ATLANTA — Junior forward Myles Thomas of Tuskegee has been voted the 2018 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Player of the Year while Lane’s senior forward Kendarius Ash earned his second consecutive Preseason Defensive Player of the Year selection, as announced by the league office.

The preseason honors and predicted order of finish are voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

In his tenure at Lane, Ash has been named to every all-conference team since his freshman season. During his junior season, the Decatur, Georgia native averaged 16.3 points per game and 13.1 rebounds per game.

Ash led the league with 340 rebounds last season averaging 4.5 offensive rebounds and 8.5 defensive rebounds per game. Ash finished the season with a SIAC best 20 double-doubles.

Thomas, a 6-foot-7 junior from Tallahassee, Florida., averaged 9.6 points per game in his rookie season with the Golden Tigers. The junior forward shot 70.2 percent from the free-throw line and averaged 3.8 rebounds per game and finished with 110 rebounds on the season.

Thomas also led Tuskegee in blocked shots with 12.

Joining Ash and Thomas on the 2018 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Team are Omar Alston (Morehouse), Jeffrey Dockett (Miles), and Brandon Fischer (Spring Hill) who were also named to the 2017-18 SIAC Men’s Basketball All-Conference Team.

New additions include Jaylon McMillan (Fort Valley State), Ditalion Battle (Kentucky State), Tyler Edwards (Fort Valley State), Shelvick Henry (Clark Atlanta), Dwight Richards, Jr. (Central State), and Austin Donaldson (Clark Atlanta).

In the eastern division, Morehouse was voted to finish on top as they garnered five first-place votes after last year’s historic season. Clark Atlanta finished second in the poll with three first-place votes above Albany State who was voted third with two first-place votes. With one first-place vote, Benedict was voted fourth ahead of Fort Valley State. Paine rounded out the eastern division.

Central State was voted to lead the western division as they collected six first-place votes followed by Lane who was picked to finish second with three first-place votes. With two first-place votes respectively, Kentucky State finished third above LeMoyne-Owen who is expected to finish fourth.

Miles collected one first-place vote as they were chosen to finish fifth. Spring Hill and Tuskegee rounded out the western division and were voted to finish sixth and seventh respectively. 

2018-19 SIAC Basketball Preseason Team

Men’s Basketball

*Indicates returner for 2017-18 SIAC All-Conference Team

2018 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Honors

Preseason Player of the Year: Myles Thomas, Tuskegee

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Kendarius Ash, Lane

Predicted Order of Finish:

(first-place votes in parenthesis)

Eastern Division

1. Morehouse (5)
2. Clark Atlanta (3)
3. Albany State (2)
4. Benedict (1)
5. Fort Valley State
6. Paine

Western Division

1. Central State (6)
2. Lane (3)
3. Kentucky State (2)
4. LeMoyne-Owen (2)
5. Miles (1)
6. Spring Hill
7. Tuskegee