BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Boston University finished atop the preseason poll, and Terriers’ senior guard Javante McCoy was named the Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year when the League announced preseason honors.
The Terriers collected 154 points and 11 first-place votes with McCoy and fellow preseason All-Patriot League senior forward Walter Whyte returning for Head Coach Joe Jones’s squad. Defending Patriot League Champion Colgate received 153 points and nine first-place votes to finish close behind, with preseason All-League senior guard Nelly Cummings back in the fold for Head Coach Matt Langel.
Navy, who earned the top seed in last season’s championship, finished third with 114 points while Army West Point finished with 89 points, and American received 79 points to rank fifth. Bucknell and Lafayette tied for sixth-place with 73 points. Loyola Maryland (65), Holy Cross (53) and Lehigh (47) complete the 2021-22 preseason poll.
Holy Cross senior forward Gerrale Gates and Lehigh graduate student guard Marques Wilson join Cummings, McCoy and White on the five-member Preseason All-Patriot League squad.
The League's men's basketball coaches and sports information directors completed voting for the preseason poll, player of the year and All-Patriot League team. They cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.
2021-22 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Javante McCoy, Boston University, Gr., G, Milwaukee, Wis./Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)
*McCoy is a two-time All-Patriot League selection earning second-team honors in 2021, after making the third team and All-Tournament team during the Terriers’ first League championship season in 2020.
*The Milwaukee native led Terriers and finished eighth in the Patriot League in scoring last season, averaging 16.1 points per game (ppg) to give him 1,321 career points through 112 games.
*He has averaged 11.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting .359 from 3-point range through his career at BU.
2021-22 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason All-League Team (listed alphabetically by last name)
Nelly Cummings, Colgate, Sr., G, Midland, Pa./Lincoln Park [Bowling Green]
2020-21 Stats: 16 GP/16 GS, 12.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, .463 FG pct., .384 3FG pct., .756 FT pct.
*Career Honors: 2021 Second Team All-Patriot League
Gerrale Gates, Holy Cross, Sr., F, Charlotte, N.C./David W. Butler [New Orleans]
2020-21 Stats: 14 GP/14 GS, 16.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, .476 FG pct., .743 FT pct.
*Career Honors: 2021 Third Team All-Patriot League
Javante McCoy, Boston University, Gr., G, Milwaukee, Wis./Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)
2020-21 Stats: 16 GP/15 GS, 16.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, .485 FG pct., .313 3FG pct., .785 FT pct.
*Career Honors: 2021 Second Team All-Patriot League; 2020 Third Team All-Patriot League; 2020 Patriot League All-Tournament Team
Walter Whyte, Boston University, Sr., F, New Haven, Conn./St. Luke’s School
2020-21 Stats: 16 GP/16 GS, 13.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 spg, .414 FG pct., .727 FT pct.
*Career Honors: 2021 Third Team All-Patriot League; 2020 Second Team All-Patriot League; 2018 Patriot League All-Rookie Team.
Marques Wilson, Lehigh, Gr., G, Edmond, Okla./Edmond North
2020-21 Stats: 15 GP/15 GS, 15.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.6 spg, .441 FG pct., .321 3FG pct., .673 FT pct.
*Career Honors: 2021 Third Team All-Patriot League
2021-22 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Boston University, 154 (11 first-place votes)
2. Colgate, 153 (9)
3. Navy, 114
4. Army West Point, 89
5. American, 79
T6. Bucknell, 73
T6. Lafayette, 73
8. Loyola Maryland, 65
9. Holy Cross, 53
10. Lehigh, 47
2021-22 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Javante McCoy, Boston University, Gr., G
2021-22 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason All-League Team
Nelly Cummings, Colgate, Sr., G
Gerrale Gates, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Javante McCoy, Boston University, Gr., G
Walter Whyte, Boston University, Sr., F
Marques Wilson, Lehigh, Gr., G
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.