(CHARLOTTE, NC)---West Liberty has been tabbed as the pre-season No. 8 men's basketball team in the NCAA Division II ranks by the Sporting News. West Virginia State is also listed among possible breakthrough teams in the publication's yearly college basketball issue.
The Toppers return four starters from last season's explosive squad that averaged 100.9 points per game en route to a 29-3 mark and a trip to the Atlantic Region finals. Senior guard Corey Pelle (17.7 ppg) is a pre-season honorable mention All-American. Barry Shetzer (14.9 ppg), John Wolosinczuk (13.8 ppg), and Jordan Fortney (12.5 ppg) are also returning double-figure scorers for head coach Jim Crutchfield's Toppers.
West Virginia State had a prolific attack of their own as the Jackets posted 94.5 points per game on their way to a 29-4 record. Guard Josh Miller scored 19.7 points per night during his first season as a Jacket and is a Sporting News pre-season honorable mention All-American. Guard Bo King (13.0 ppg) and forward Fred Harris (8.7 ppg, 4.5 bpg) are among the key cogs back on hand for Bryan Poore's squad.
Sporting News Division II Top Ten:
1. Findlay (OH)
2. Bellarmine (KY)
3. Grand Valley State (MI)
4. Arkansas Tech
5. Cal Poly Pomona
6. Indiana (PA)
7. Seattle Pacific (WA)
8. WEST LIBERTY (WV)
9. Winona State (MN)
10. Bentley (MA)
Breakthrough Teams: Alabama-Huntsville, Anderson (SC), Augustana (SD), Bloomfield (NJ), BYU-Hawaii, Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma, Drury (MO), Felician (NJ), Ferris State (MI), Florida Southern, Fort Lewis (CO), Georgia College & State, Hillsdale (MI), Humboldt State (CA), Kentucky Wesleyan, Lynn (FL), Mary (ND), Metro State (CO), Midwestern State (TX), Minnesota State-Mankato, Montevallo (AL), Mount Olive (NC), Philadelphia University (PA), Queens (NC), Rollins (FL), St. Cloud State (MN), Southern Indiana, Stonehill (MA), Tarleton State (TX), USC-Aiken, WEST VIRGINIA STATE.
Sporting News Pre-Season All-America Team:
First Team
Chris Banchero (Seattle Pacific), Gage Daye (Blooomfield), Justin Keenan (Ferris State), Darryl Webb (Indiana, PA), Dauntae Williams (Central Oklahoma).
Second Team
Jet Chang (BYU-Hawaii), LaMarshall Corbett (Angelo State), Chris Hall (Lynn), Justin Ringler (Grand Valley State), Nick Wolf (Rollins).
Honorable Mention
Darius Adams (Indianapolis), Daniel Bailey (Queens, NC), Thomas Baudinet (Saint Anselm), D.J. Blackmon (Lenoir-Rhyne), Donnelle Booker (Cal Poly-Pomona), Simel Boyd (Francis Marion), Sharif Bray (Cheyney), Justin Brock (Quincy), Tyler Bullock (Nebraska-Omaha), Kyle Caiola (Findlay), Rashad Callaway (Tampa), D'Mario Curry (Lincoln Memorial), Byron Faison (USC-Aiken), Chirs Hagan (Midwestern State), Alex Hall (Drury), Braydon Hobbs (Bellarmine), Marquel Hoskins (San Francisco State), Nathan Hyde (Findlay), Dominique Jones (Fort Hays State), Jeremy Kendle (Bellarmine), DeAndre Lansdowne (Fort Lewis), Jefferson Mason (Minnesota State-Mankato), Darin Mency (Merrimack), JOSH MILLER (West Virginia State), Anthony Moody (Mary), Brian Morris (Humboldt State), Donte Nicholas (Metro State), COREY PELLE (West Liberty), Blake Poole (Saint Martin's), Cody Schilling (Augustana), Justin Swidowski (Holy Family), Brian Tracey (Bentley), Anthony Tucker (Winona State), Marques Whippy (BYU-Hawaii), Taylor Witt (St. Cloud State), Chris Woods (Pfeiffer).