West Long Branch, NJ – Monmouth University Men's Basketball's Jaret Valencia was named Preseason All-CAA Second Team, and Jack Collins earned Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention as part of the Coastal Athletic Association Media Day Friday morning. The Hawks were selected eighth in the league's preseason coaches' poll.
 
Valencia is the top returning shot blocker in the CAA, pinning 55 last season in being named to the CAA All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams in his first season in action at MU. He shot 49.8% from the field and averaged 8.9 points per contest, and became the eighth Hawk to ever block more than 50 shots in a season. He scored in double digits 11 times and finished top-50 nationally in blocked shots.
 
Collins averaged double figures for the second straight season, posting 10.7 points per contest with 42 steals and 6.5 rebounds per game. The 2023 All-CAA Rookie Team choice started all but one game in 2023-24, and dished out 72 assists compared to 42 turnovers.
 
Monmouth was picked eighth in the CAA Preseason Poll from the conference's head coaches, totaling 87 votes in the ranking. Towson was picked first, with Charleston and UNC Wilmington also receiving first-place votes behind them. Hofstra was fourth, followed by Delaware, Northeastern, and William & Mary. The Hawks edged out Stony Brook in ninth, also topping North Carolina A&T, Drexel, Elon, Campbell and Hampton.