NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Appalachian State senior guard
Ronshad Shabazz has been named Preseason First Team All-Sun Belt the league announced Thursday.
Shabazz is a two-time All-Sun Belt honoree, earning Second Team Honors last season and Honorable Mention accolades for his efforts during the 2016-17 season.
Shabazz posted one of the strongest seasons in program history in 2017-18. He averaged a team-high 18.5 points and dished out a total of 100 assists. His 609 total points are the fifth most ever scored in single season history and marked just the fifth time in program history that a player has scored over 600 points in a season. In addition, he scored in double figures in 30 of App State's 33 games, including three games of at least 30 points.
Entering his senior season, he has tallied 1,481 points, which ranks 11th in program history. Shabazz also ranks seventh all-time in career three-pointers made with 190.
In the coaches preseason poll, the Black and Gold were picked to finish sixth. Defending Sun Belt Tournament champion Georgia State was chosen first, followed by Georgia Southern and Louisiana.
The Mountaineers will host Ferrum in an exhibition on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. before officially tipping the season on Nov. 6 versus Mars Hill inside the Holmes Center at 7 p.m.
Season tickets for the 2018-19 season can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 828-262-2079 or by clicking
here.
2018-19 SUN BELT CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' PRESEASON HONORS
All-Sun Belt First Team
**Ronshad Shabazz, Appalachian State
*Tookie Brown, Georgia Southern
*D'Marcus Simonds, Georgia State
**Travis Munnings, ULM
**Jordon Varnado, Troy
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Zac Cuthbertson, Coastal Carolina
***Devin Mitchell, Georgia State
***JaKeenan Gant, Louisiana
**Rodrick Sikes, South Alabama
***Nijal Pearson, Texas State
All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ty Cockfield II, Arkansas State
Ike Smith, Georgia Southern
Marcus Stroman, Louisiana
Michael Ertel, ULM
Josh Ajayi, South Alabama
2018-19 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Player of the Year
D'Marcus Simonds, Georgia State
2018-19 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
first-place votes in parentheses
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
| 1. |
Georgia State (12) |
144 |
| 2. |
Georgia Southern |
125 |
|
Louisiana |
125 |
| 4. |
ULM |
89 |
|
Troy |
89 |
| 6. |
Appalachian State |
86 |
| 7. |
South Alabama |
80 |
| 8. |
Texas State |
67 |
| 9. |
Arkansas State |
42 |
| 10. |
Coastal Carolina |
40 |
| 11. |
UTA |
33 |
| 12. |
Little Rock |
16 |
*Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt First Team
**Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt Second Team
***Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt Third Team
