GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Green Bay men's basketball junior Sandy Cohen III has been granted an NCAA waiver, receiving an additional year of athletic eligibility to be used in the 2018-19 season, the team announced on Friday. Cohen III will become eligible to play in his first game this season on Dec. 21 versus Bowling Green at the Resch Center, and will play out the remainder of his redshirt-junior year in 2017-18.

The native of Seymour, Wis., came to Green Bay from Marquette in December 2016, before sitting out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA Division I transfer rules. Cohen III has been practicing with the team since that time and traveled with the team to Puerto Rico in August, where he averaged 11.0 PPG and led the team in rebounding with 5.5 RPG.

"This is great news for both Sandy and our program. He has been with our team now for almost a year and has been working extremely hard on the court, in the weightroom and in the classroom. We can't wait to get working with our team next week and we look forward to having Sandy as a part of our program for the next two years," head coach Linc Darner said.

Cohen III will be ineligible for the first 12 games of this season, after transferring mid-season last year, but will be eligible in his first game as a member of the Phoenix on Thursday, December 21, against Bowling Green.

A top-100 national recruit out of high school in 2014, Cohen III committed to Marquette University and played two full seasons for the Golden Eagles. During his standout career at Seymour, he was named Player of the Year his senior season and was named All-State.

Cohen III will be one of two juniors on head coach Linc Darner's roster, joining JUCO-transfer forward Sukhjot Bains. Khalil Small and David Jesperson are the lone seniors for Green Bay, with the seven remaining players on the roster being underclassmen.

Green Bay will hold its first official team practice on Monday, Oct. 9 and will face Ripon on Monday, Oct. 30, for its exhibition game at the Resch Center. The Phoenix officially opens the regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Northern Illinois.

HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON AWARDS
The Horizon League announced the 2017-18 men's basketball preseason poll and preseason all-league teams on Friday morning at its annual Media Day, which took place at the new Little Caesars' Arena in Detroit. Green Bay was picked 6th out of the 10 teams in the poll, which Oakland earning the nod as the preseason favorites.

Team (First-Place votes) Total Votes
Oakland (31) 453           
Northern Kentucky (10) 414           
UIC (3) 347
Detroit Mercy (1) 273
Wright State 259
Green Bay 249
Youngstown State (1) 209
Milwaukee (1) 161
Cleveland State 125
IUPUI 95

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR                                                              
Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky

FIRST TEAM   Notes                                                           
Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky 16.9 ppg, 7.6 rebs
Jalen Hayes, Oakland 17.9 ppg, 9.2 rebs
Martez Walker, Oakland 17.8 ppg overall
Dikembe Dixson, UIC 20.3 ppg, 6 rebs (all gms.)
Cameron Morse, Youngstown State 23.2 ppg led HL  

SECOND TEAM  Notes                                                     
Corey Allen, Detroit Mercy 15.4 ppg, 16-17 HL FOTY
Jaleel Hogan, Detroit Mercy 16.9 ppg, 6.9 rebs
Lavone Holland II, Northern Kentucky 14.5 ppg, 4.1 ast overall
Kendrick Nunn, Oakland 15.5 ppg at Illinois in 15-16                                                           
Tai Odiase, UIC 3.2 blks, 16-17 HL DPOTY

All stats are 16-17 Horizon League games only, unless noted.

###
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.
 
Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenixMBB and Instagram: gbphoenixmbb
 
Like Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball on Facebook.
 
---GreenBayPhoenix.com---