Canisius: Xzavier Long, 6’7 190 sophomore
After a 2-9 start to the season and playing sparingly throughout that time, head coach Reggie Witherspoon’s benching of Siem Uijetendaal and an injury to Malek Green forced Xzavier Long into the starting lineup, averaging 13 points, 6.5 rebounds in 38 minutes per game in big wins over Buffalo and Florida Gulf Coast.
Bouncing in and out of the starting lineup after those two games, Long showcased his elite rebounding ability, ranking in the top-400 nationally in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage rates.
Throughout his tenure at Canisius, Witherspoon likes his offense to shoot a lot of threes, noted in the Golden Griffins ranking within the top-80 of three point attempt ratios in four of his six seasons as head coach. Letting it fly at that rate, Long will be a valuable asset on the glass, getting opportunities for put-back baskets and keeping possessions alive. Poised to earn a full-time starting gig with Malek Green graduating, Xzavier Long will be a persistent double-double threat.
Fairfield: James Johns, 6’6 180 freshman
One of the highest ranked commits in recent MAAC history is Fairfield’s four-star freshman James Johns Jr., the son of second year assistant coach James Johns Sr. The 6’6 180 shooting guard picked Fairfield over UConn, Miami, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Penn State and three A-10 teams, a recruiting boon easily ranking Johns as the program’s top-rated recruit of all-time.
The Stags have arguably their deepest roster in Jay Young’s tenure, making it prudent to project Johns Jr. early on as a catch-and-shoot bench piece, but his game will expand as he improves his strength, handle and ability to finish consistently in traffic. His length and athleticism will also be a major asset as a perimeter defender.
A team with a lot of “good” players, but lacking in true stars, Johns does have the tools to put it all together and possibly force himself into a starting role as a freshman.
Iona: Walter Clayton Jr., 6’2 195 sophomore
Playing a backup role last season behind All-MAAC Conference selections Tyson Jolly and Elijah Joiner, Clayton is one of the Gaels’ best options to earn a starting role in the rebuilt backcourt along with transfers Dannis Jenkins, Anton Brookshire and freshman Cruz Davis.
As a freshman, Clayton’s per-40 numbers show an efficient three-level combo guard with ability to dish and defend (18.1 points, 3.9 assists, 1.9 steals, 2.3 made threes and 4.6 made free throws while shooting 51.2 2p%, 35.7 3p% and 78.7 ft%).
Manhattan: Raziel Hayun, 6’5 187 freshman
One of the few underclassmen on the veteran-laden Jaspers squad, the 21 year old Hayun played last season professionally for Israel's Maccabi Bazan Halfa. Playing alongside former Manhattan Jasper Chris Smith, Hayun averaged 5.9 points, 1.1 assists and 1.3 three pointers made at 47.4% in just 14.6 minutes per game.
On tape, Hayun is a versatile offensive wing with a tool box that includes a variety of moves to get to the basket, a quick trigger as a catch-and-shoot perimeter piece and good downhill vision. Likely coming off the bench this season, Hayun should excite Jaspers fans as being the key piece to lead the Jaspers’ rebuild in 2023-2024.
Marist: Noah Harris, 6’1 175 sophomore
Playing amongst a talented backcourt that included outbound Jao Ituka (Wake Forest), Ricardo Wright (SMU), Raheim Sullivan (NJIT) and Matt Herasme (New Hampshire), Noah Harris was a regular rotation piece but will be counted on to help replace the 40.8 points per game from the transferring quartet.
Picking up nineteen offers out of Rutgers Prep, Harris’ 6.1 point per game average as a freshman looks modest, but his efficiency from deep (1.6 threes made per game, 35.0 3p%) gives Harris a strong scoring floor with a latent ceiling if he improves his efficiency inside the arc (35.1 2p%) and his distributing.
Niagara: Aaron Gray, 6’7 215 junior
Like recent Appalachian State graduate Michael Alomancy two seasons before, Aaron Gray is poised to be Southern New Hampshire University’s next star to move up to the D1 ranks and start from day one.
Gray is a perfect transfer in terms of need and fit: head coach Greg Paulus likes his offenses to limit mistakes and Gray averaged just 1.3 turnovers per game while contributing 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.9 threes made with three–level shooting efficiency (53.4 2p%, 36.4 3p%, 76.7 3p%). Look for Gray to earn a starting role in Niagara’s frontcourt.
Mount St. Mary’s: Dakota Leffew, 6’5 185 junior
A regular rotation piece for the Mountaineers over the last two seasons, Leffew is poised to put together flashes of his offensive versatility.
An efficient shooter in just 38 field goal attempts as a freshman, Leffew’s shooting efficiency was not strong as a sophomore (43.3 2p%, 27.5 3p%), but he helped balance it out with a 7% increase in assist rate and a 20% decrease in turnover rate. Jalen Benjamin is the top-dog, but Leffew has what it takes to be the team’s next best guard.
Quinnipiac: Alexis Reyes, 6’7 195 sophomore
The three-star recruit who finished his high school career at the Connecticut basketball powerhouse Putnam Science Academy, Reyes held five high-major offers, including four Big East offers, before committing to East Carolina.
At East Carolina, Reyes played minimally in ten total games, but in high school he was a versatile offensive piece, averaging 12.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists with a 53 fg% and 39 3p% at his junior season at Cushing Academy and shot over 49% from three at PSA.
At 6’7 195, Reyes has the length and the toughness to defend multiple positions, adding to his versatile skill set and making him a major candidate to start in Quinnipiac’s revamped frontcourt.
Rider: Tariq Ingraham, 6’9 255 junior
A three-star recruit out of Philadelphia, Tariq Ingraham is looking for a fresh start at Rider after playing a total of sixteen minutes across three seasons at Wake Forest. A preseason Achilles injury forced Ingraham to redshirt his first season and he dealt with long-term Covid symptoms after playing just two games as a redshirt freshman, ultimately transferring out of Wake Forest in November.
Expected to initially play behind fifth-year returnee Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Ingraham is a stronger “true big” who could help battle the physical centers in the conference like Iona’s Nelly Junior Joseph, Siena’s Jackson Stormo and Quinnipiac’s Ike Nweke.
Saint Peter’s: Jaylen Murray, 5’11 175 sophomore
A three-star recruit out of Putnam Science Academy who held offers from Texas Tech, Seton Hall, three A10 teams and four other MAAC teams, the Bronx-bred Jaylen Murray has been an NYC area streetball hero for years, featured in a Slam article back in 2019.
With its top-six scorers transferring after the Peacocks’ magical Elite Eight run, Jaylen Murray is Saint Peter’s top returning scorer and is easily the the most exciting player new coach Bashir Mason will center his offensive strategy around.
Averaging 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists in just 15.6 minutes per game, Murray has already shown that he can play within a iso-less offensive system but he’s got the moxie, moves, athleticism and shooting ability to be a lead point guard and be “the man” this upcoming season.
Siena: Javian McCollum, 6’2 155 sophomore
Starting his freshman season in and out of the lineup, McCollum reached his season high in scoring three times over the final twelve games of the season, averaging 9.8 points, 2.0 assists and 2.6 free throws made with a 54.5 2p%, 43.3 3p% and 86.1 ft%.
With fifth-year point guard Nick Hopkins graduating, as well as double-digit scorers Colby Rogers and Anthony Gaines, look for McCollum to become the Saints best scoring and distributing guard.
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