NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team seeks improvement in the 2008-09 campaign. The Hawks finished the 2007-08 season with a record of 6-19 overall and 2-14 in SUNYAC competition.
Head coach Dagan Nelson begins his second season with the Hawks and is looking for his players to improve on last season marks. With the departure of three seniors from last year’s squad which combined for one third of the scoring offense, the Hawks will be a very young team with much improved talent. Coach Nelson and Coach Rickard recruited a talented group of seven freshman and two transfers to help his veterans.
The Hawks will be led by senior guard Matt Hauser (East Williston, NY/Chaminade) and junior forward Lee Bertram (Bayport, NY/Bayport Blue Point). Hauser has led the Hawks in three-pointers made over the last two seasons and led in steals last season. Bertram led the Hawks in points and rebounds last season with 12.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Hauser and Bertram will be joined by two outstanding junior transfers Oppong Agyemang (Windsor, CT/Windsor) and Connor Cornine (Warwick, NY/Don Bosco Prep). Agyemang transferred to New Paltz from Division II Adelphi where he started seven games his sophomore year and averaged 13 minutes per game on a team that has four straight 20 win seasons. Cornine comes to New Paltz from junior college SUNY Orange where he led them to back-to-back 20 win seasons and regional championship games. He averaged 12 points and seven rebounds and was named First-Team Mid-Hudson Conference.
The Hawks will add depth with freshman Shereef Taylor (Hyde Park, NY/FDR), Jayquan Anderson (Bronx, NY/Frederick Douglass Academy), Shalik Jenkins (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls), Brennan Robinson (Lincoln University, PA/Oxford Area) and Harris Wichard (Merrick, NY/Bellmore JFK). Taylor was a thousand point scorer at FDR and was named Player of the Year in Dutchess County averaging 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Anderson brings his size and strength and 14 points, five rebounds per game to an improved Hawks frontcourt. Jenkins was the starting point guard on a 32-5 team that saw six players signed Division I Scholarships last season. Jenkins averaged six points, three rebounds and three assists per game his senior year and will look to extend the court with his speed, athleticism and intelligence against the Hawks opponents this season. Robinson was the starting point guard for Oxford and helped them to a 19-9 overall record and will compete for playing time in the backcourt for the Hawks. Wichard averaged 15 points, five rebounds and three assists at Bellmore-JFK and has an outstanding three-point shot that will cause problems for the Hawks opponents.
Returning players Soji James (Bronx, NY/HS for American Studies) and Anthony Bevilacqua (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) will add depth and leadership to the Hawks. Frehsman Craig Hauser (East Williston, NY/Chaminade) and Fritz Jacques (East Islip, NY/East Islip) will compete for playing time this season for the Hawks.
The Hawks will be playing non-conference games at home against Drew, SUNY IT and two quality teams Keene St. and Brooklyn. The Hawks will host the 1st Annual SUNY New Paltz Tip-Off Classic November 21st and 22nd. They will open up against Purchase and play the winner of the Hartwick and York game. Non-conference road games will be against Williams, December 9th, and Wheaton College in the New York University Tournament December 29th and 30th. The Hawks will play the winner of the NYU and Rivier College game. The remaining games will be played in the SUNYAC Conference-East Division.
The Hawks open their season at home November 15th against Drew at 4 p.m.
