BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Defending Patriot League champion Boston University finished atop the preseason poll, and Colgate senior guard Jordan Burns was named the Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year when the League office announced preseason honors.
The Terriers collected 148 points and 10 first-place votes nine months after claiming their first League title. The Burns-led Colgate Raiders placed second with 142 points and eight first-place votes after earning a regular-season title and finishing as the League’s runner-up in 2019-20. Loyola Maryland was picked third in the preseason poll with 122 points and one first-place vote; Navy placed fourth with 114 points, while Lafayette rounded out the top-five with 98 points and one first-place vote.
Burns, a two-time All-Patriot League honoree and 2020 first-team selection, highlights a decorated five-member Preseason All-Patriot League squad. Navy senior guard Cam Davis, Lafayette senior guard Justin Jaworski and Boston University junior forward Walter Whyte were all selected Second Team All-Patriot League following the 2019-20 season. Loyola Maryland sophomore forward Santi Aldama was a 2019-20 Patriot League All-Rookie Team member and three-time rookie of the week after playing in the Greyhounds final 10 games.
Voting for the preseason poll, player of the year and five-member All-Patriot League team was completed by the Patriot League men’s basketball coaches and sports information directors. They cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.
2020-21 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Jordan Burns, Colgate, Sr., G, San Antonio, Texas/John Marshall
*Burns was the only non-senior selected to the All-Patriot League First Team in 2019-20 after finishing among the League leaders in scoring (15.8), assists (4.5) and steals (1.7)
*He is the League’s active leader in scoring (1,398), assists (418) and steals (119).
*The two-time All-Patriot League Tournament pick was named the 2019 Patriot League Tournament MVP after setting a championship game scoring record with 35 points.
*The San Antonio, Texas native was named the Lou Henson National Player of the Week on Nov. 26, 2019 after scoring a career-high 40 points to lead the Raiders to a Legends Classic Subregional Championship at Green Bay.
2020-21 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason All-League Team (listed alphabetically by last name)
Santi Aldama, Loyola Maryland, So., F, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria/Canterbury Academy
*2019-20 Stats: 10 GP/ 9 GS, 15.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 17 blocks, .459 FG, .217 3FG, .515 FT
*Career Honors: 2020 Patriot League All-Rookie Team; Three-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week.
Jordan Burns, Colgate, Sr., G, San Antonio, Texas/John Marshall
2019-20 Stats: 34 GP/34 GS, 15.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.5 apg, 58 steals, .404 FG, .359 3FG, .785 FT
Career Honors: 2020 First Team All-Patriot League; 2019 Second Team All-Patriot League; Two-time Patriot League All-Tournament Team; 2019 Patriot League Tournament MVP; 2018 Patriot League All-Rookie Team; Three-time Patriot League Player of the Week; Three-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week
Cam Davis, Navy, Sr., G, Battlefield, Mo./Kickapoo
*2019-20 Stats: 29 GP/29 GS, 16.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 24 steals, .414 FG, .341 3FG, .752 FT
*Career Honors: 2020 Second Team All-Patriot League; 2020 Academic All-Patriot League; 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-District; 2019-20 NABC Honors Court.
Justin Jaworski, Lafayette, Sr., G, Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley
*2019-20 Stats:24 GP/24 GS, 17.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 24 steals, .442 FG, .360 3FG, .867 FT
*Career Honors: 2020 Second Team All-Patriot League; 2020 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year; 2020 Academic All-Patriot League; 2019 Third Team All-Patriot League; 2019 Academic All-Patriot League
Walter Whyte, Boston University, Jr., F, New Haven, Conn./St. Luke’s School
*2019-20 Stats: 34 GP/34 GS, 13.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.8 apg, 18 blocks, 25 steals, .462 FG, .347 3FG, .615 FT
*Career Honors: 2020 Second Team All-Patriot League; 2018 Patriot League All-Rookie Team.
2020-21 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Boston University, 148 points (10)
2. Colgate, 142 (8)
3. Loyola Maryland, 122 (1)
4. Navy, 114
5. Lafayette, 98 (1)
6. Bucknell, 77
7. Army West Point, 70
8. American, 63
9. Lehigh, 48
10. Holy Cross, 18
The Patriot League men’s basketball season will begin on Saturday, Jan. 2 with the 10 League institutions divided into three regional mini-conferences. Teams will play four games against each regional opponent with additional League games played outside of the mini-conferences to complete the 16-game regular-season schedule. The final day of the regular-season is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28. The Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship Game set for Sunday, March 14. For more information visit the League’s official website –
www.PatriotLeague.org.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.