The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is proud to announce the 2009-10 Men’s Preseason All Conference Basketball Teams and Predicted Order of Finish. This year’s teams are comprised of two returners and eight newcomers to the team with Fort Valley State and Claflin both receiving two spots. Highlighting the list is 2008-2009 first team all-conference selection Ernest Sinkfield (Pictured) of Claflin University and 2008-2009 second team all-conference selection Martrez Scott of Fort Valley State University. Sinkfield and the Claflin Panthers are also predicted to finish first in the SIAC after last season’s impressive 25-4 record (22-2 in the conference).

This year’s pre-season all-conference first team only returns two members of last season’s team. Claflin’s Ernest Sinkfield returns after averaging 13.1 points/game. Sinkfield is also the returning leader in 3 point shots made with 68 (2.3/game).  He looks to lead the Panthers to another conference title and a deep run into the NCAA tournament. Martrez Scott of Fort Valley is the SIAC’s leading returning scorer averaging 14.3 points/game last season. Scott also led the conference in steals with 2.3 per game, while guiding a Wildcat team that lead the SIAC in forced turnovers.  All-conference newcomer Najee Lane of Clark Atlanta makes the team as the second leading returning scorer with 13.8 points/game and is the only junior on the first team. Maurice Mickens of LeMoyne-Owen and Julian English of Paine make up the rest of the pre-season first team.

This year’s pre-season second team selections all making their first appearance on the all-conference team led by Andrae Nelson of Tuskegee. Nelson is the conference’s leading returning shot blocker with 68 (2.4 per game) as well as one of the best rebounders in the SIAC averaging 8.6 per game last season. Gerard Devaughn of Stillman returns as the leader in field goal percentage making almost 60% of his shots while Albany State’s Sean Glenn returns as one of the top assist men in the SIAC (4.5 per game). Junior guard Eric Salley (Claflin) and senior guard/forward Darrell Aiken (Fort Valley State) complete this year’s pre-season second team.  

Claflin was chosen by the Coaches association to finish atop of the SIAC. Benedict is predicted to finish second along with Lane who is slated to finish third.

The All Conference teams and Predicted Order of Finish was chosen by the SIAC Men’s Coaches Association and based upon returning 2008-09 All Conference Members.