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The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) revealed its men’s basketball preseason honors where Howard University dynamic duo of sophomore RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) and junior Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) were recognized. The announcement came Thursday morning.
The selections were voted on by the conference’s head men’s basketball coaches and sports information directors.
Cole was picked the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year after an outstanding rookie campaign while Williams joined the New Jersey native on the preseason All-Conference First Team.
Cole won a pair of rookie of the year awards from the MEAC and ECAC after setting a new conference record with 13 rookie of the week honors while being named to the All-MEAC First Team. Nationally, he ranked seventh in scoring (23.7) while finishing the regular season among the MEAC leaders in assists (6.1), steals (1.7), and minutes (38.0). Last season, Cole scored double figures in every game while recording 25 20-point performances, including five 30-point games and a 40-point performance. He was also selected to the 2017-18 BOXTOROW All-American First Team.
Williams racked up postseason accolades after his second year with the Bison. The Virginia native earned a spot on the 2017-18 NABC Division I All-District team and All-MEAC First Team. The 2016-17 MEAC Rookie of the Year honoree finished his sophomore year second in the conference, averaging 20.4 ppg. On Feb. 3, he became the second fastest in program history to reach 1,000 points. Last season, Williams recorded 19 20-point performances and four 30-point games, including a season-high 32 against Norfolk State.
The league also announced its preseason poll where the Bison were projected to finish fourth overall. Bethune-Cookman was voted to win the MEAC Title.
To view the full list of 2018-19 MEAC Preseason All-MEAC selections, click here.
On Nov. 7, Howard opens its campaign versus Washington Adventist inside Burr Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
For more information, go to the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.