Siena Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Saints

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 20: The Siena Saints celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes in overtime during the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena on March 20, 2009 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 13: The Siena Saints prepare for their game against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 13, 2015 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Jalen Pickett returns with some friends

The biggest cause for the excitement surrounding the Saints would be the return of star guard Jalen Pickett who had one of the most under-the-radar freshman seasons in all of college basketball. The 6-4 guard out of Rochester, N.Y. averaged 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and two steals per game in his first season. He had eight games of over 20 points including a season-high 46 in a triple-overtime loss to Quinnipiac.

The other returning starter for the Saints is junior swingman Manny Camper who averaged 6.4 points and 5.4 rebounds last season. Of the five other returning players, two Ben Diamond and Denzel Tchougang are walk-ons and sophomore guard Georges Darwiche appeared in just 19 of the team’s games last season. Senior forward Sammy Friday IV who appeared in just nine games last season after suffering a knee injury, when he played the 6’7 forward averaged 6.4 points and 2.4 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jimmy Ratliff saw minimal action as a freshman but could be looked upon to take a bigger role this season.

Related Story. In-depth look at Jalen Pickett. light

The reinforcements for the Saints include four true-freshmen, two graduate transfers, and a transfer-eligible. The freshmen forwards are 6-7 Luke Sutherland and the 6-9 Kyle Young, Sutherland figures to play more of a small forward role while Young and his 239lb frame would have the ability to play both forward positions. The two guards give Maciariello his top recruit, the 6’6 Gary Harris, Jr. out of Los Angeles and Jordan King, a 6’0 guard from Albany.

Both the front and backcourt get complimented by the graduate transfers, Elijah Burns joins the team from Notre Dame where the 6-9 forward appeared in just four games before deciding to transfer. Matt Hein is a 6-4 point guard who spent the previous three seasons at Illinois State. One player, sophomore guard Donald Carey will see the floor after one season at Mount St. Mary’s where he averaged nine points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a freshman.