Williams Named CAA Preseason Player of the Year

RICHMOND, Va. – Amari Williams was named the 2023-24 Coastal Athletic Association Preseason Player of the Year according to a vote of the league's coaches. The two-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year was a First Team All-CAA pick a year ago. As a team, the Dragons were picked to finish third in the 14-team league, the highest they have ever been picked under head coach Zach Spiker. Sophomore Justin Moore was an honorable mention selection. The 2023-24 Drexel basketball season is once again presented by IBEW Local 98.

Williams is coming off an outstanding junior season. He led the league and was 14^th in the nation with 2.23 blocks per game. Williams became just the fifth player in CAA history to win consecutive Defensive Player of the Year honors. The native of Nottingham, England led the CAA in field-goal percentage (.523), was second in rebounding (8.8) and tied for 13th in scoring with 13.7 points per game. He recorded nine double-doubles.

The Dragons finished fifth in the CAA a year ago with a 10-8 record in conference play. It was the second straight season Drexel won 10 CAA games. Spiker's team returns four starters from last year's team in Williams, Luke House, Moore and Lamar Oden, Jr. Moore was a CAA All-Rookie pick in 2023 after averaging 9.6 points and 3.1 assists. House and Oden, Jr. each appeared in all 32 games and scored 8.7 points per contest apiece.

The College of Charleston, the defending CAA champion, was selected to win the league. The Cougars received 10 of the 14 first place votes. UNCW had three first place votes and was picked second, while Drexel had the final first place vote. Hofstra was right behind the Dragons in fourth place, while Delaware and Towson tied for fifth. Rounding out the poll was Northeastern, William & Mary, Stony Brook, Elon, Monmouth, Campbell, Hampton and North Carolina A&T.

Drexel will open the season at La Salle on Nov. 7. It will be the team's first game as a member of the Philadelphia Big 5. A week later, the Dragons will host Temple at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in their first Big 5 home contest. The CAA schedule begins on New Year's Day when Hampton visits the DAC.

2023-24 CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1.        Charleston (10)            165
2.        UNCW (3)                     157
3.        Drexel (1)                    140
4.        Hofstra                        137
t5.       Delaware                     115
t5.       Towson                        115
7.        Northeastern               84
8.        William & Mary            77
9.        Stony Brook                 76
10.      Elon                             62
11.      Monmouth                   50
12.      Campbell                     45
13.      Hampton                      31
14.      North Carolina A&T     20

Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Amari Williams, Drexel

Men's Basketball Preseason All-CAA
First Team
Ante Brzovic, College of Charleston
Tyler Thomas, Hofstra
Charles Thompson, Towson
Trazarien White, UNCW
Amari Williams, Drexel

Second Team
Jyáre Davis, Delaware
Anthony Dell'Orso, Campbell
Max MacKinnon, Elon
Reyne Smith, College of Charleston
Tyler Stephenson-Moore, Stony Brook

Honorable Mention:
Gabe Dorsey, Jr., William & Mary
Chris Doherty, Gr., Northeastern
Darlinstone Dubar, Jr., Hofstra
Maleeck Harden-Hayes, Gr., UNCW
Justin Moore, So., Drexel
Jordan Nesbitt, Jr., Hampton
Frankie Policelli, Gr., College of Charleston
Xander Rice, Gr., Monmouth

Dragons Calendar.

Williams Named CAA Preseason Player of the Year

Players Mentioned

Luke House

Justin Moore

Lamar Oden, Jr.

Amari Williams

Drexel University Athletics