Oct. 22, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC-- Old Dominion University juniorcenter Gerald Lee (Finland) was selected to thefirst team pre-season All-CAA squad according toa vote of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media. As a team, theMonarchs are picked to finish third in the league race.
The Monarchs return four starters from its 18-16 team that advanced to post-seasonplay for the fourth year in a row. Junior center Gerald Lee (12.9 ppg/ 5.9rpg)was a second team All-CAA pick last year. Also returning to the Monarchs line-upare a talented group of sophomores who started 15 games last year as freshmenin guard/forward Ben Finney ( 7.0 ppg/ 5.0 rpg), point guard Darius James ( 7.0 ppg), and forward Frank Hassell ( 5.3 ppg/ 5.0 rpg).
The Monarchs have only one senior in Jonathan Adams(6.0ppg/4.1 rpg) and two juniors,Lee and 6-2 guard Marsharee Nely (3.0 ppg/1.2 rpg).
VCU, which returns three starters was picked to finish first followed by Northeastern who welcomes back five starters.
The Monarchs will be in action in the annual blue-white exhibition Sunday at4:30 in the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Admission is free.
2008-09 CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PREDICTION1. VCU2. Northeastern3. ODU4. George Mason5. Delaware6. Georgia State7. Hofstra8. W&M9. James Madison10. Towson11. UNCW12. Drexel
2008-09 CAA PRE-SEASON ALL CONFERENCEFirst TeamMarc Egerson, DelawareMatt Janning, NUGerald Lee, ODUeric Maynor, VCULeonard Mendez, Georgia State
Second Team
Junior Harston, TowsonAbdulai Jalloh, JMUCharles Jenkins, HofstraLarry Sanders, VCUJohn Vaughan, Mason
Pre-Season Player of the Year: Eric Maynor, VCU.