ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced its 2025–26 preseason awards Tuesday morning at the MAAC Tipoff event at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team earned three preseason all-conference selections, while the Pioneers were picked third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Quinnipiac was voted the league favorite with eight first-place votes, followed by Siena with three. Sacred Heart collected two first-place votes to claim the No. 3 spot in the 13-team poll. Manhattan and Marist rounded out the top five.

Senior forward Anquan Hill was named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team, while sophomore guard Mekhi Conner earned a spot on the second team and classmate Nyle Ralph-Beyer was selected to the third team. The trio represents one of the largest preseason all-conference contingents for any program in the MAAC.

Hill, a third team All-MAAC honoree last season, collects his first preseason recognition. He ranked second on the team in scoring (12.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (5.7 rpg) in 2024–25. His 55.4 percent field goal percentage (123-222) ranked third in the MAAC, while his 45.1 percent clip from three-point range (41-91) was second-best in the league.

Conner, a member of last year's MAAC All-Rookie team, earned second-team honors after finishing sixth nationally in assists (217) and ninth in assists per game (6.6). His 217 helpers are the second-most in a single season in Sacred Heart's Division I history.

Ralph-Beyer garners his first MAAC preseason nod following a strong rookie campaign. He appeared in 32 games, breaking into the starting lineup for the final eight. The West Chester, Pa., native averaged 9.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while ranking fourth in the MAAC in three-point shooting at 43.0 percent (64-149).

Sacred Heart finished seventh in the MAAC standings last season with a 10-10 conference record, advancing to the league tournament for the first time since joining the conference. The Pioneers defeated Fairfield in the opening round before meeting longtime rival Merrimack in the quarterfinals. SHU rallied with an 11-2 run in the final minutes to force overtime, but the Warriors prevailed, 66-62.

Sacred Heart opens the 2025-26 campaign on November 4, against the Merchant Marine Academy at home at 7 pm, with conference play beginning in December.

Full preseason poll here.