NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona College men’s basketball senior David Laury headlined the preseason All-MAAC selections as the league’s Preseason Player of the Year as selected by a vote of the league’s 11 head coaches and announced on the MAAC Preseason Awards Show live on ESPN3 Wednesday evening. Laury and junior A.J. English were picked to the All-MAAC First team, junior Isaiah Williams was named to the Third Team and the Gaels were selected as preseason favorites in the coaches’ poll.
A unanimous selection to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team, Laury guided Iona to back-to-back appearances in the MAAC Championship game, including a league crown in 2013. The 6-9 senior averaged 14.0 points, 8.3 rebounds (fourth in the MAAC), 2.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks (eighth in the MAAC) en route to being selected to the 2013-14 All-MAAC Second team. Laury also ranked fourth in the league with eight double-doubles as a junior. He was a member of the MAAC All-Tournament Teams in both 2013 and 2014 and was also a member of the 2012-13 All-MAAC Third team.
The only returning member of the 2013-14 All-MAAC First Team, English had a break out sophomore campaign, averaging 17.2 points per game, the sixth highest average in the MAAC, and 4.3 assists, good for third in the MAAC. He also made 84 three-point field goals and recorded a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. English is also the MAAC’s returning leader in minutes played (36.6 mpg).
Laury and English were joined by Quinnipiac forward Ousmane Drame, Saint Peter’s forward Marvin Dominique, and Siena guard Rob Poole.
Williams was picked to the preseason All-MAAC Third Team. He averaged 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in his first season in Maroon & Gold. His 35 steals and 26 blocks both ranked second on the squad in 2012-13. Williams shot 53.4% from the field, 42.7% from beyond the arc and 90.0% from the free throw line.
Iona was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2015 MAAC Championship. The Gaels received six of 11 first place votes and 112 total points. The Maroon & Gold was the MAAC Regular Season Champions in 2013-14, posting a 22-11 overall mark while winning a program record 17 games in league play. The Gaels look to earn an unprecedented sixth straight 20-win season and fifth consecutive postseason appearance following an appearance in the NIT in 2014. Siena was picked second overall, with four first place votes and 107 total points. Manhattan was third with 97 points, followed by Saint Peter’s (89), Quinnipiac (84), Monmouth (57), Rider (56), Marist (50), Fairfield (33), Canisius (28) and Niagara (13).
The Gaels open the 2013-14 campaign next Friday, Nov. 14 at the Hynes Center vs. Cleveland State.