Jaylen Adams named Big 4 Preseason Player of Year

Courtesy of GoBonnies.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure junior guard Jaylen Adams was named the Big 4 Preseason Player of the Year for 2016-17 during Wednesday’s Big 4 Media Day at Key Bank Arena.

Bonnies teammates Denzel Gregg and Idris Taqqee were named the Preseason All-Big 4 second team. The teams were voted on by a panel of regional media members and the athletics communications staffs of each of the Big 4 schools.

C.J. Massinburgh and Blake Hamilton of Buffalo, Niagara’s Matt Scott and Canisius’ Phil Valenti joined Adams on the preseason first team. The other second team members are Willie Connor and Nick Perkins from Buffalo and Kassius Robertson of Canisius.

Last season, Adams was named to the All-Atlantic 10 first team and to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 4 second team. He tied for eighth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring at 17.9 points per game, led the A-10 in three-point field goal percentage (.438) and finished fourth in free throw percentage (.874). The Baltimore, Md., native also averaged 5.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. His .438 three-point percentage is the second-best mark in school history.

Adams has scored 758 points over his first two seasons.

Gregg, a senior forward, was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Sixth Man of the Year last season. He played in all 31 games and averaged 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game, all career bests. The Syracuse, N.Y., native scored in double figures 16 times topped by a career high 22 points in a home win over Rhode Island.

Taqqee, a junior guard, started 30 games last year and averaged 5.1 points, 4.0 rebounds. 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game. Well-regarded for his defensive skills, Taqqee was a big part of the Bona defense that limited opponents to 32 percent shooting from three-point range — third best in the Atlantic 10.

Last winter, Adams, Gregg and Taqqee helped lead St. Bonaventure to a share of the A-10 regular season title with a 14-4 mark. The Bonnies finished 22-9 overall and advanced to the NIT.

The Bonnies will oppose Niagara in this year’s Big 4 Classic, a doubleheader at Key Bank Arena on Dec. 17. Buffalo will face Canisius in the other game. Tickets are on sale now through the Key Bank Arena web site.