The America East Conference recently released its picks for the Preseason All-Conference Squad. The team was picked by the head coaches of all the Conference teams with each coach voting for five players. The coaches were not allowed to vote for their own athletes. The squad represents the players to watch over the season as they compete for the championship.

Preseason team rankings were also announced this past week, based on coaches’ votes. As the returning champions, Albany was picked for the number one spot while Maine and Vermont fill out the top three. Stony Brook was ranked in seventh of the nine team conference, in front of UMBC and Hartford.

Unanimous votes went to Jamar Wilson; the guard from Albany who garnered last year’s America East Player of the Year, helping the Great Danes capture the title. New Hampshire’s Blagoj Janev also earned a unanimous nomination to the team. The two players should be the ones to watch for the 2006-07 season as Albany tries to repeat last year’s success and New Hampshire tries to break out of its number four ranking.

Stony Brook’s Mitchell Beauford became the first player in Stony Brook history to be named to the America East Preseason All-Conference Squad. Beauford is also the only member of the team to come from a school not ranked in the top four teams in the conference, which makes his accomplishment all the more remarkable.

Beauford is the Seawolves’ highest returning scorer with an average of 14.1 points per game. The junior also racked up double-digits in 15 games last season, including eight games where he scored over 17 points each. Beauford is one of only three returning starters from last season in which they posted a record of 4-24 overall and 2-14 in conference play.

Stony Brook hopes to get a break from its incoming freshman, as the 2006-07 recruiting class is ranked 27th in the nation by HoopScoopOnline.com. The Seawolves open their season with an away game against Colgate on November 10.