NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The NJIT men’s basketball team has been selected to finish sixth in the preseason coaches’ poll in the Great West Conference, the league office announced Thursday.
NJIT, who tallied 17 points, returns three starters from last season, and will play their first season as active full members of NCAA Division I. Junior Jheryl Wilson was named to the all-Conference first-team while co-captain Isaiah Wilkerson earned second-team honors.
Wilson, a 6-foot-3 guard, earned Honorable Mention recognition on the 2008-09 Division I all-Independent team while leading the Highlanders in points scored (353) and points per game (12.6). He scored a career-high 26 points, (done twice), the first vs. Bryant to key NJIT’s win on January 21, 2009.
Wilkerson, who enrolled at NJIT for the Spring 2009 semester, appeared in 22 games starting 20. He averaged 12.5 points per game (second on the team) and was the top free throw shooter for the Highlanders, connecting on 77 percent of his attempts (59-77).
Senior Gary Garris tabbed Honorable Mention recognition, leading the Highlanders in rebounding per game (5.7 rpg), total steals (49) and 3-point field goals made (33). NJIT’s co-captain was the first player in school history to start 31 games in a season.
University of South Dakota was selected to win the inaugural Great West Conference Men’s Basketball Championships, receiving three first-place votes for a total of 41 points. The Coyotes finished 20-9 last season and are led by Preseason Player of the Year, Tyler Cain who averages 15.4 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks.
Utah Valley finished second in the ballot, with 38 points and two first-place votes. Chicago State tallied 35 points and North Dakota combined for 26 points, with each team receiving one first-place vote.
Rounding out the poll was Texas-Pan American with 16 points.
NJIT’s first Great West Conference home game is slated for January 23 at 4 pm against Chicago State.
The Highlanders open up its 2009-10 regular season on Saturday, November 14 at 2pm when they travel to Manhattan.