INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Horizon League announced its 2018-19 men's basketball preseason poll and All-League teams on Wednesday, with Green Bay being picked fifth and Sandy Cohen III and Kameron Hankerson receiving preseason recognition. Cohen landed on the preseason First Team, while the junior Hankerson received Second Team praise.

The Phoenix, which finished seventh in the Horizon League last year and advanced to the Quarterfinals, returns just over 60 percent of its scoring from a season ago. A bulk of that percentage belongs to the senior Cohen, who averaged 18.2 PPG overall last year and 17.1 PPG in HL play. Hankerson also averaged in double-figures, putting up 10.7 PPG overall and 10.4 in league play.

The team will be tasked with replacing its leading scorer and defensive stalwart in Khalil Small, who has taken his talents overseas upon graduation. But head coach Linc Darner will look to a core of turned sophomores, which saw significant playing time as freshmen last year. PJ Pipes started in all 18 games as a true freshman, while Manny Patterson started in nine of 14 before suffering an injury. Also playing in valuable minutes as freshmen were Hunter Crist and Trevian Bell, who will surround Cohen and Hankerson once again in 2018-19.

Wright State, who won the Horizon League Tournament last season, was chosen as the league favorite. They were followed by Northern Kentucky, UIC and Oakland, respectively. NKU's Drew McDonald was selected as the preseason player of the year.

Green Bay also brought in a quartet of junior college transfers for this season, with each bringing in a level of athleticism and experience in addition to the returning talent on the roster. Josh McNair, JayQuan McCloud, ShanQuan Hemphill and Jevon Smith each are eligible this season and bring in experienced presence.

The Phoenix will host Michigan Tech on Nov. 1 for its lone exhibition game, and will open the regular season on Nov. 6 at the Kress Center against Wisconsin Lutheran.

2018-19 #HLMBB Preseason Poll Results
Pl. School (1st-place) – Votes
1. Wright State (25) – 377
2. Northern Kentucky (10) – 356
3. UIC (4) – 310
4. Oakland – 239
5. Green Bay – 238
6. IUPUI – 188
7. Cleveland State – 175
8. Milwaukee (1) – 140
9. Youngstown State – 104
10. Detroit Mercy – 73

Preseason Player of the Year
Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky

First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Tyree Appleby, Cleveland State
Sandy Cohen III, Green Bay
Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky
Marcus Ottey, UIC
Loudon Love, Wright State

Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
Kameron Hankerson, Green Bay
Jalen Tate, Northern Kentucky
Tarkus Ferguson, UIC
Mark Hughes, Wright State
Naz Bohannon, Youngstown State

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