CAA Announces Men's Hoops Preseason Poll

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The UNCW men's basketball team was projected to finish second in the Coastal Athletic Association Preseason Poll as announced by the league on Thursday morning.

The 2025 CAA Champion Seahawks, who received five first-place votes, were four points behind preseason favorite Towson, last year's regular season victor, who collected seven first-place tallies. Charleston rounded out the coaches' poll top three with one first-place vote.

Senior guard CJ Luster II garnered Preseason All-CAA First Team recognition following a standout 2024-25 campaign at Stony Brook. The Denton, Texas, native averaged 16.8 points and shot 42.1 percent from three-point range to earn All-CAA Third Team honors one year ago before transferring to UNCW this offseason.

Senior guard Nolan Hodge and Noah Ross were named All-CAA Preseason Honorable Mentions as they enter their fourth season with the Port City program.

Hodge averaged a career-high 7.6 points across 34 games, including 15 starts. The Greensboro, N.C., product scored a team-high 18 points in the Seahawks' NCAA First Round game vs. Texas Tech last March.

Ross, the Seahawks' top returning scorer at 8.1 ppg, reached double figures 10 times one year ago and was named to the 2025 CAA All-Tournament team after averaging 10.6 ppg in UNCW's CAA Championship run, including 12 points in CAA Quarterfinals vs. Hampton and 14 against Delaware in the Championship Game.

UNCW opens the 2025-26 regular season on Nov. 3 vs. Mount Olive. The Seahawks will play two home exhibition games before the season opener against High Point (Oct. 18) and Francis Marion (Oct. 26).

Season and non-conference single-game tickets remain available. To purchase tickets, visit UNCWsports.com/BuyTickets or call the UNCW Athletic Ticket Office at (910) 962-3233.

2025-26 CAA Men's Basketball Preseason Awards

Team (1^st Place Votes)	Points
Towson (7)	136
UNCW (5)	132
Charleston (1)	130
William & Mary	97
Hampton	80
Monmouth	76
Campbell	75
Hofstra	66
Northeastern	66
Drexel	63
Stony Brook	41
Elon	35
North Carolina A&T	17

Preseason Player of the Year - Tyler Tejada, Towson

Preseason All-CAA First Team

Tyler Tejada*	Towson	Jr.	G/F	Teaneck, N.J.
Colby Duggan*	Charleston	Jr.	F	Monson, Mass.
Cruz Davis	Hofstra	Jr.	G	Plano, Texas
CJ Luster II	UNCW	Sr.	G	Denton, Texas
Dylan Williamson*	Towson	R-Jr.	G	Upper Marlboro, Md.

Preseason All-CAA Second Team

Mister Dean	Charleston	So.	G	Miami, Fla.
Jack Collins	Monmouth	Sr.	G	Manasquan, N.J.
LA Pratt	Northeastern	Sr.	G	Columbus, Ohio
Collin O'Connor	Stony Brook	So.	G	Dayton, Ohio
Chase Lowe	William & Mary	Sr.	G	Weddington, N.C.

* unanimous selection

CAA Preseason Honorable Mentions: Shane Blakeney, Jr., G, Drexel; Dovydas Butka, So., F, Campbell; Nolan Hodge, Sr., G, UNCW; Daniel Johnson, So., G, Hampton; Xzavier Long, Sr., F, Hampton; Kyle Pulliam, Sr., G, William & Mary; Noah Ross, Sr., G, UNCW

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Players Mentioned

#4 Nolan Hodge: G; 6' 7"; Senior

#5 Noah Ross: G; 6' 7"; Senior

#3 CJ Luster II: G; 6' 3"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#4 Nolan Hodge
: 6' 7"; Senior
: G

#5 Noah Ross
: 6' 7"; Senior
: G

#3 CJ Luster II
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

UNC Wilmington Athletics

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Events/Results

CAA Announces Men's Hoops Preseason Poll

Players Mentioned

#4 Nolan Hodge

#5 Noah Ross

#3 CJ Luster II

Players Mentioned

#4 Nolan Hodge

#5 Noah Ross

#3 CJ Luster II