Men's Basketball | 11/2/2023 9:29:41 AM
St. John Fisher University will look to repeat as Empire 8 Champions, as the 2023-24 season gets underway on Nov. 8, with several teams in action. League play starts on Dec. 2-3. The top six teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round action on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The top two seeds will host the Empire 8 semifinal round games on Thursday, Feb. 22 with the highest remaining seed to host the championship on Saturday, Feb. 24. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the
Empire 8 Network.
2023-24 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Players to Watch
JJ Babcock, Elmira, So., F, Athens, PA/Athens Area – Babcock averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and just under a block per game in 15 minutes per contest during his debut season. He is expected to serve in a leadership role in 2023-24.
Daniel Cook, St. John Fisher, Sr., F, Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon – Cook was named the Empire 8 Player of the Year and earned D3hoops.com All-Region honors for the third straight year after averaging 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game, while shooting 53 percent from the floor. He garnered All-American accolades and was named the 2023 Empire 8 Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Casey Curran, Alfred, Gr., F, Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone – Curran stepped into the starting lineup last season and averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He will look to play a greater role in 2023-24.
Kevin Felasco, Hartwick, Jr., G, Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse – Felasco averaged 11.3 points per game for the Hawks last season and will be counted on to be a team leader in 2023-24.
Noah Girard, Russell Sage, Jr., G, Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls – Girard averaged team best totals of 13.5 points, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game last season for the Gators.
Devin Milton, Keuka, Gr., G, Opelousas, LA/Beau Chene – Milton earned All-Empire 8 second team honors for the second straight season in 2022-23 after leading all E8 players in scoring , averaging 21.1 points per game, while shooting 55 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and 85 percent from the foul line. He enters his final season with 1,220 career points, 328 away from Keuka’s program record.
Jajuan Preaster, Houghton, Sr., F, Orlando, FL/Central Florida Christian – An E8 Player to Watch for the second straight season, Preaster averaged 16.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in 2022-23 while shooting 46 percent from the floor.
Jaylen Savage, Nazareth, So., G, Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton – Savage, the 2022-23 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, also earned All-E8 second team accolades after averaging 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 2022-23. He was a six-time E8 Rookie of the Week.
Dayion Thompson, Utica, So., G, Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy – Thompson was a two-time E8 Rookie of the Week last season, averaging 10.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He will lead a strong Utica backcourt in 2023-24.
Team Capsules (Sorted by 2022-23 Standings)
Utica
Utica set an Empire 8 record by winning 17 regular season games last season and was the No. 1 seed in the tourney for the second straight season in 2022-23. The Pioneers finished 23-5 overall and won its first NCAA Tournament game in 17 years. The Pioneers return plenty of firepower, as 16 players, including graduate students Thomas Morreale and Justice Brantley in addition to senior Damien Call and sophomore Dayion Thompson will lead a deep roster. Morreale earned All-Empire 8 honors for the fourth straight season in 2022-23 after averaging 13.6 points and 5.5 boards per game. He enters this season with 1,161 career points. Brantley was an All-E8 first team selection in 2022-23 after leading the Pioneers in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game and rebounds with 7.6 caroms per contest. He began the year by scoring in double figures in each of his first 18 games. He needs 260 points for 1,000 in his career. Call, a former E8 Rookie of the Year, averaged 5.6 points and 5.5 boards per game last season, while Thompson averaged 10.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. The Pioneers brought in their first NCAA Division II transfers under head coach Sean Coffey in Hagen Foley and Walter deFreitas.
Nazareth
Nazareth advanced to the Empire 8 Championship game and went 21-6 during the 2022-23 season. The Golden Flyers return 11 players and three starters from last season, including sophomore Jaylen Savage, the 2022-23 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and fifth-year standouts Logan Blankenburg and Jordan Haggard, who both were All-E8 third team selections a season ago. While Nazareth will look to replace former All-E8 first team selections and Defensive Players of the Year Zach Stenglein and Jonathon Park, there is plenty of talent and depth to make another deep postseason run in 2023-24. Savage also earned All-E8 second team accolades after averaging 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 2022-23. He was a six-time E8 Rookie of the Week. Blankenburg averaged 12.2 points per game last season, while Haggard was right behind with 10.7 per game. Junior guard Jack Broderick is a proven scorer who will be counted on to play an even greater role this season.
Alfred
The Saxons return 12 players from last season’s team that won 22 games, advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals and won the ECAC Division III Championship. Alfred graduated a large class in 2023 and will look to replace four-time All-Empire 8 selection Brewster Marshall, who finished his career with 1,452 points and two-time All-Empire 8 selection Mike Schmidt, who had 940 points and 414 career assists. Graduate students Casey Curran and Adam Enders will be counted on to play a large role and lead the Saxons in 2023-24. Curran stepped into the starting lineup last season and averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Enders made 67 3-pointers last season and averaged 10.1 points per game. Kenneth Allison Jr., a two-time E8 Rookie of the Week in 2021-22, is back after missing most of last season due to injury.
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher, the defending Empire 8 Champions, return 13 players, including four starters from last season’s team that won 22 games, including 14 in league play. The Cardinals will look to win their 11th Empire 8 Championship in 2023-24 and have a veteran-laden roster which includes forward Daniel Cook, a graduate student who is the three-time reigning E8 Player of the Year, also earned D3hoops.com All-Region honors for the third straight year after averaging 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game, while shooting 53 percent from the floor. He garnered All-American accolades and was named the 2023 Empire 8 Tournament Most Valuable Player. Senior forward Connor Recore, along with junior guard Cole Thompson and sophomore Brendan McRoy will also be counted on to lead a deep group of returning veterans. In addition, head coach Mike Grosodonia II has brought in an impressive group of newcomers, including guards Josh Lopez and Max Schneider in addition to forward Jonathan McCaffrey.
Hartwick
The Hawks return nine players from last season’s team that advanced to the Empire 8 Tournament. Hartwick returns its two leading scorers in Cooper Francis and Kevin Felasco, along with a trio of emerging sophomores in Jeremiah Boateng, Jaden Carter and Daniel Oyedrian. Francis averaged 12.1 points and 8.2 boards per game last season, while shooting 90.4 percent from the foul line. Felasco added 11.3 points per game, while Boateng shot 53 percent from the floor and added a block per game. Brian Bonin, Henry Perkins and Malachi Polson will look to make an immediate impact.
Elmira
Elmira is attempting to make its second postseason appearance in the last four seasons in 2023-24. The Soaring Eagles return nine players from 2021-22, including senior Marc Anthony Artuz in addition to sophomores JJ Babcock, Tyler Cardello and Riley Spencer. Spencer is Elmira’s returning leading scorer, having averaged 11.5 points per game last season, while hitting 47 shots from behind the 3-point arc. Babcock averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and just under a block per game in 15 minutes per contest during his debut season. Head coach Casey McGraw has brought in a strong group of newcomers, including first-year, 6-foot-9 forward Aidan Carnevale.
Keuka
Keuka returns 14 players and four starters, including nearly 90 percent of its scoring from last season’s team that earned eight wins. Graduate student guard Devin Milton earned All-Empire 8 second team honors for the second straight season in 2022-23 after leading all E8 players in scoring , averaging 21.1 points per game, while shooting 55 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and 85 percent from the foul line. He enters his final season with 1,220 career points, 328 away from Keuka’s program record. Seniors Jaden Keasey, Christian Sage and Mason VanDeMortel will also be counted on to lead the way in 2023-24. Head coach Jake Scott has brought in four transfers to the mix in 2023-24.
Houghton
Houghton looks to make it back to the Empire 8 postseason in 2023-24 after making strides under head coach Jeremy Bialek last season. The Highlanders return nine players, senior JuJuan Preaster and Luke Cole, along with junior guard David Rosa. Preaster averaged 16.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in 2022-23 while shooting 46 percent from the floor. Rosa averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 boards and 3.2 assists per contest, while hitting 41 shots from behind the 3-point arc. Junior transfers Trey Flatt, Aaron Johnson and Preston Thomas and first-year James Wang may see plenty of action right away.
Russell Sage
Russell Sage will look to get back to the Empire 8 Tournament in 2023-24 after having its streak of three consecutive tourney appearances snapped last season. The Gators will nine players and four starters back in 2023-24, including junior guard Noah Girard, junior forward Todd Williamson and seniors Jackson Brown and Tahirou Hamidou. Girard led the Gators in scoring last season, averaging 13.5 points per game to go along with 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per contest. Brown was right behind, averaging 13.2 points, while shooting 86 percent from the foul line.
Final 2022-23 Empire 8 Men’s Basketball Standings
Utica (23-5, 17-1 E8)
Nazareth (21-6, 14-4 E8)
Alfred (22-7, 14-4 E8)
St. John Fisher (22-8, 14-4 E8) – League Champions
Hartwick (8-10, 9-16 E8)
Medaille (7-11, 9-17 E8)
Elmira (6-12, 7-18 E8)
Keuka (8-15, 4-14 E8)
Houghton (5-20, 4-14 E8)
Russell Sage (4-21, 2-16 E8)
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
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