BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Junior guard Greg Jones has been selected by the Patriot League head coaches as 2025-26 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and the Eagles have been picked to finish fourth of 10 teams in the PL Preseason Poll.

Jones, a PL All-Defensive Team selection last season when the Eagles captured the Patriot League Championship, averaged 10.3 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game to rank third in both for AU. Jones' 28 steals ranked second, and his 42 three-pointers made ranked third. He helped the Eagles lead the League in scoring defense (67.7) and finish second in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (.331). 

After claiming the fourth league championship in program history, the Eagles have been picked fourth in this year's poll. American lost four starters from last year's team including All-PL First Team selection Matt Rogers and All-PL Third Team honoree Elijah Stephens. The Eagles have six returning scholarship players and six scholarship freshmen on a roster of 19 this coming season. 

Head Coach Duane Simpkins returns for his third season with the program after guiding AU to a 22-13 overall record in 2024-25, as well as a 13-5 PL record. The Eagles captured the PL Championship for a fourth time in program history, and first in 11 years.

Navy captured the top spot in the preseason poll, with Mids' senior guard Austin Benigni receiving preseason player of the year. The Midshipmen collected 79 points and seven first-place votes after advancing to the championship game last season. Boston University received 73 points and two first-place votes, while Colgate picked up 64 points and one first-place vote. Reigning champion AU placed fourth with 47 points, and co-regular-season champion Bucknell rounded out the top five with 44 points.
 
Loyola Maryland (39), Lafayette (36), Lehigh (30), Holy Cross (23) and Army West Point (15) completed the 10-team preseason poll.
 
Benigni and Jones highlight the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, which includes three returning All-League selections. Benigni earned First Team All-Patriot League honors, while Boston University's Kyrone Alexander (Jr., G) earned a spot on the second team and Colgate's Jalen Cox (Jr., G) was a third-teamer. Jones and Cox made the League's five-member All-Defensive Team.
 
The Patriot League men's basketball head coaches completed voting for the preseason poll, major awards and All-League team. They were prohibited from voting for their team or student-athletes.

For the latest on American University Men's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_MBasketball), Facebook (/AU.MBasketball) and Instagram (@au_mbasketball).

2025-26 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Austin Benigni, Navy, Sr., G, The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands Christian Academy
2024-25 Stats: 34 GP, 13.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, .406 FG pct., .337 3FG pct., .863 FT pct.
*Benigni is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earning First Team honors in 2024-25 after leading the League in scoring (18.8 ppg) and finishing second in assists (4.3 apg).
*The Woodlands, Texas native earned All-Tournament honors last season, finishing with a League-best 24.0 points per game, and a Patriot League Tournament record 36 made free throws.
*He enters the season with 1,311 career points, 334 career assists, while ranking third in League history with an .855 free-throw percentage.

2025-26 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Greg Jones, American, Jr., G, Alexandria, Va./Hayfield Secondary
2024-25 Stats: 33 GP, 10.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.8 spg, .502 FG pct., .438 3FG pct., .854 FT pct.
*Jones earned Patriot League All-Defensive Team honors last season after helping the Eagles lead the League in scoring defense (67.7) and finish second in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (.331). 
*The junior guard earned All-Tournament honors after averaging 11.0 points, while helping hold all three of the Eagles' opponents under 70 points.
*He averaged 3.9 rebounds and recorded 28 steals in 33 games last season, including a career-high five steals at Saint Joseph's (Dec. 18).

2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Greg Jones, American, Jr., G, Alexandria, Va./Hayfield Secondary
2024-25 Stats: 33 GP, 10.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.8 spg, .502 FG pct., .438 3FG pct., .854 FT pct.
Career Honors: Patriot League Defensive Team (2025); Patriot League All-Tournament Team (2025).

Kyrone Alexander, Boston University, Jr., Bridgetown, Barbados/South Shore (N.Y.)
2024-25 Stats: 30 GP, 12.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.2 spg, .411 FG pct., .307 3FG pct., .800 FG pct.
Career Honors: All-Patriot League Second Team (2025); Patriot League Rookie Team (2024). 

Jalen Cox, Colgate, Jr., G, Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola
2024-25 Stats: 31 GP, 11.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.6 spg, .504 FG Pct., .775 FT pct.
Career Honors: All-Patriot League Third Team (2025); Patriot League Defensive Team (2025).

Jacob Theodosiou, Loyola Maryland, Jr., G, Waterloo, Ontario/Western Reserve Academy (Ohio)
2024-25 Stats: 31 GP, 13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.7 spg, .378 FG pct., .325 3FG pct., .769 FT pct.
Career Honors: CSC Academic All-District Team (2025)

Austin Benigni, Navy, Sr., G, The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands Christian Academy
2024-25 Stats: 34 GP, 13.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, .406 FG pct., .337 3FG pct., .863 FT pct.
Career Honors: All-Patriot League First Team (2025); Patriot League All-Tournament Team (2025); Academic All-Patriot League Team (2024, 25); All-Patriot League Second Team (2024).

2025-26 Preseason Patriot League Men's Basketball Poll
1. Navy, 79 points (7 first-place votes)
2. Boston University, 73 (2)
3. Colgate, 64 (1)
4. American, 47
5. Bucknell, 44
6. Loyola Maryland, 39
7. Lafayette, 36
8. Lehigh, 30
9. Holy Cross, 23
10. Army West Point, 15

2025-26 Preseason Patriot League Men's Basketball Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Austin Benigni, Navy, Sr., G
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Greg Jones, American, Jr., G

2025-26 Preseason Men's Basketball All-Patriot League Team
Greg Jones, American, Jr., G
Kyrone Alexander, Boston University, Jr., G
Jalen Cox, Colgate, Jr., G
Jacob Theodosiou, Loyola Maryland, Jr., G
Austin Benigni, Navy, Sr., G