Worcester, MA --- Led by Basketball Times Preseason All-American Maurice Horton (Detroit, MI/Burncoat), the Worcester State men's basketball team returns ten players and returns two starters from last year's squad. With a competitive schedule along with depth and experience, the Lancers look to contend for a MASCAC title this season.
Horton, who was also selected a Street & Smith Preseason All-American honorable mention, was tabbed to the D3hoops All-Northeast Region Second Team while he was also received the nod to the All-MASCAC First team last season. Horton paced the Lancers with 597 points and 260 rebounds for an average of 23 points and 10 boards per contest. His total and average points were ninth and tied for 11th in the NCAA Division III, respectively, while his average rebounds were 30th in the nation.
"We are looking for Maurice to have more leadership on and off the court this year," said 16th year head coach Dave Lindberg. "He can score and he can rebound and we are going to look for him to handle the ball a little bit more this year. He is a utility man; we will match him up wherever he is needed."
In the frontcourt the squad will look for leadership from its other two senior captains, Pat Hamilton (Templeton, MA) and Darren Schmidt (Buckland, MA). Hamilton was second on the team in points (10.4) and rebounding (5.0) last year while Schmidt averaged 3.4 points and 3.1 caroms in 26 contests.
The backcourt is much improved this season as sophomore Raheem Lewis (Northbridge, MA) takes over at the point and junior Ryan Testagrossa (Athol, MA) will be the team's main deep threat. Lewis dished out an assist per game last year in limited action while Testagrossa connected for .429 from beyond the arc as he was second on the squad in made three pointers (24).
"Raheem will lead us on defense and Ryan is our best returning shooter," said Lindberg. "Both should help us create opportunities to score."
Returning to the squad is junior Dave Douillette (Bridgewater, MA) and sophomore Raynaldi Voyard (Leominster, MA) who will both come off the bench to provide a spark offensively and provide defense at the post and guard positions, respectively. The veterans are rounded out by third-year teammates Jim Quinlivan (Rutland, MA) and James Wright (Rowley, MA).
"From our veterans we are looking for them to take the next step for them to play at a higher level at a more consistent basis," said Lindberg. "Dave can score and Raynaldi will provide us with a defensive presence."
Junior Mark Yost (Lenox, MA), sophomore Jamaal Atkins (Webster, MA) and freshman teammates Tim Henault (Lunenburg, MA) and Monte Goodwin (Boston, MA/Belmont) lead this year's incoming recruiting class. Yost, a transfer from DIII Earlham College is a threat to score from downtown while Atkins will start as one of the team's forwards and be a leader on the offensive and defensive glass.
Henault, a Telegram and Gazette All-Star two seasons ago helped St. Bernard's win a pair of state titles while he scored over 1,000 points in the process. Goodwin will be a big-man off the bench for WSC.
Athletic guard Graham Asum (Marlboro, MA) and forward Michael O'Leary (Millbury, MA) bring in some rookie talent to round out this year's incoming class.
With a competitive schedule, the squad will try to earn a top four seed for a home game or a bye in the first round of the MASCAC playoffs. The Lancers will play in three tournaments this year starting with the Worcester County Tip-Off Classic (Nov 15-16) before they head to the Harold Brodie Tournament at Rochester (Dec. 12-13). The team will also compete in the Purple and Gold tournament at Williams College and face off against Colby-Sawyer to start of the new year (Jan. 3-4).
Worcester State opens at home with city rival Clark on December 3 before they entertain #8 UMass Dartmouth on December 8. WSC begins their MASCAC slate with a road game at MCLA on January 9.
"There are going to be no easy games in the league this year," said Lindberg. "I think that anyone can win on any given night. Our non-conference schedule will challenge us to get better and get us ready for league play."
The Lancers look to use home field advantage in the second half of their conference schedule as they will play five of their last seven at the Lancer Gymnasium.
Lindberg is just five wins away from 200 for his career (195-201) while Horton was one of four selected by Basketball Times as a Preseason All-American. The other three were John Pierce of Tufts, Blake Schultz of Williams and Brandon Shelton of UMass Dartmouth.