BOSTON – Following the program’s fourth trip to the conference championship in the past five seasons, Vermont has been selected first in the 2026-27 America East Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll, as announced by the league on Monday morning. The conference also released its Preseason All-Conference team.
Last season Vermont went 22-12 and 12-4 in league play, earning the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and advancing to the championship, where the Catamounts came up short against UMBC. This year the Catamounts received seven first place votes and 62 points total to take first. They’ll be led by Preseason All-Conference selection Gus Yalden, who ranked second in the league in scoring a season ago. This is the 10th time in the last 11 seasons, Vermont is the league's preseason favorite.
Defending conference champion UMBC was selected second in the poll with 46 points and one first place vote after going 24-9 last year, including a 14-2 mark in conference play. The Retrievers then took down Vermont 74-59 at home to clinch the 2052-26 championship, before falling to Howard in the NCAA Tournament.
Binghamton was selected third in the preseason poll with 45 points and one first place vote. The Bearcats finished ninth in the conference last season and missed the conference tournament but were devastated by injury in 2025-26. Binghamton’s Jeremiah Quigley and Demetrius Lilley were both named to the Preseason All-Conference team.
NJIT was selected fourth with 38 points after reaching the conference semifinals, while Bryant took fifth (36), UAlbany was sixth (34) and UMass Lowell rounded out the top seven with 31 points.
2026-27 Preseason Poll
| 1. Vermont |
62 (7) |
| 2. UMBC |
46 (1) |
| 3. Binghamton |
45 (1) |
| 4. NJIT |
38 |
| 5. Bryant |
36 |
| 6. UAlbany |
34 |
| 7. UMass Lowell |
31 |
| 8. Maine |
19 |
| 9. New Hampshire |
13 |
This year’s Preseason All-Conference team features a pair of players who earned all-conference honors a season ago, as well as last year’s Rookie of the Year.
David Bolden, NJIT – So., Guard
- Started all 33 games as a freshman, averaging 11.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
- Ranked third in the conference with 70 threes, making 4+ threes in six games.
- Named Rookie of the Year, led NJIT to No. 3 seed in the conference tournament and the league semifinals.
Keegan Harvey, Bryant – Sr., Forward
- Appeared and started in 31 games, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting .539 from the floor.
- Over the final 11 games of the season, averaged 18.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 64.4% from the floor with 20 threes.
- Scored 20+ points six times last season.
Demetrius Lilley, Binghamton – Sr., Center
- In 11 games before a season-ending injury, averaged 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 42.6% from the floor.
- At the time of his injury, led America East in rebounding and ranked in fifth in the league in scoring.
- Posted eight double-doubles in his 11 games.
Victor Okojie, UMass Lowell – So., Forward
- Appeared in 29 games, averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in just 18.0 minutes per contest.
- Recorded three double-doubles and scored double figures five times.
- Helped team to 9-7 conference record and appearance in the conference semifinals.
Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton – Sr., Guard
- Started 30 games, averaging 14.5 points, 6.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.5% from the field.
- Led the league in assists per game (6.4) and had ten games with 8+ assists.
- Earned third-team all-conference honors.
Gus Yalden, Vermont – Jr. Forward
- Ranked second in the conference in scoring (16.1), while also averaging 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
- Surpassed 20+ points eight times and made 41 threes while shooting 34.7% from beyond the arc.
- 2025-26 first-team all-conference selection after leading Vermont to 12-4 conference record.
The #AEHoops regular season begins on November 2, with all nine teams in action, highlighted by Binghamton at Northwestern, Vermont at Iona, UMBC at George Mason, NJIT at Dayton, Maine at Providence and Bryant hosting Siena. 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. 2, with defending champion UMBC hosting NJIT and Vermont playing at Binghamton. Teams will via for home advantage in the 2027 #AEPlayoffs, where once again all games will be played at the higher seed.
The men’s regular season ends on Tuesday, March 2, with the top eight programs advancing to the #AEPlayoffs Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 6. Semifinal action takes place on Tuesday, March 10 and the winners will advance to the Championship at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, March 13 at 11 a.m.
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