Four Cougars Named to All-CAA Preseason Men's Basketball Team
10/15/2026 10:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. – Four College of Charleston Cougars have earned Preseason All-CAA honors announced by the league Thursday. Charleston leads all conference teams with the most honorees recognized as selected by league coaches.
The Cougars were picked to finish second by the league coaches with 130 points behind UNCW with 143 points.
Sophomore Eli Ellis highlights the selection with a spot on the Preseason All-CAA First Team as the only underclassman honoree. Ellis, who spent the 2025-26 season at the University of South Carolina, saw action in 28 games for the Gamecocks during his freshman campaign, averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 steals per game. The guard scored in double-figures in 12 contests, including a career-high 20 points vs. Southern Miss, while shooting a team-high 87.9% from the charity stripe to lead all SEC freshman with at least 60 attempts.
Xavier Abreu was named to the Preseason All-CAA Second Team after being named to the 2025-26 CAA All-Rookie Team after a standout year at CAA rival Northeastern. Abreu averaged 12.6 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game on his way to All-Rookie honors, scoring the most points for a Northeastern freshman in over a decade. The Lynn, Mass. native scored in double-figures on 17 occasions, including a career-high 32 vs. Duquesne, while shooting 46% from the field.
Martin Kalu returns for his sophomore season with the Cougars, earning an honorable mention nod. The German became the first true freshman in program history to record four straight double-figure performances to open his career. The only player to start every contest for Charleston a year ago, he finished the season averaging 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Max Green joins Kalu on the honorable mention list. The 6'6" junior guard spent the 2025-26 at Northwestern after being named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year at Holy Cross in 2024-25. The Kentucky native averaged 4.3 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per game at Northwestern, seeing action in 23 contests. Green started at 31 games during his rookie season at Holy Cross, averaging 14.9 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game – all of which led the Crusaders.
Catch the Cougars in action at TD Arena for the first time this season on October 25 in exhibition action vs. Furman. Upper and lower bowl seats will be general admission for the exhibition game and cost $20 per ticket. A limited number of court side seats will be available for $40. To purchase, click here.
To purchase season tickets for the 2026-2027 season, click here. To learn more about donation levels and the season ticket process, click here.
Â
2026-27 CAA Men's Basketball Preseason Awards
Â
Preseason Player of the Year – Patrick Wessler, UNCW
Â
Preseason All-CAA First Team
Â
Preseason All-CAA Second Team
Â
CAA Preseason Honorable Mentions: Max Green, G, Charleston; Martin Kalu, G, Charleston; Collin O'Connor, G, Stony Brook; Stefanos Spartalis, F, Monmouth; Ashton Walker, G, Monmouth; Jaquan Womack, G/F, Towson
For complete coverage of Charleston men's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCBasketball) and Instagram (@CofCBasketball).
Â
The Cougars were picked to finish second by the league coaches with 130 points behind UNCW with 143 points.
Sophomore Eli Ellis highlights the selection with a spot on the Preseason All-CAA First Team as the only underclassman honoree. Ellis, who spent the 2025-26 season at the University of South Carolina, saw action in 28 games for the Gamecocks during his freshman campaign, averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 steals per game. The guard scored in double-figures in 12 contests, including a career-high 20 points vs. Southern Miss, while shooting a team-high 87.9% from the charity stripe to lead all SEC freshman with at least 60 attempts.
Xavier Abreu was named to the Preseason All-CAA Second Team after being named to the 2025-26 CAA All-Rookie Team after a standout year at CAA rival Northeastern. Abreu averaged 12.6 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game on his way to All-Rookie honors, scoring the most points for a Northeastern freshman in over a decade. The Lynn, Mass. native scored in double-figures on 17 occasions, including a career-high 32 vs. Duquesne, while shooting 46% from the field.
Martin Kalu returns for his sophomore season with the Cougars, earning an honorable mention nod. The German became the first true freshman in program history to record four straight double-figure performances to open his career. The only player to start every contest for Charleston a year ago, he finished the season averaging 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Max Green joins Kalu on the honorable mention list. The 6'6" junior guard spent the 2025-26 at Northwestern after being named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year at Holy Cross in 2024-25. The Kentucky native averaged 4.3 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per game at Northwestern, seeing action in 23 contests. Green started at 31 games during his rookie season at Holy Cross, averaging 14.9 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game – all of which led the Crusaders.
Catch the Cougars in action at TD Arena for the first time this season on October 25 in exhibition action vs. Furman. Upper and lower bowl seats will be general admission for the exhibition game and cost $20 per ticket. A limited number of court side seats will be available for $40. To purchase, click here.
To purchase season tickets for the 2026-2027 season, click here. To learn more about donation levels and the season ticket process, click here.
Â
2026-27 CAA Men's Basketball Preseason Awards
| Team (1st Place Votes) | Points |
| UNCW (11) | 143 |
| Charleston | 130 |
| Hofstra (2) | 125 |
| Towson | 110 |
| Monmouth | 95 |
| William & Mary | 78 |
| Stony Brook | 69 |
| Elon | 63 |
| Drexel | 58 |
| Hampton | 48 |
| Northeastern | 42 |
| Campbell | 35 |
| North Carolina A&T | 18 |
Preseason Player of the Year – Patrick Wessler, UNCW
Â
Preseason All-CAA First Team
| Player | Team | Class | Pos. | Hometown |
| Eli Ellis | Charleston | So. | G | Hickory, N.C. |
| Justin Moore | Hofstra | 5th | G | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| CJ Luster | UNCW | Gr. | G | Denton, Texas |
| Patrick Wessler | UNCW | Gr. | C | Matthews, N.C. |
| Rashad King | Northeastern | Gr. | G | Evans, Ga. |
Preseason All-CAA Second Team
| Player | Team | Class | Pos. | Hometown |
| Xavier Abreu | Charleston | So. | G | Lynn, Mass. |
| Bryson Cokley | Elon | Jr. | G | Whiteville, N.C. |
| Deywilk Tavarez | Hofstra | Sr. | G | Pennsauken, N.J. |
| Jaden Daughtry | Stony Brook | Sr. | F | Richmond, Va. |
| Zion Stanford | Towson | Sr. | G | Philadelphia, Pa. |
CAA Preseason Honorable Mentions: Max Green, G, Charleston; Martin Kalu, G, Charleston; Collin O'Connor, G, Stony Brook; Stefanos Spartalis, F, Monmouth; Ashton Walker, G, Monmouth; Jaquan Womack, G/F, Towson
For complete coverage of Charleston men's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCBasketball) and Instagram (@CofCBasketball).
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballWednesday, August 12
Wednesday, July 29
Friday, July 17
Wednesday, June 17
