SWAC announces 2024-25 Predicted order of finish and preseason honors

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Courtesy of the Southwestern Athletic Conference

– The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2024-25 Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish and Preseason All-SWAC teams and individual award winners during the league’s media day event on Friday morning. The all-conference honors and preseason poll were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.  
 
Grambling State was tabbed as the favorite heading into the season. The Tigers were followed by Texas Southern (2^nd), Southern (3^rd), Jackson State (4^th) and Alcorn State (5^th) to round out the top five preseason poll selections.
 
Alabama State (6^th), Prairie View A&M (7^th), Bethune-Cookman (8^th), Alabama A&M (9^th), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (10^th), Florida A&M (11^th) and Mississippi Valley State (12^th) were tabbed to finish 6-12 respectively.
 
GSU led all preseason poll selections garnering 10 first place votes, followed by Texas Southern (3), Bethune-Cookman (2), Southern (1), Jackson State (1), Alcorn State (1), Alabama State (1) and Prairie View A&M (1). 

Grambling State’s Kintavious Dozier was named Preseason Player of the Year, while Texas Southern’s Kenny Hunter claimed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year recognition.

Dozier had a tremendous 2023-24 campaign, helping guide Grambling State to its first-ever SWAC Tournament title and trip to the NCAA Tournament. He led GSU in scoring with 13.0 points per game. He eclipsed the 20-point mark seven times during the season with a season-high 34 points versus Washington State.

Hunter was key contributor to for the Texas Southern Tigers this past season averaging 5.6 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds per game. Hunter was also a significant contributor for TSU on the defensive end of the floor averaging 1.2 blocks per game.

The complete list of the preseason poll rankings and all-conference selections and individual awards winners is listed below.
 
2024-25 SWAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Grambling State- 212 (10)
2. Texas Southern- 200 (3)
3. Southern- 160 (1)
4. Jackson State- 153 (1)
5. Alcorn State- 144 (1)
6. Alabama State- 122 (1)
7. Prairie View A&M- 121 (1)
8. Bethune-Cookman- 109 (2)
9. Alabama A&M- 106
10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 70
11. Florida A&M- 63
12. Mississippi Valley State- 32

 *First place votes listed in parenthesis
 
2024-25 Preseason Men’s Basketball Awards  
 
Offensive Player of the Year
Kintavious Dozier, Grambling State
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Kenny Hunter, Texas Southern

All-SWAC First Team
Kintavious Dozier, Grambling State
T.J. Madlock, Alabama State
Tidjiane Dioumassi, Southern
Shannon Grant, Jackson State
Chad Moodie, Alabama A&M

All-SWAC Second Team
Grayson Carter, Texas Southern
C.J. Hines, Alabama State
Kenny Hunter, Texas Southern
Ubong Okon, Alabama State
Lorenzo Downey, Alabama A&M