2026-27 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Players to Watch

Men's Basketball | 11/13/2026 12:00:00 PM

Keuka College looks for back-to-back Empire 8 Championships as the 2026-27 Empire 8 Men's Basketball season is underway. League play begins with two games between Russell Sage and Keuka and Alfred and St. John Fisher on Dec. 5. League play continues after the new year on Jan. 5, 2027.

The top eight teams will advance to the E8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with quarterfinal action on Saturday, Feb. 20, semifinal round games on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and the championship three days later on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2026-27 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship. 

Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
   
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Erich Kaempffe
Zion Baitey, Sr., G, Morristown, NJ/Morristown - Baitey, a 24-game starter for the Saxons, averaged 12.3 points per game last season. He averaged 6.3 rebounds per game and totaled 43 assists, 39 steals and 10 blocks. 

Tyler Curran, Gr., G, Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone - Curran, a 23-game starter for the Saxons in 2025-26, averaged 12.3 points per game. On defense, he averaged 4.1 rebounds per game and added 71 assists, 19 steals and three blocks. 

SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Joe Clarke
Pharell Aybar, So., G, Washington Heights, NY/A Philip Randolph - Aybar, the 2025-26 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, had an outstanding rookie season. He averaged 11.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.4 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range. Aybar added 92 assists, 12 blocks and 45 steals.  

Camron Dyer, Sr., G/F, Rochester, NY/Dixie - Dyer, a 2025-26 third team All-Empire 8 selection, averaged 11.7 points and five rebounds per game. He added 60 assists, 21 blocks and 43 steals to lead the Golden Eagles. 

ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Denis Tobin
Gustavo Coutinho, So., G, Milford, MA/Milford - Coutinho transferred in from MassBay Community College. He averaged 21.6 points per game in 2025-26 with a 52.1 shooting percentage and a 37.6 percentage from three. He averaged 8.6 rebounds per game and added 41 assists, 31 steals and eight blocks. 

Manny Karkari-Mensah, Jr., G, Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute - Karkari-Mensah was a 24-game starter for the Soaring Eagles in 2025-26. He averaged 3.9 rebounds per game and added 46 assists.

SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Steve Minton
Josh Garelle, Sr., G/F, Rockville, Centre, NY/South Side - Garelle, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, is a 2025-26 first team All-Conference selection and a 2024-25  third team all-conference selection. He led the Knights averaging 16 points and seven rebounds per game. He was among the E8 leaders, shooting 54 percent from the floor. He totaled 82 assists, 14 blocks and 37 steals. 

Robert Pericolosi, Sr., Rockville Centre, NY/South Side - Pericolosi, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a second team All-Conference pick last season. He averaged 13.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He shot 48.1 percent from the floor and added 83 assists, 11 blocks and 56 steals. 

HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Brad Cooper
TJ Etienne, So., F, Boynton Beach, FL/Park Vista Community - In 16 games played in his rookie season, Etienne averaged 7.6 points per game and shot 57 percent from the floor. He added seven assists, 11 blocks and 13 steals. He is expected to play a larger role this season. 

Mike Gitz, Sr., G, Commack, NY/Commack - Gitz, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, averaged 12.5 points per game last season and three rebounds per game. He totaled 23 assists, four blocks and 21 steals. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Jeremy Bialek
Lou Bellamy, Sr., F, Tampa, FL/Johnson University - Bellamy, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, is also a two-time second team all-conference selection. In 2024-25 he was a third team D3hoops.com all-region pick. In 2025-26 he averaged 19.3 points per game, ranking him second in the Empire 8. He added 70 assists, 10 blocks and 26 steals. 

Trey Kleitz, Gr., G, East Aurora, NY/East Aurora/Roberts Wesleyan - During his 2025-26 season at Roberts Wesleyan, Kleitz averaged seven points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game. He totaled 38 assists, two blocks and 24 steals and is an exciting addition for the Highlanders.  

KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Tom Wilk
Makya Morrison, Jr., F, Oneonta, NY/Oneonta - Morrison started 25 games for the Wolves in 2025-26. He averaged 8.1 points per game and led the team in blocks with 46. He was second in rebounds averaging seven per game. He earned a spot on the 2025-26 Empire 8 Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team. 

Kaleb Nutifafa, Jr., F, Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton/Tompkins Cortland CC - Nutifafa played every game for the Wolves last season with 26 starts. He averaged 9.7 points per game and led the Wolves with 7.1 rebounds per game. He had an incredible postseason tournament and earned a spot on the 2025-26 Empire 8 All-Tournament Team. 

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Kevin Broderick
Josh Harter, So., G, Avon, NY/Avon - Harter appeared in all 26 games for the Golden Flyers scoring 31 total points. He ranked third on the team with 45 assists and shot .265 from the field and .250 from three. He added 20 total rebounds and seven steals.

Merritt Holly, Jr., C, Le Roy, NY/Le Roy - Holly, the 2024-25 Empire Rookie of the Year, earned first team All-Conference honors last season. He led the E8 with 10.8 rebounds per game (he ranked 18th nationally) and in double-doubles with 14. He was ranked second in the conference with a .592 shooting percentage and averaged 14.8 points per game. 

SUNY POLY - Head Coach Rob Schoener
Kamryn Comstock, Sr., F, Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville - Comstock, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a 2025-26 second team All-Conference selection. He averaged 10.6 points per game and 7.0, while shooting 49 percent from the floor. 

Marquis Samuels, Sr., G, East Meadow, NY/The Patrick School - Samuels averaged 9.5 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game in 2025-26. He shot .475 from the floor with four blocks, 38 steals and 86 assists. 

RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Brian Barnes
Khalel Noteman, Sr., C, Brookyln, NY/Canarsie - Noteman, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was the 2025-26 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year. In 25 starts he averaged 13.2 points per game and shot 57 percent from the field. On defense, he averaged 7.4 rebounds per game and totaled nine assists, 30 steals and 12 blocks. His efforts earned him second team All-Conference.

Pape Tunkara, Sr., G, Mount Vernon, NY/Iona Prep/Genesee CC - Tunkara earned second team All-Conference honors in 2025-26. He averaged 15.8 points per game and shot 43.6 percent from the floor. Tunkara averaged 4.0 rebounds per game and added 69 assists, 64 steals and four blocks. 

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Mike Grosodonia II
Mekhi Gidney, So., G, Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute - Gidney enjoyed an excellent debut for the Cardinals in 2025-26. In 25 games played, he averaged 9.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. 

Max Michalski, Jr., F, Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland - Michalski, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, averaged 12 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He shot 54 percent from the floor and added 23 assists, 51 blocks and 16 steals.  

UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Sean Coffey
Keyaton Parks, Sr., C, Albany, NY/Green Tech Charter - Parks, a 2025-26 third team All-Conference selection, started all but one game for the Pioneers last season. He averaged 11.2 points and nine rebounds per game. He held a 71 percent shooting percentage, putting him on top of the conference and totaled 48 blocks.  

Isaiah Smith, Jr., G, Amsterdam, NY/Schalmont - Smith appeared in 24 games for the Pioneers in 2025-26. He registered 32 rebounds, 21 assists and nine steals. 

Final 2025-26 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Standings
Russell Sage (21-5, 13-3 E8)
Nazareth (18-8, 13-3 E8)
Geneseo (16-11, 11-5 E8)
Poly (18-8, 11-5 E8)
Brockport (16-12, 10-6 E8)
Utica (17-9, 10-6 E8)
Keuka (15-14, 9-7 E8) - League Champions
St. John Fisher (13-14, 8-8 E8)
Hartwick (10-15, 4-12 E8)
Elmira (8-17, 3-13 E8)
Houghton (6-19, 3-13 E8)
Alfred (4-21, 1-15 E8)

2025-26 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Championship Schedule

Saturday, February 21 – First Round (at Higher Seed)
No. 8 St. John Fisher defeated No. 1 Russell Sage, 77-72 – BOX SCORE 
No. 7 Keuka defeated No. 2 Nazareth, 96-89 (OT) – BOX SCORE 
No. 3 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 6 Utica, 68-62 – BOX SCORE 
No. 5 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 4 SUNY Poly, 84-75 – BOX SCORE 

Wednesday, February 25 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
No. 5 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 8 St. John Fisher, 74-57 – BOX SCORE 
No. 7 Keuka defeated No. 3 SUNY Geneseo, 55-53 – BOX SCORE 

Saturday, February 28 - Championship Final (at Highest Remaining Seed)
No. 7 Keuka defeated No. 5 SUNY Brockport, 83-80 – BOX SCORE

2026 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Lamar Lovelace, Sr., G, Keuka
 

• Pharell Aybar, Brockport, So., G, Washington Heights, NY/A Phillip Randolph - 2025-26 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
• Lou Bellamy, Houghton, Sr., F, Tampa, FL/Johnson University - 2024-25 D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region
• Merritt Holly, Nazareth, Jr., C, Le Roy, NY/Le Roy - 2024-25 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
• Khalel Noteman, Russell Sage, Sr., C, Brooklyn, NY/Canarsie - 2025-26 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year