GCAC Announces Men’s and Women’s Basketball Preseason All-GCAC, Predicted Order of Finish

NEW ORLEANS – The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference announces the 2023-24 Preseason Men’s and Women’s Basketball All-GCAC Teams and Predicted Order of Finish. The teams, voted on by the GCAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Councils, feature five members on First Team and Second Team. Freshmen and newcomers are not eligible.

On the women’s side, Philander Smith’s Myia Yelder (Senior, Guard) was named Preseason Player of the Year. The Panthers finished as the 2023 Hope Credit Union Women’s Basketball Championship Runners-Up and secured an at-large berth to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women’s Basketball Opening Round. It was the program’s first NAIA tournament appearance in school history. Yelder started in 27-of-29 games last year, dumping a season-high 34 points against Louisiana Christian. She averaged 16.4 points per game, shooting 48.3 percent from the floor.

Philander Smith and Oakwood each had two players named to the First Team, while Fisk and Tougaloo notched two players each on the Second Team.

Reigning champions Rust College Lady Bearcats were tabbed to finish first in the conference. The Lady Bearcats defeated Philander Smith in the final seconds of the 2023 championship game to secure their second consecutive GCAC title. Despite losing three-time NAIA Honorable Mention All-American Katie Blackmon, head coach Eric Jackson,Jr. Reloaded with a strong recruiting class, including seven transfers.

Philander Smith also nailed down the Men’s Preseason Player of the Year with Raymond Reece. The sophomore averaged 11.1 points per game during the 2022-23 campaign, helping the Panthers to a Runner-Up finish in the 2023 Hope Credit Union Men’s Basketball Championship title game against Tougaloo College.

The Panthers have also been tabbed to finish first in the conference for the 2023-24 campaign. Philander Smith also led all votes with one player on the First Team and one on the Second Team.

The GCAC 2024 Hope Credit Union Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship will be held in Tuscaloosa, Ala. at Stillman College. For more information about the GCAC and its members visit gcaconf.com.

Men’s Basketball Preseason All-GCAC
Player of the Year
Raymond Reece, Philander Smith University

First Team
Raymond Reece, Philander Smith University
Antonio Patterson, Tougaloo College
Tyrus Crawford, Dillard University
Naythan Shaw-Clarke, University of the Virgin Islands
Ethelbert Anum, Talladega College

Second Team
Christione Rufus, Philander Smith University
Jalil Langston, University of the Virgin Islands
Devin Daniels, Southern University at New Orleans
Catthadious Moore, Rust College
Andre’ Brunt, Tougaloo College

Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Philander Smith University
2. Dillard University
3. Fisk University
4. Tougaloo College
5. Wiley College
6. Oakwood University
7. Talladega College
8. Southern University at New Orleans
9. Rust College
10. University of the Virgin Islands

Women’s Basketball Preseason All-GCAC
Player of the Year
Myia Yelder, Philander Smith University

First Team
Mya Yelder, Philander Smith University
Nekaya Williams, Oakwood University
Diamond Hawthorne, Wiley College
Treneisha Adams, Oakwood University
Dasia, Turner, Philander Smith University
Second Team
Niya McGuire, Rust College
Zipporah Davis, Fisk University
Sharisse Bridges, Tougaloo College
Anayah Davis, Fisk University
Morgan Williams, Tougaloo College

Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Rust College
2. Philander Smith University
3. Fisk University
4. Wiley College
5. Tougaloo College
6. Dillard University
7. Talladega College
8. Oakwood University
9. Southern University at New Orleans
10. University of the Virgin Islands