Men's Basketball | 10/8/2025 2:18:54 PM
NORFOLK, Va. – South Carolina State sophomore guard Jayden Johnson has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced today. Reigning MEAC regular season co-champion and tournament champion Norfolk State University was voted as the preseason favorite to capture the 2025-26 MEAC men’s basketball crown.
All awards were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Johnson, a dynamic guard for the Bulldogs, returns following a strong freshman campaign that earned him a slot on the MEAC All-Rookie team last year. He appeared in 32 games with 12 starts. Johnson shot 42 percent from the field and totaled 156 points, 69 rebounds, 73 assists, and 35 steals during his debut season. His best performance came in a non-conference matchup against Georgia, where he scored 16 points, going a perfect 2-for-2 from three-point range and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Norfolk State earned the top spot in the preseason poll with 118 total points and 12 first-place votes. The Spartans are coming off a 24-11 overall record and 11-3 MEAC mark, tying for first place in the regular season standings before edging South Carolina State, 66-65, in the MEAC Tournament championship game. The victory marked Norfolk State’s third tournament title in the past five seasons.
Howard University was predicted to finish second in the preseason rankings with 97 points and four first-place votes, while last year’s regular season co-champion South Carolina State was picked third with 90 points. Morgan State followed in fourth (73 points), and Delaware State and North Carolina Central tied for fifth (70 points each). Maryland Eastern Shore (31 points) and Coppin State (27 points) rounded out the preseason poll.
Joining Johnson on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team are Chris Flippin (Maryland Eastern Shore), Bryce Harris (Howard), Khalil Horton (Coppin State), and Ponce James (Delaware State).
The 2025 MEAC Basketball Tournament will take place March 11-14, 2026, at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
2025-26 MEAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
1. Norfok State (12) - 118 pts
2. Howard (4) - 97 pts
3. South Carolina State - 90 pts
4. Morgan State - 73 pts
T5. Delaware State - 70 pts
T5. North Carolina Central - 70 pts
7. Maryland Eastern Shore - 31 pts
8. Coppin State - 27 pts
2025-26 Preseason All-MEAC Teams
First Team
- Chris Flippin, Maryland Eastern Shore
- Bryce Harris, Howard
- Khalil Horton, Coppin State
- Ponce James, Delaware State
- Jayden Johnson, South Carolina State
Second Team
- Zion Bethea, Delaware State
- Cam Gillus, Howard
- Dionte Johnson, North Carolina Central
- Camian Shell, Delaware State
- Taj Thweatt, Coppin State
Third Team
- Keyontae Lewis, Norfolk State
- Anthony McComb III, Norfolk State
- Walter Peggs, Jr., Morgan State
- Cedric Taylor III, Howard
- Michael Teal, Maryland Eastern Shore