BALTIMORE, MD - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces the 2022 Preseason All-CIAA Men's Basketball team and the predicted order of finish, as voted on by the CIAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association.
 
Virginia State University is picked to finish second in the Northern Division and fourth overall. Virginia Union was chosen to win the North while Fayetteville State was selected to take the conference title and Southern Division yet again receiving six first place votes.
 
Lonnie Blow, Jr. enters his 11^th season at the helm of the Trojans Men's Basketball program. Coach Blow has a big chip on his shoulder coming off his first losing season as the Head Coach at VSU. While the squad posted a 10-16 overall record and a 6-10 conference record, the Trojans were able to defeat Claflin in the opening round of the CIAA Basketball Tournament. The Trojans fought hard against the defending CIAA Men's Basketball champions in Fayetteville State in the Quarterfinals but ultimately fell short 60-72.

Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald will represent Virginia State in the All-CIAA Men's Basketball Preseason Backcourt. Fitzgerald ended up being the CIAA's third best scorer accounting for 17 points per contest while his 46% field goal percentage landed him at number five. Fitzgerald shot 31% from beyond the three -point arc, brought down six rebounds per contest and dished 2 assists per game last season. His best game came early in the season against Mount Olive where he scored a career-high 31 points on 8-14 shooting from the field. He brought down five rebounds in the contest and shot 93% (13-14) from the foul line.

Terrence Hunter-Whitfield will also represent Virginia State in the All-CIAA Men's Basketball Preseason Backcourt. Hunter-Whitfield ended up being the CIAA's  ninth best scorer accounting for 17 points per contest while maintaining a 42% field goal percentage. He shot 34% from beyond the three -point arc. Defensively, he lead to team with 7.2 rebounds per game which landed him fifth in the conference. Hunter - Whitfield also led the team with 30 steals in the season. His best game was against Winston - Salem State where he scored a career-high 31 points on 9-15 shooting from the field. He completed his double-double after he brought down 11 rebounds in the contest and shot 80% (8-10) from the foul line. Terrence Hunter-Whitfield was named BOXTOROW National Player of the Week.averaging 29.5 points and 10 rebounds per game in two games in a week.

James Love, III. represents the Trojans in the All-CIAA Men's Basketball Preseason Frontcourt. Love, III. played in just 15 games as he battled injury throughout the entirety of the 2021-2022 season. He shot 50% from the field and tallied 11 blocks last season. His best game came against Fayetteville State where he accounted for five rebounds and three blocks in the loss.
 
VSU Men's Basketball team opens their season on November 11-12 at home as they play host to the Trojan Tip-off Classic. The Trojans are slated to play Millersville at 8:00 p.m. on the first day and Shippensburg at 7:00 p.m. on the second day.


2022-23 All-CIAA Men's Basketball Preseason Team

Backcourt
Cress Worthy, Fayetteville State
Francis Fitzgerald, Virginia State
Keleaf Tate, Virginia Union
Isaac Parson, Winston-Salem State
Jonathan Hicklin, Winston-Salem State

Frontcourt
Augustine Ominu, Johnson C. Smith
Robert Osborne, Virginia Union
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield, Virginia State
Raemaad Wright, Virginia Union
Khyree Temple, Livingstone
James Love III, Virginia State
Nathan Springs, Winston-Salem State

2022-23 CIAA Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Fayetteville State University (6)
2. Virginia Union University (3)
3. Winston-Salem State University (1)
4. Virginia State University
5. Bowie State University (1)
6. Lincoln (PA) University (1)
7. Shaw University
8. Livingstone College
9. Johnson C. Smith University
10. Elizabeth City State University
11. Claflin University
12. Saint Augustine's University

*First place votes in parenthesis

Northern Division
1. Virginia Union
2. Virginia State
3. Bowie State
4. Lincoln (PA)
5. Shaw
6. Elizabeth City State

Southern Division
1. Fayetteville State
2. Winston-Salem State
3. Livingstone
4. Johnson C. Smith
5. Claflin
6. St. Augustine's