In addition to the preseason picks and All-League teams, we have compiled a list of some additional preseason awards, given out to those we think will have the most impact during the upcoming season.
Coach of the Year – Ethan Faulkner, Youngstown State
Now, conventional wisdom would dictate that this award go to the coach of the team picked at the top of the preseason poll, which is Milwaukee’s Bart Lundy. However, Faulker, in just his first year at the helm of YSU, catapulted the Penguins to their first-ever conference championship game. And with a solid returning core of Cris Carroll and Jason Nelson, coupled with the acquisition of some significant pieces through the transfer portal, Faulker’s second year looks to be just as eventful, if not more, than his initial campaign.
Freshman of the Year – Lance Stone, Detroit Mercy
This selection may be one of the hardest ones to get a grasp on, seeing as how there’s a good mix of both freshmen from the high school/prep school ranks and those from around the world. While there’s plenty of arguments that could be made for other freshmen coming in, Stone’s got the talent already that, at least in the preseason, makes him rise above the rest. For starters, Stone, who’s the son of Titan assistant LaMonta, broke the record for most assists by a high school player in Michigan, which given who’s played point guard in the state over the years, is quite a feat. Add in that UDM head coach Mark Montgomery proved last year that he’s not shy about giving freshmen significant minutes, and Stone potentially could serve as an outstanding complement to the already-talented Titan backcourt.
Newcomer of the Year – Amar Augillard, Milwaukee
This pick, on the other hand, was made far easier by the HoriZone Roundtable staff, which selected Augillard as a preseason All-Horizon League first-teamer. The Fresno State transfer already comes with excellent credentials, including an NJCAA Division I Player of the Year award that that he earned during his time at Triton College. Lundy has been very complimentary about his ability to spread the floor and score, and there’s no reason to that that his strengths will not further be highlighted in Lundy’s offensive scheme this season.
Defensive Player of the Year – Faizon Fields, Milwaukee
When he was healthy last season, Fields terrorized other teams in the frontcourt and on the glass. The problem was that for a good part of last year, he was either out or not at 100 percent. But it appears that he’s at full power now, and as one of the most experienced big men in the conference, Fields has the opportunity to keep even the fiercest competition at bay, especially in league play.
Sixth Man of the Year – Ice Emery, Cleveland State
Given the offensive scheme that Vikings head coach Rob Summers is putting together, there’s a distinct possibility that during the year, Emery may end up with enough starts that he wouldn’t even qualify for this category. As it stands for now, though, he’ll fit the bill for this award. His offensive production at Western Carolina netted him at least 14 starts last season, so that fact alone may lend itself to a correction at season’s end. But he’s sure to at least equal his production from last year, where he averaged 9.8 points and two assists per contest.
Preview Week 2025-26
MBB: Preseason Poll | Preseason All-League | Preseason Awards
WBB: Preseason Poll | Preseason All-League | Preseason Awards
Cleveland State (MBB | WBB) | Detroit Mercy (MBB | WBB) | Green Bay (MBB | WBB) | IU Indy (MBB | WBB)
Milwaukee (MBB | WBB) | Northern Kentucky (MBB | WBB) | Oakland (MBB | WBB) | Purdue Fort Wayne (MBB | WBB)
Robert Morris (MBB | WBB) | Wright State (MBB | WBB) | Youngstown State (MBB | WBB)
