Troy University Athletics
Rigsby and Conerway Named to Preseason All-SBC Team, Troy Picked Third
10/14/2024 10:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – Myles Rigsby and Tayton Conerway were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Men's Basketball Team, while the Trojans were selected to finish third in the Sun Belt Coaches Preseason Poll, the league office announced on Monday morning.
"Myles and Tayton are two of the best returning players in the Sun Belt Conference and are both extremely deserving of this preseason recognition," head coach Scott Cross said. "They both will be a huge part of any success that we have this season, and I look forward to watching them do great things as they continue to improve, get better and help us win basketball games this season."
A sophomore from Fort Worth, Texas, Rigsby was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after a remarkable 2023-24 campaign that saw him win the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year award. He averaged 11.3 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the field, 41.1 percent from distance and 82.4 percent from the line. During conference play he had a streak of 10-straight games in which he scored double-digit points. In addition to his scoring ability, Rigsby is impressive on the defensive side of the court, which showed in his 49 steals last season, a mark that was second on the team and sixth in the Sun Belt.
He is the only lower classman named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
Conerway earned his spot on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team after being named the Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year following the 2023-24 season. He finished tied for second on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game. He helped lead Troy to the 14th highest-scoring bench in the country at 29.5 points per game. The Burleson, Texas, native shot 47.5 percent from the field, and registered 21 games with double figure points. On defense, he led Troy and the Sun Belt with 63 steals, which was also good for 22nd nationally.
Troy was selected third in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll and received one first place vote. It's the highest the Trojans have placed since prior to the 2017-18 season, where they were also tabbed third with one first place vote. The Trojans are the only team in the Sun Belt who have won 20-plus games and 10-plus conference games in each of the last three seasons.
The Trojans are returning 12 players from its 2023-24 team that finished the regular season in third place. In addition to the returning talent, Troy welcomes five new players to this year's squad.
Troy opens its 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4, as its welcomes Toledo to Trojan Arena as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Kobe Julien, Arkansas State [R-SR | F | Baton Rouge, La.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Mark Freeman, James Madison [R-SR | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Kobe Julien, Arkansas State [R-SR | F | Baton Rouge, La.]
Hosana Kitenge, Louisiana [SR | F | Crawley, England]
Nate Martin, Marshall [SR | F | Houston, Texas]
Myles Rigsby, Troy [SO | F | Fort Worth, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Obinna Anochili-Killen, Marshall [5th Yr. | F | Lagos, Nigeria]
Tayton Conerway, Troy [SR | G | Burleson, Texas]
C.J. Huntley, App State [GR | F | Huntersville, N.C.]
Toneari Lane, Georgia State [SR | G | Atlanta, Ga.]
Taryn Todd, Arkansas State [SR | G | Ontario, Canada]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Xavier Brown, James Madison [JR | G | Williamsburg, Va.]
Andre Curbelo, Southern Miss [GR | G | Vega Baja, Puerto Rico]
Tyrel Morgan, Texas State [GR | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Izaiyah Nelson, Arkansas State [JR | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Myles Tate, App State [SR | G | Spartanburg, S.C.]
2024 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Arkansas State (12) – 193
2. James Madison (1) – 170
3. Troy (1) – 155
4. Louisiana – 144
5. Southern Miss – 133
6. App State – 122
7. Texas State – 89
T8. Georgia Southern – 85
T8. Old Dominion – 85
10. Marshall – 79
11. South Alabama – 78
12. Georgia State – 75
13. Coastal Carolina – 34
14. ULM – 28
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
"Myles and Tayton are two of the best returning players in the Sun Belt Conference and are both extremely deserving of this preseason recognition," head coach Scott Cross said. "They both will be a huge part of any success that we have this season, and I look forward to watching them do great things as they continue to improve, get better and help us win basketball games this season."
A sophomore from Fort Worth, Texas, Rigsby was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after a remarkable 2023-24 campaign that saw him win the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year award. He averaged 11.3 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the field, 41.1 percent from distance and 82.4 percent from the line. During conference play he had a streak of 10-straight games in which he scored double-digit points. In addition to his scoring ability, Rigsby is impressive on the defensive side of the court, which showed in his 49 steals last season, a mark that was second on the team and sixth in the Sun Belt.
He is the only lower classman named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
Conerway earned his spot on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team after being named the Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year following the 2023-24 season. He finished tied for second on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game. He helped lead Troy to the 14th highest-scoring bench in the country at 29.5 points per game. The Burleson, Texas, native shot 47.5 percent from the field, and registered 21 games with double figure points. On defense, he led Troy and the Sun Belt with 63 steals, which was also good for 22nd nationally.
Troy was selected third in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll and received one first place vote. It's the highest the Trojans have placed since prior to the 2017-18 season, where they were also tabbed third with one first place vote. The Trojans are the only team in the Sun Belt who have won 20-plus games and 10-plus conference games in each of the last three seasons.
The Trojans are returning 12 players from its 2023-24 team that finished the regular season in third place. In addition to the returning talent, Troy welcomes five new players to this year's squad.
Troy opens its 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4, as its welcomes Toledo to Trojan Arena as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Kobe Julien, Arkansas State [R-SR | F | Baton Rouge, La.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Mark Freeman, James Madison [R-SR | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Kobe Julien, Arkansas State [R-SR | F | Baton Rouge, La.]
Hosana Kitenge, Louisiana [SR | F | Crawley, England]
Nate Martin, Marshall [SR | F | Houston, Texas]
Myles Rigsby, Troy [SO | F | Fort Worth, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Obinna Anochili-Killen, Marshall [5th Yr. | F | Lagos, Nigeria]
Tayton Conerway, Troy [SR | G | Burleson, Texas]
C.J. Huntley, App State [GR | F | Huntersville, N.C.]
Toneari Lane, Georgia State [SR | G | Atlanta, Ga.]
Taryn Todd, Arkansas State [SR | G | Ontario, Canada]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Xavier Brown, James Madison [JR | G | Williamsburg, Va.]
Andre Curbelo, Southern Miss [GR | G | Vega Baja, Puerto Rico]
Tyrel Morgan, Texas State [GR | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Izaiyah Nelson, Arkansas State [JR | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Myles Tate, App State [SR | G | Spartanburg, S.C.]
2024 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Arkansas State (12) – 193
2. James Madison (1) – 170
3. Troy (1) – 155
4. Louisiana – 144
5. Southern Miss – 133
6. App State – 122
7. Texas State – 89
T8. Georgia Southern – 85
T8. Old Dominion – 85
10. Marshall – 79
11. South Alabama – 78
12. Georgia State – 75
13. Coastal Carolina – 34
14. ULM – 28
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
Players Mentioned
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