Siena's Rossiter Tabbed Preseason Player of the Year
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. - Siena College senior forward Ryan Rossiter has been tabbed as the 2010-2011 MAAC Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, as selected by the league's 10 head coaches.
Rossiter is joined on the first team by Fairfield University sophomore guard Derek Needham, Iona College junior guard Scott Machado, Saint Peter's College senior guard Wesley Jenkins and Siena senior guard Clarence Jackson.
Rossiter, a member of the 2009-10 All-MAAC First Team, ranked 10th in the league in scoring last season, netting 13.8 points per game for the Saints. He also registered a league-best 11.1 rebounds an outing during his junior campaign. Rossiter proved he was an expert marksman last season, connecting on a conference-high 57.1 percent of his attempts from the field and 76.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Needham, who was named the 2010 MAAC Rookie of the Year, was an All-MAAC Second Team selection last season. He is the league's top returning scorer, after averaging 16.4 points per game. Needham is also the league's top returning assists leader this season, after dishing out down 5.2 a night for the Stags. He also ranked 10th in field goal percentage (38.2 percent) and 11th in free-throw percentage (72.4 percent).
Machado also earned a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team last season. He ranked 18th in the MAAC in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per outing for the Gaels. He also ranked fifth in the league in assists (3.9 per game), sixth in free-throw percentage (79.2 percent) and eighth in steal (1.6 per game) during his sophomore campaign.
Jenkins, an All-MAAC Third Team choice last season, led the Peacocks in scoring as a junior with 13.8 points per game, good for 11th place on the MAAC scoring chart. He also recorded 5.2 rebounds per game, ranking him 15th in the MAAC, along with 2.8 assists (ninth) and 1.3 steals (14th) an outing.
Jackson, also a member of the 2009-2010 All-MAAC Third Team, finished his junior campaign 13th on the MAAC scoring list, netting 13.6 points a night for the Saints. He finished sixth in steals last season, registering 1.8 takeaways per game. Jackson also owned a 35.7 percent three-point field goal percentage, good for 11th place in the league statistics.
2010-2011 Preseason All-MAAC Teams
First Team
Derek Needham, Fairfield, So., G, 5-11, Dolton, Ill.
Scott Machado, Iona, Jr., G, 6-1, Queens, N.Y.
Wesley Jenkins, Saint Peter's, Sr., G, 6-2, Newark, N.J.
Clarence Jackson, Siena, Sr., G, 6-4, Marlton, N.J.
Ryan Rossiter, Siena, Sr., F, 6-9, Staten Island, N.Y.
Second Team
Julius Coles, Canisius, Sr., G, 6-4, Harlem, N.Y.
Jamal Barney, Loyola, Sr., G, 6-3, Baltimore, Md.
Mike Ringgold, Rider, Jr., F, 6-7, Philadelphia, Pa.
Justin Robinson, Rider, Sr., G, 6-2, London, England
Ryan Bacon, Saint Peter's, Sr., F, 6-7, Maplewood, N.J.
Nick Leon, Saint Peter's, Sr., G, 5-11, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Third Team
Greg Logins, Canisius, Sr., F, 6-7, Sodus, N.Y.
Yorel Hawkins, Fairfield, Sr., F, 6-5, Apex, N.C.
Alejo Rodriguez, Iona, Sr., F, 6-8, New York, N.Y.
Anthony Nelson, Niagara, Sr., G, 6-1, Plainfield, N.J.
Novar Gadson, Rider, Jr., G/F, 6-7, Philadelphia, Pa.
2010-2011 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year: Ryan Rossiter, Siena