on Tuesday, March 3, with the top eight programs advancing to the #AEPlayoffs Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 7. Semifinal action takes place on Tuesday, March 10 and the winners will advance to the Championship at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m.
 
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
 
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -