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America East Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Joe Weidenburner

CATONSVILLE, MD - FEBRUARY 21: The American East Conference logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Vermont Catamounts and the UMBC Retrievers at the Event Center on February 21, 2019 in Catsonville, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
CATONSVILLE, MD - FEBRUARY 21: The American East Conference logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Vermont Catamounts and the UMBC Retrievers at the Event Center on February 21, 2019 in Catsonville, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 19: Anthony Lamb #3 of the Vermont Catamounts (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 19: Anthony Lamb #3 of the Vermont Catamounts (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

Key players to watch 2020 America East Tournament

SR Anthony Lamb – Vermont

2019-20 Stats: 16.5 ppg, 7.3 rbg, 2.5 apg

Lamb is the best player on the best team in the conference and a legitimate NBA prospect having tested the draft waters after last season, ultimately returning to school. His ppg numbers are down from last year and he’s shooting at lower rates across the board, but he still has the skillset and versatility to lead the Catamounts to another America East autobid.

SR Christian Lutete – UMass-Lowell

2019-20 Stats: 19.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.6 apg

The senior has had two exceptional seasons for UMass-Lowell after transferring from Radford, averaging over 19 ppg this season on efficient shooting. Lutete has the potential to take over any game he plays evidenced by a 51-point outburst earlier this year.

JR Elijah Olaniyi – Stony Brook

2019-20 Stats: 18.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 apg

Olaniyi missed five games after suffering an ankle injury February 8, but returned to action in Stony Brook’s regular-season finale, a loss to UMBC, where Olaniyi didn’t shoot particularly well and was clearly rusty. Stony Brook will need him at full health in the America East tournament. A tremendously productive player when healthy, the junior Olaniyi ranked third in the league in scoring this season with 18.2 ppg while shooting 36% from behind the three-point line.

SR Ahmad Clark – Albany

2019-20 Stats: 16.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.1 apg

The senior guard is the most important player on the Albany roster, leading the team in minutes, points, assists, and steals, and second in rebounds, on a per-game basis. Clark leads the conference and is top-30 nationally in usage rate.

SR Malik Ellison – Hartford

2019-20 Stats: 18.9 ppg 10.3 rpg 1.6 apg

Ellison is the twice-transferred son of former NBA player Pervis Ellison. At previous stops St. John’s and Pitt, Ellison never found a rhythm or playing time, but he’s excelled for Hartford this year averaging a double-double since returning from an early-season ankle injury. If the Hawks can make a run at the America East title it will be firmly on Ellison’s back.

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