Men's Basketball 10/21/2026 11:00:00 AM MSU Athletics Communications

Morgan State Picked Second in MEAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll

Worrell Jr., Richard Named To Watch List

BALTIMORE, Md. (Oct. 21, 2026) -- Morgan State men's basketball has been picked to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) 2026-27 Predicted Order of Finish, as announced by the conference Wednesday morning.

Reigning MEAC Coach of the Year Kevin Broadus will lead the Bears into the upcoming season, with All-MEAC guard Alfred Worrell Jr. and newcomer point guard Keith Richard named to the conference's Preseason Watch List.

Morgan State received 46 points, including one first-place vote, to rank second in the preseason poll. Howard was selected as the preseason favorite with 62 points and six first-place votes, followed by Norfolk State with 43 points and one first-place vote. North Carolina Central (42 points) and South Carolina State (36 points) rounded out the top five. Delaware State and Coppin State tied for sixth with 20 points apiece, while Maryland Eastern Shore was picked eighth with 18 points.

Worrell returns as one of the conference's most productive offensive players after earning All-MEAC recognition and BOXTOROW All-American honors last season. He was also selected to the 2026 Black College Sports Page "Baad Team."

The guard started 26 of 30 games and averaged 28.5 minutes per contest, scoring in double figures 23 times, including 13 performances with at least 20 points. He finished the season averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game.

Worrell's 17.4 points per game ranked fourth in the MEAC, while his perimeter shooting established him as one of the league's most efficient scoring threats. He connected on 81 of 223 three-point attempts, shooting 36.3 percent from beyond the arc to rank second in the conference. He also led the MEAC at the free-throw line, converting 88.5 percent of his attempts (146-of-165).

With Worrell returning, the Bears have an established scoring threat to build around as they look to strengthen their backcourt and continue their pursuit of a MEAC championship.

Richard, a 6-foot guard from Dallas, Texas, joins Morgan State from South Plains College, where he started 19 of 27 games. He averaged 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25.5 minutes per game, shooting 41 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range. His addition provides the Bears with another backcourt option heading into a demanding 2026-27 campaign.

Morgan State will open the season at home against Cheyney University on Monday, Nov. 2, before embarking on a challenging non-conference schedule featuring regional rivals and nationally recognized programs, including UMBC, Towson, North Carolina A&T, Cornell, George Mason, Maryland and Auburn.

The Bears will also compete in the inaugural 410 Invitational powered by Under Armour, a planned multi-year event featuring men's and women's basketball teams from Morgan State, UMBC, Towson and Loyola. The men's competition begins Nov. 12, when Morgan State travels to UMBC.

Morgan State will begin conference play at home against Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 2 as the Bears look to build on last season's success and contend for the MEAC title.

The 2026 MEAC Men's and Women's Basketball Media Day is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore.

MEN'S
Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Howard — 62 (6)
2. Morgan State — 46 (1)
3. Norfolk State — 43 (1)
4. North Carolina Central — 42
5. South Carolina State — 36
T6. Delaware State — 20
T6. Coppin State — 20
8. Maryland Eastern Shore — 18

Men's Basketball Preseason Watch List
Coppin State — Brendan Johnson and Tafara Gapare
Delaware State — Nehemiah Reedus and Rahmir Moore
Howard — Cam Gillus and Cedric Taylor III
Maryland Eastern Shore — Levi Beckwith and Saadiq Moore
Morgan State — Alfred Worrell and Keith Richard
Norfolk State — Bahil Laster and Jordan Skyers
North Carolina Central — Ryan Archey and Maurice Vassel
South Carolina State — Mitchell Taylor and Noah Treadwell

FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
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• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official website of Bear athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios, and more.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate, and certificate programs. 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.

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