Towson was picked by the other 12 Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball coaches as the preseason favorite for the 2022-2023 season, while 2022 CAA Player of the Year Aaron Estrada of Hofstra was projected by league members to defend that honor in 2023.

The 13 CAA head coaches were polled on order of finish and preseason individual honors, with Towson followed by a three-team group – Hofstra, defending CAA champion Delaware and Charleston – separated by a total of three points in the voting. 

UNCW, which shared the regular-season title with Towson last February, placed fifth in the poll, while Northeastern edged Drexel to rank sixth. William & Mary, Stony Brook, and Monmouth, also separated by three points on the ballot, ranked eighth through 10th, while North Carolina A&T, Elon, and Hampton rounded out the selections.

Towson earned three of the five first-team honors, with Cam Holden, Charles Thompson, and Nicolas Timberlake grabbing spots on the list. The Tiger trio and Estrada are joined on the preseason first team by Delaware’s Jameer Nelson Jr.

Five CAA members are represented on the preseason second team, including Drexel’s Amari Williams, who joins Estrada and Timberlake in receiving votes for Preseason Player of the Year. Charleston’s Reyne Smith and Delaware’s Jyáre Davis – two of the top rookies in the league a year ago – also made the second team, along with Northeastern’s Jahmyl Telfort and UNCW’s Shykeim Phillips.

Towson won 25 games and a CAA regular-season co-championship a year ago, and longtime head coach Pat Skerry returns much of his offensive firepower to go along with the Tigers’ trademark defense. 

Holden, Thompson and Timberlake, along with 3-point sharpshooter Jason Gibson, all return for Towson this winter, after averaging double-digit scoring a year ago. The Tigers look to build on last year’s 15-3 mark in the CAA and an NIT appearance. The Tigers also bring in Division II Player of the Year Sekou Sylla to SECU Arena this winter.

⭐️ @Aaron4PF_ - Preseason @CAASports Player of the Year
⭐️ Preseason All-CAA First Team

🔗 - https://t.co/yHIcxX0xj0#PrideOfLI pic.twitter.com/Dp1eWiyVrQ

— Hofstra Men's Basketball (@HofstraMBB) October 19, 2022

Estrada led Hofstra’s efforts in his first year in the CAA with a league-high 18.5 points per game, fueled by 61 made 3-pointers, as the Pride won 21 games and went 13-5 in league play in Speedy Claxton’s first year at the helm. 

Estrada also led the conference in assists (5.0), free-throw percentage (93.5) and minutes (35.1). He scored in double figures 27 times. The Pride also welcome back Darlinstone Dubar, after he contributed 11.7 points per game in his first season on Long Island.

Delaware won the CAA title as the No. 5 seed in 2021-2022, and Martin Ingelsby returns a trio of key players from last winter’s championship team. 

Nelson averaged 13.6 points per game last season, and Ebby Asamoah was a significant contributor for the Blue Hens, while the emergence of CAA Rookie of the Year Davis in conference play helped power Delaware to a title.

Charleston, which earned a trip to the CAA Semifinals in Pat Kelsey’s first season in the Lowcountry, will have two sophomores in the rotation who played major minutes as freshmen. 

Smith (12.1 ppg) and Ben Burnham (7.7 ppg) will look to increase their production in Year 2 at Charleston, while Dalton Bolon returns after an early-season injury a year ago.

UNCW earned a share of the 2021-2022 CAA regular-season title at 15-3, and after a trip to the CAA final, it ended its season with as the CBI champion. 

Phillips averaged 11.3 points per game last season and was a CAA All-Defensive honoree. Phillips and Trazarien White will look to help lead the Seahawks in expanded roles, and the season begins with a trip to No. 1 North Carolina.

Northeastern and Drexel were narrowly separated for sixth and seventh in the voting, and each earned a second-team preseason pick. The Huskies’ Telfort (12.6 ppg) and Dragons’ Williams (9.5 ppg, CAA Defensive Player of the Year) were recognized by the coaches.

The 2022-2023 season begins Nov. 7, with 10 CAA teams in action. Conference play will begin Dec. 28, with all 13 teams qualifying for the CAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington on March 3-7.

2022-2023 CAA Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll

Preseason Player of the Year: Aaron Estrada, Hofstra

2022-2023 All-CAA Preseason First Team

2022-23 All-CAA Preseason Second Team 

Honorable Mention: Ben Burnham, So., F, Charleston; Aaron Clarke, Gr., G, Stony Brook; Deuce Dean, Sr., G, Hampton; Chris Doherty, R-Sr., F, Northeastern; Darlinstone Dubar, So., G, Hofstra; Marcus Watson, R-Jr., F, North Carolina A&T; Ben Wight, Jr., F, William & Mary.