Oct. 15, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced the men's basketball preseason honors Thursday afternoon and University of Maryland Eastern Shore senior Neal Pitt was voted onto the All-MEAC First Team.
Pitt averaged 16.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the 2008-09 campaign. He finished his junior season with a Second Team All-MEAC selection, one MEAC Player of the Week award (Jan. 26, 2009) and was named twice as the Heritage Sports Radio Network National Player of the Week.
Joining Pitt on the First Team are Reggie Holmes (Morgan State), Jason Flager (South Carolina State) and Sam Coleman (Coppin State). Norfolk State's Michael DeLoach was selected as the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year.
"I am very happy for Neal as he is very deserving of this honor," stated head coach Frankie Allen. "The league recognizes his skills and abilities even though our team didn't fare well last year. We have a better team this year and Neal has the talent to receive post-season honors as well."
Pitt leads a revamped Hawk basketball team that was predicted to finish 11th out of 11 teams with 88 points. Despite being picked 11th, the team will generate excitement and looks forward to surprising those in the conference.
Morgan State received 20 first place votes and totaled 476 points to garner the league's top position for the second year in a row. Also for the second straight year South Carolina State was predicted to finish second with 388 total points. Norfolk State was predicted to finish third while Hampton was selected to finish fourth. Bethune-Cookman was picked fifth and North Carolina A&T State has been slated to finish sixth. Coppin State (7th), Florida A&M (8th), Delaware State (9th) and Howard (10th).
The preseason poll and all-conference team selections are voted on by the MEAC's head men's basketball coaches and sports information directors.
Allen and his squad hit the practice court on Friday, Oct. 16 during Hawk Hysteria and kick off their season with an exhibition game at 7:00 p.m. against Stevenson on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center.
2009-10 Men's Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the Conference's Head Men's Basketball Coaches and Sports Information Directors (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
| School | Points |
| 1. Morgan State (20) | 476 |
| 2. South Carolina State | 388 |
| 3. Norfolk State | 310 |
| 4. Hampton (1) | 305 |
| 5. Bethune-Cookman | 292 |
| 6. North Carolina A&T | 258 |
| 7. Coppin State | 234 |
| 8. Florida A&M (1) | 154 |
| 9. Delaware State | 134 |
| 10. Howard | 104 |
| 11. UMES | 88 |
2009-10 Preseason All-MEAC Team
As voted on by the Conference's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
First Team
| Name | School | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown |
| Michael DeLoach | Norfolk State | G | 6-0 | 175 | Sr. | Rocky Mount, N.C. |
| Reggie Holmes | Morgan State | G | 6-4 | 180 | Sr. | Baltimore, Md. |
| Jason Flagler | South Carolina State | G/F | 6-4 | 185 | Sr. | Woodbridge, Va. |
| Neal Pitt | UMES | F | 6-6 | 230 | Sr. | Fort Washington, Md. |
| Sam Coleman | Coppin State | C | 6-10 | 212 | Jr. | Baltimore, Md. |
Second Team
| Name | School | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown |
| C.J. Reed | Bethune-Cookman | G | 6-3 | 175 | So. | Daytona Beach, Fla. |
| Vincent Simpson | Hampton | G | 6-1 | 170 | Sr. | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Michael Harper | Coppin State | G/F | 6-4 | 195 | So. | Milwaukee, Wis. |
| Kevin Thompson | Morgan State | F | 6-8 | 240 | So. | Baltimore, Md. |
| Paul Kirkpatrick | Howard | C | 6-9 | 220 | Sr. | Randallstown, Md. |
