FRISCO, Texas -- Wednesday afternoon, the Southland Conference announced the the league's 2020-21 Preseason All-Conference first- and second-teams, naming Nicholls State University senior Kevin Johnson as a second-team guard. The Preseason All-Conference teams are voted upon by the league's head coaches.

Of the 11 players selected, five were automatically slotted into their positions due to previous placement on the 2019-20 All-Southland first- or second-teams, leaving just five spots available for other athletes from around the league (one tie resulted in six players selected for the second team). Johnson, who wrapped up last season with 26 starts on 29 total appearances, closed out the year as the Colonels' undisputed leader in both assists (113) and steals (59) despite missing two games due to injury; additionally, the Thibodaux native made his presence felt on the scoreboard as well, racking up a 9.8 ppg scoring average (fifth squad-wide) behind a lethal three-point shooting showcase (ranked second in both percentage -- .364; and total made -- 40-of-110).

The Colonels are set to open the 2020-21 season later this month following the NCAA's official tipoff on Nov. 25; just over a month later, the Red & Gray proceed to Southland Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 2, hosting Sam Houston State in Stopher Gym.

2020-21 Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference Men's Basketball Teams

First Team

Name	School	Position	Class	Hometown
Joe Pleasant*	Abilene Christian	F	Jr.	Overland Park, Kan.
Rylan Bergersen*	Central Arkansas	G	Sr.	Boise, Idaho
Dru Kuxhausen*	McNeese	G	Sr.	Scottsbluff, Neb.
Zach Nutall*	Sam Houston State	G	Jr.	Bryan, Texas
Gavin Kensmil*	Stephen F. Austin	F	Sr.	Paramaribo, Suriname

Second Team

Name	School	Position	Class	Hometown
Deandre Jones	Central Arkansas	G	Sr.	Boise, Idaho
Davion Buster	Lamar	G	Jr.	Austin, Texas
A.J. Lawson	McNeese	G	Sr.	Bryan, Texas
Troy Green	New Orleans	G	Sr.	St. Rose, La.
Kevin Johnson	Nicholls	G	Sr.	Thibodaux, La.
Roti Ware	Stephen F. Austin	G	Sr.	Morton, Miss.

* -- Member of 2019-20 All-Southland Conference teams

2020-21 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
 

	School (First-Place Votes)	Total
1	Stephen F. Austin (17)	278
2	Abilene Christian (3)	254
3	Sam Houston State	216
4	Nicholls (1)	209
5	Lamar (3)	199
6	McNeese (2)	177
7	Central Arkansas	153
8	New Orleans	132
9	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	131
10	Northwestern State	123
11	Southeastern Louisiana	68
12	UIW	64
13	HBU	24

Notably, Nicholls scored the program's highest-ever preseason position since the Southland Conference began aggregating the head coach and sports information director polls prior to the 2017-18 season. In fact, the Red & Gray had yet to notch a single-digit ranking since the 2014-15 poll, in which the Colonels pulled off an eighth-place finish.
 
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