NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 26, 2023) – The Morgan State men's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's preseason poll, announced by the conference today.
The 2023-24 Bears earned 72 total points in the voting. Howard claimed 11 first place votes and 107 points total as the defending MEAC champions. Norfolk State (96 pts) was selected second, followed by North Carolina Central in third place (79 pts). Maryland Eastern Shore (55 pts), Delaware State (39 pts), Coppin State (30 pts) and South Carolina State (26 pts) rounded out the league's predicted order of finish.
Redshirt junior guard Kamron Hobbs and redshirt junior forward Will Thomas were named to the preseason All-MEAC second team.
Last season, Hobbs started in 16 of 31 games played and averaged 28.1 minutes. He averaged 8.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and shot 44.7 percent from the field and 45 percent (45-100) from 3-point territory. Hobbs also averaged 2.7 assists (ranked No. 10 in MEAC) and 1.4 steals. He scored in double-figures 13 times, including a season-high 24 points (9-15 FG) and grabbed five rebounds versus Delaware State (Feb. 4).
Thomas started in 8 of 29 games played last season and averaged 8.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and shot 43.4 percent from the field and 34 percent (16-47) from 3-point territory. He scored in double-figures 10 times, scored 20 or more points five times, and poured in a season-high 27 points (11-22 FG) and grabbed 11 rebounds versus Norfolk State (Jan. 23).
The Morgan State Bears completed the 2022-23 season with a 15-16 record and finished 7-7 in conference play. The Bears were tough at home in Baltimore, going 10-2 at Hill Field House, but fell shy of their ultimate goal.
As the Kevin Broadus era enters its fifth season in 2023-24, there are many reasons for optimism.
MSU returns veteran guards Kamron Hobbs (8.4 ppg) and Will Thomas (8.9 ppg) from the starting lineup and added several newcomers including guard Wynston Tabbs from East Carolina, guard Kiran Oliver from New Mexico State, and forward Myles Thompson from Saint Francis (Pa.) via the transfer portal.
The poll and preseason squad were released on during the MEAC's Basketball Media Day, which was held Thursday and broadcast on ESPN+.
Morgan State's 2023-24 season tips off on Monday, Nov. 6, when they travel to face the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. The game will be televised on PAC-12 Networks.
Full 2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule here.
The 2024 MEAC Basketball Tournament will be held March 13-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
For more information about the MEAC and its sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com.
The MEAC Media Relations Office contributed to this release.
2023-24 MEAC Men's Basketball
All-MEAC Teams
Voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors
Preseason Player of the Year: Shy Odom, Howard
FIRST TEAM
Name Pos Class Ht. School Hometown
Shy Odom F So. 6'6" Howard Roxbury, Mass.
Martaz Robinson G Sr. 6'2" Delaware State Baltimore, Md.
Marcus Dockery G Jr. 6'2" Howard Washington, D.C.
Jelani Williams G Gr. 6'5" Howard Washington, D.C.
Christian Ings G Gr. 6'2" Norfolk State Philadelphia, Pa.
SECOND TEAM
Name Pos Class Ht. School Hometown
Kamron Hobbs G R-Jr. 5'10" Morgan State Stockbridge, Ga.
Will Thomas F R-Jr. 6'6" Morgan State Baltimore, Md.
Brandon Stone F Gr. 6'11" Delaware State Scottsdale. Pa.
Jevin Muniz G So. 6'6" Delaware State Bethlehem, Pa.
Bryce Harris G Jr. 6'4" Howard Brentwood, N.Y.
THIRD TEAM
Name Pos Class Ht. School Hometown
Jamarii Thomas G Jr. 6'0" Norfolk State Greensboro, N.C.
George Beale Jr. G So. 6'4" Norfolk State Suffolk, Va.
Chace Davis G Jr. 6'3" Maryland E. Shore Accokeek, Md.
Jordan Simpson G So. 6'5" S.C. State Orangeburg, S.C.
Fred Cleveland Jr. G Sr. 5'9" N.C. Central Baltimore, Md.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
