ATLANTA, Ga. (November 3, 2022) – Sophomore forward K.J. Doucet of Fort Valley State has been voted the 2022 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Player of the Year and junior guard Brandon Beildleman of Benedict has earned the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year selection, announced Thursday by the league office.
The preseason honors and predicted order of finish are voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Doucet returns as a leader for the Fort Valley State Wildcats. The returning 2021-22 SIAC Freshman of the Year led FVSU with 14.9 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. He finished the season shooting 78.5 percent from the free-throw line, 40.6 percent from the field, and 32.8 percent from behind the arc. The sophomore forward scored in double figures in 24-of-28 games last season adding 40 assists, 31 steals, and 11 blocks in 28 games for the Wildcats.
Junior guard Brandon Beildleman returns to the Benedict Tigers for his third season. He collected 35 steals and averaged 2.3 rebounds per game to lead Benedict to a 22-7 overall record (14-3 SIAC record) last season. The Charlotte, N.C. native also averaged 4.0 points per game shooting 84.2 percent from the free-throw line.
New additions to the 2022 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Team include K.J. Doucet of Fort Valley State, Montrell Jacobs of Kentucky State, Gregg Boyd of Tuskegee, Mykayle Carter of Miles, Marcus Scott of Central State, and Brandon Beildleman of Benedict.
Fans are welcomed to watch the 2022 Cricket SIAC Men's Basketball Virtual Media Day live on Thursday, November 3 at 10:00 am ET via our
SIAC YouTube channel.
Preseason Superlative Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
K.J. Doucet, Fort Valley State
Defensive Player of the Year
Brandon Beildleman, Benedict
Men’s Basketball Preseason Rankings by Division
East Division
- Morehouse
- Benedict
- Savannah State
- Albany State
- Fort Valley State
- Clark Atlanta
- Allen
- Edward Waters
West Division
- Miles
- Tuskegee
- LeMoyne-Owen
- Kentucky State
- Central State
- Lane
- Spring Hill
2022-23 SIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Team |
| First Team |
| Yasim Hooker* |
Miles |
Senior |
Guard |
Newark, NJ |
| Jordan Simpson* |
Albany State |
Senior |
Forward |
Pasadena, CA |
| Malik Parker* |
Albany State |
Senior |
Guard |
Chicago, IL |
| Beril Kabamba* |
Spring Hill |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Clearwater, FL |
| K.J. Doucet |
Fort Valley State |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Austell, GA |
| Second Team |
| Montrell Jacobs |
Kentucky State |
Senior |
Guard |
Milwaukee, WI |
| Gregg Boyd |
Tuskegee |
R-Senior |
Guard |
Seat Pleasant, MD |
| Mykayle Carter |
Miles |
Junior |
Forward |
Lauderhill, FL |
| Marcus Scott |
Central State |
Junior |
Guard |
Hinesville, GA |
| Brandon Beildleman |
Benedict |
Junior |
Guard |
Charlotte, N.C. |
*Indicates returner for 2021-22 SIAC All-Conference Team