NEW YORK - Lehman edged defending CUNY Athletic Conference tournament champion John Jay atop the 2025-26 men's basketball preseason coaches' poll released Thursday afternoon.
The Lightning, who finished tied for second with the Bloodhounds in the regular season standings in 2024-25, earned four of eight first place votes and accumulated 45 points. John Jay earned the other four first place selections and finished one point behind Lehman with 44 points.
2024-25 regular season champion Baruch (38), Brooklyn (32) and CCNY (23) rounded out the top five.
The 2025-26 CUNYAC men's basketball Players to Watch were also announced Thursday afternoon.
Lehman finished 18-8 overall last season and tied for second in the standings with an 11-3 CUNYAC mark. John Jay, which won the tournament championship for the first time since 2008, was 19-9 and 11-3 in conference, while the Bearcats were 16-11 overall and 12-2 in league play.
The 2026 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Championship begins with first round games on Saturday, February 21. The semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, with the title game Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 pm at the Hunter College Sportsplex.
2025-26 CUNY Athletic Conference
Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(first place votes in parentheses)
1. Lehman (4) - 45
2. John Jay (4) - 44
3. Baruch - 38
4. Brooklyn - 32
5. CCNY - 23
6. Hunter - 20
T7. Medgar Evers - 11
T7. York - 11
2025-26 CUNYAC Men's Basketball
Players to Watch
Jack Gordon, Baruch - Gordon started all 27 games for the Bearcats as a sophomore last season and averaged 10.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures on 14 occasions, including 21 points in Baruch's CUNYAC semifinal win over Brooklyn.
Joe Charles, Brooklyn - Charles started 13 times as a freshman for Brooklyn last season and averaged 7.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. He recorded a season-high 18 points twice.
Justin Morety, CCNY - Morety, a Second Team All-Star for the Beavers last season, led CCNY in scoring with his 16.2 ppg average. He scored at least 20 points nine times and grabbed 5.4 rebounds per game while dishing out a team-high 76 assists.
Jayden Jarrett, Hunter - In his first season at Hunter, Jarrett started 23 games and registered 6.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He posted a pair of double-doubles last season.
Jamir Stewart, John Jay - Stewart, a First Team All-Star a season ago, led the Bloodhounds with his 16.2 ppg average while also adding 3.1 rebounds per game. He was named MVP of the CUNYAC Men's Basketball Championship after scoring 23 points in the title game.
Ricardo Dixon, Lehman - A transfer from CCNY joining the Lightning this season,Dixon averaged 12.0 ppg and a team-high 8.1 rebounds for the Beavers last season. He shot 51.3% from the floor and also had 34 blocked shots.
Ahmed Toure, Medgar Evers - Toure started 19 games and played in 25 for the Cougars in 2024-25, averaging 7.6 points and 6.9 contests per outing. Toure led Medgar Evers in blocked shots with 27.
Malakai Clark, York - Clark averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for the Cardinals last season as one of four players who appeared in all 23 games. He put in a season-high 14 points against Hunter.
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