The Radford University men’s basketball team was selected seventh in the Big South’s 2017-18 preseason poll, while junior forward Ed Polite, Jr. was named preseason all-conference second team, the league announced on Tuesday during its annual media day event.
The Highlanders totaled 141 points in the voting by the league’s head coaches and select media members, placing one spot behind High Point (146) and ahead of Charleston Southern (198).
UNC Asheville, which shared last year’s regular-season title with Winthrop was deemed the favorite, with 23 first-place votes for 278 points. Big South Tournament champions, Winthrop, were second with 244 and tallied four first-place votes. In third place was Liberty with 241 points and one first place vote, while Campbell was projected fourth (187 points) and earned two first-place votes.
Polite, Jr. had a extraordinary sophomore season on his way to earning Big South All-Honorable Mention and VaSID All-State Second Team. The Lanham, Md., native became the first sophomore in program history to reach 500 career rebounds. He led the Big South and ranked 31st in NCAA in rebounding, averaging 9.5 per game. Polite, Jr. also was atop the conference and was tied for 32nd nationally with 14 double-doubles in 2016-17.
Polite, Jr. is Radford’s fourth preseason all-conference selection under head coach Mike Jones, and is the second Highlander winning back-to-back preseason honors under Jones. He joins Javonte Green, who was first team in 2014 and second team in 2013. Also named to this year’s preaseason second team were Ryan Kemrite and Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz of Liberty, Gardner-Webb’s David Efianayi and UNC Asheville’s Kevin Vannatta.
Campbell guard Chris Clemons, who was third in the nation in scoring last season, was tabbed the Preseason Player of the Year. He was joined on the first team by Winthrop’s Xavier Cooks, Ahmad Thomas and MaCio Teague of UNC Asheville and Christian Keeling of Charleston Southern.
Radford will host an exhibition game against West Virginia State on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., and open the regular season against Georgia Southwester inside the Dedmon Center on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Admission to the exhibition game against West Virginia State is free.
2017-18 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. UNC Asheville (23) 278
2. Winthrop (3) 244
3. Liberty (1) 241
4. Campbell (2) 187
5. Gardner-Webb 167
6. High Point 146
7. Radford 141
8. Charleston Southern 98
9. Longwood 57
10. Presbyterian 36
–RU Athletics
