Player of the Week
Hartnel Haye, St. Thomas Aquinas
Graduate Student | G/F | Camden, NJ
Haye averaged 12.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game over four contests in the last two weeks for STAC. The graduate student guard/forward tallied 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 26 minutes in an 87-76 loss to nationally-ranked No. 9 North Georgia before recording 16 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 22 minutes in a 116-81 loss to nationally-ranked No. 2 Nova Southeastern in the 2024 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. Haye then posted 12 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal in 31 minutes in an 81-76 win over Southern New Hampshire, before racking up 10 points, seven rebounds, four steals and a block in 27 minutes in an 88-77 triumph over Southern Connecticut State. Haye shot 55.0 percent (22-of-40) from the field and 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from the foul line in a 2-2 two weeks.
Defensive Player of the Week
Shaun Arnold, St. Thomas Aquinas
Sophomore | G/F | Indianapolis, IN
Arnold averaged 14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game over four contests in the last two weeks for STAC. The sophomore guard/forward tallied eight points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out three assists, picked up five steals and blocked two shots in 25 minutes in an 87-76 loss to nationally-ranked No. 9 North Georgia before recording 23 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a steal in 28 minutes in a 116-81 loss to nationally-ranked No. 2 Nova Southeastern in the 2024 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. Arnold then posted five rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in 21 minutes in an 81-76 win over Southern New Hampshire, before racking up 27 points, six rebounds, an assist and two steals in 29 minutes in an 88-77 triumph over Southern Connecticut State.
Rookie of the Week
Gene Anderson, District of Columbia
Freshman | C | Washington DC
In his collegiate debut, Anderson poured in a team-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting and added six rebounds to lead UDC to an 85-81, come-from-behind victory over Wilmington on Friday. The freshman ended the week averaging 12.5 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game in a 1-1 week.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Benjamin Bill, Daemen
Redshirt Sophomore | C | Hamburg, NY
Bill was named the 2024 East Region Challenge MVP after averaging 14 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game to begin the season. He tallied a career-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, a career-high four steals and four rebounds in Daemen's win over Chestnut Hill and followed that performance with 10 points, five rebounds and four steals in Daemen's 96-55 win over Saint Anselm.
Malik Brooks, Roberts Wesleyan
Graduate Student | G | Lockport, NY
Brooks led Roberts Wesleyan in the season-opening East Region Challenge tournament at Daemen to a 1-1 record including an 88-75 win over Chestnut Hill. He was named to the All-Tournament Team and scored 45 points with a team-leading 19 points against St. Anselm and 26 in the win over Chestnut Hill. He shot .455 (15-33) from the field and hit .600 (9-15) against Chestnut Hill.
Taj Chiles, Mercy
Senior | G | Harlem, NY
Chiles averaged 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in two games this week. The senior opened the week with 15 points on 4-for-7 shooting with four rebounds, three assists and three steals at Bridgeport on Friday. The guard ended the week with 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists against regionally-ranked Post on Sunday.
Arnardo Comacho, Roberts Wesleyan
Junior | G | Bronx, NY
Comacho was named to the East Region Challenge All-Tournament Team as he helped Roberts Wesleyan to a 1-1 record at the season-opening East Region Challenge Tournament at Daemen. He finished the weekend with 19 points and a team-leading 19 rebounds and also had team highs of 13 assists and 10 steals for the Redhawks.
Elijah Crawford, District of Columbia
Senior | G | Oxon Hill, MD
In the Firebirds’ season-opening win against Wilmington, Crawford posted a team high 17 points, six rebounds, four blocks and three steals.
Renard Fontes-Jules, D’Youville
Junior | G | Brockton, MA
Fontes-Jules recorded a career-high eight steals and seven rebounds in the 94-65 win against Goldey-Beacom on Friday.
Aaron Goldstein, Staten Island
Sophomore | G | Staten Island, NY
Goldstein led the Dolphins in scoring during each of the team's first two games this past weekend, averaging 20.0 points per game. On Saturday, he scored 23 on 50.0 percent shooting from the field, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. On Sunday, he scored 17 more and connected on three more triples in a Dolphins’ win. For the week, the sophomore shot 48.0 percent (12-of-25) from the floor and 50.0 percent (8-of-16) from distance.
Shedrach Makanjuola, Mercy
Sophomore | F | Boston, MA
Makanjuola averaged a team-high 20.0 points per game on 69.6 percent (16-for-23) shooting from the floor to go with 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in two games this week. The sophomore opened the season with a team-high 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting with seven rebounds and two blocks at Bridgeport on Friday. The forward ended the week with a game-high 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting with four rebounds, two assists and two steals against regionally-ranked Post on Sunday.
Rob Matos, Molloy
Sophomore | G | Fredericksburg, VA
Matos averaged a staggering 25.5 points per game in the opening weekend, shooting at .514 from the floor. The sophomore opened the campaign with 29 points against Adelphi, shooting 11-of-20 on the evening including three from long distance. He added 22 points the following evening against Pace, adding three boards and two assists.
Trayton Trice, D’Youville
Redshirt Junior | F | Romeoville, IL
Trice averaged 17.50 points per game across two games this past weekend. The UDC redshirt junior recorded a double-double on Saturday against Wilmington after leading his team in scoring with 19 points and in rebounds with 10. He held a 63.0 field goal percentage and 67.0 free throw percentage.
ECC Men's Basketball Weekly Award Winners
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 11 - Hartnel Haye, St. Thomas Aquinas
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 11 - Shaun Arnold, St. Thomas Aquinas
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 11 - Gene Anderson, District of Columbia
Previously in the Polls
NABC TOP 25 COACHES POLL
Preseason: Daemen (RV), St. Thomas Aquinas (RV)
D2CSC TOP 25 MEDIA POLL
Week 1 (11/12): Daemen (14), St. Thomas Aquinas (T-19)
D2CSC TOP 10 EAST REGION MEDIA POLL
Preseaason (11/8): St. Thomas Aquinas (3), Daemen (4), Staten Island (RV)
Week 1 (11/11): Daemen (1), St. Thomas Aquinas (2), Staten Island (RV)
NCAA EAST REGION POLL
ECC PRESEASON POLL
T-1. Daemen - 72 points (3 first-place votes)
T-1. St. Thomas Aquinas - 72 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Staten Island - 64 points (2 first-place votes)
4. Roberts Wesleyan - 47 points
5. District of Columbia - 44 points
6. Queens - 38 points
7. Molloy - 33 points
8. D’Youville - 20 points
9. Mercy - 15 points