Sparkill, N.Y. - Seeking its sixth East Coast Conference Tournament title in the last seven seasons and an eleventh consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament, St. Thomas Aquinas College was chosen to finish second in the 2025 ECC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league.
The Spartans received 69 points, just behind defending champs Daemen University, who were also picked to finish first with 81 points and all nine first-place votes. The College of Staten Island was selected third with 54 points, while Queens (4th/48 points), Roberts Wesleyan (5th/45 points), D'Youville (6th/42 points), District of Columbia (7th/24 points), Molloy (8th/22 points) and Mercy (9th/20 points) round out the poll.
STAC went 25-10 overall and 13-3 in the ECC during the 2024-2025 season, advancing to the ECC Tournament Final before falling to Daemen. The Spartans qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament for a tenth consecutive season, and won their way to the East Region Final with only Assumption University blocking their path to a second-ever Elite Eight appearance.
St. Thomas Aquinas will return five players from the 2024-2025 team; Cairo Rivera (So.|G|19 GP, 1.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG), Derrick James (Sr.|G|32 GP, 11.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.7 APG), Jordan Green (Sr.|C|30 GP, 3.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG), Anthony Daley (So.|G|17 GP, 2.6 PPG) and Michael Parrotta (Gr.|F|29 GP, 4.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.0 SPG).
Ky Panda Massey (RFr.|G|Clinton, Md.|Clinton Grace Christian School), Cameron Codio (RFr.|G|Orlando, Fla.|Florida Gulf Coast University), Starrell Hearns (RJr.|G|Carteret, N.J.|Bloomfield College), William Landram II (RSo.|G|Gig Harbor, Wash.|University of Washington), Brennan Chatman (So.|G|Norfolk, Va.|Radford University), Jamal Hicks, Jr. (Fr.|G|Philadelphia, Pa.|Penn Charter), Joshua Michigan (So.|G/F|Brick, N.J.|Iona University), Ibrahim Gati (Fr.|C|Niamey, Niger|Darrow School), Federico Longo (Fr.|G|Catania, Italy|Darrow School), Elhadji Diop, Jr. (Jr.|F|Harlem, N.Y.|Wabash Valley College) and Igor Gonzalez (Fr.|F|Barahona, Dominican Republic|Darrow School) are set to make their debuts in maroon and gold, as the eleven makeup the team's new recruiting class.
Head Coach Matt Capell returns for his fourth season at the helm of the Spartans (13th overall), and will feature a lineup filled with size, speed and skill.
Re-joining Capell on the bench are Associate Head Coach D'Vonne Trumbo, along with Assistant Coaches Connor Birchard and Matt Backs. Graduate Assistant Coach Brayan Anaman and Student Coaches Ibrahim Conteh and Josh Altabet also return. Derrick Grant arrives in Sparkill as the team's newest staff member, taking on the role of Graduate Assistant Coach.
St. Thomas Aquinas begins its new season on the road at the College of Staten Island Tournament of Heroes on November 14 and 15, as the Spartans take on Georgian Court University and Assumption University. STAC's 28-game schedule features 12 non-conference games and 13 home matchups at Aquinas Hall. The first home contest is on November 22 versus the Caldwell University, while the first conference matchup comes on the road on December 3 against the University of the District of Columbia.
2025-26 ECC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Daemen - 81 points (9 first-place votes)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas - 69 points
3. Staten Island - 54 points
4. Queens - 48 points
5. Roberts Wesleyan - 45 points
6. D'Youville - 42 points
7. District of Columbia - 24 points
8. Molloy - 22 points
9. Mercy - 20 points
ECC Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Benjamin Bill, Daemen (RJr., C, Hamburg, NY)