2025-26 ASUN Preseason Awards and Poll graphic

Men's Basketball 10/17/2025 1:00:00 PM

Ashby Named ASUN Preseason Player of the Year; Queens Picked to Win League

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Atlantic Sun Conference has announced the 2025-26 men's basketball preseason awards, and Queens University of Charlotte sharpshooter Chris Ashby was named the Preseason Player of the Year and a unanimous All-ASUN selection. In addition, Queens was picked to win the league, garnering six first-place votes.

"Chris has done an unbelievable job in his four seasons, getting better each year," said Queens head coach Grant Leonard. "We've watched a player blossom in front of all of our eyes. Earning All-ASUN honors last year was a huge confidence boost to him, and he's put in even more work this year. Chris is our leader by example, and his development has been inspiring to be a part of."

Ashby, a graduate student from Houston, Texas, returns to the Royals lineup with the record books in sight. The 6-2 guard is 63 three-pointers away from breaking the school record set by Chris Benson in 2003. Ashby is coming off a season in which he was named Third Team All-ASUN and broke the single-season school record with 115 threes made.

Last season, Ashby led the ASUN and ranked ninth in the country in three-pointers made. Against Central Arkansas, the perimeter threat buried a Division 1 program record nine three-pointers. Ashby started all 35 games for the Royals and averaged 12.7 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. In September, Ashby was named the Blue Ribbon Preseason ASUN Player of the Year.

In addition to the preseason honors for Ashby, the Royals were selected by the league's coaches to win the ASUN. The nod comes after Queens was also picked to win the league in the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. The monumental recognition marks a first for the program in just its fourth Division 1 season. Queens has made the ASUN Tournament all three seasons, and is coming off their first trip to the semifinals last year.

"To be respected so much by the coaches to be voted first is a huge sign of respect by our ASUN peers," said Leonard. "We are in year four and this is the first year we are eligible for the NCAA Tournament and NIT. We know the predictions can be a lot, and our players work tirelessly to try and earn the respect the coaches have projected on them. Being the hunted will be new for us in the D1 era, but not for our program. We will have to handle a ton of adversity to see these predictions true, and our character will be tested nightly. We truly believe that our team can handle the test."

Despite losing the nation's leading shot blocker in Malcolm Wilson and a pair of recent professional signees in Leo Colimerio and Kalib Mathews, the Royals return a young group that reached the 2025 College Basketball Invitational Quarterfinals. The trio of Nasir Mann, Yoav Berman, and Maban Jabriel is expected to increase their roles after combining to score 20.0 points per game on 43 percent shooting a season ago. Their contributions off the bench helped the Royals rank top 15 in the country in bench scoring.

Queens also added key pieces this offseason through the transfer portal in Avantae Parker (Georgia Southern), Gus Larson (California-Berkeley), and Carson Schwieger (Valparaiso). Parker, a 6-9 junior, made 50 appearances for the Eagles and averaged 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. As a freshman, the Columbia, South Carolina native swatted 40 shots, which was the second most amongst first-year players, and eighth most in a single season in school history.

In addition to the portal, Queens signed elite high school talents Jordan Watford and Isaiah Henry. Watford, a native of Lancaster, South Carolina, is the highest-ranked prospect to sign with the Royals. The 6-5 combo guard was a three-star prospect according to 247Sports and ESPN, and the number one player in the state, according to 247Sports. As a senior, Watford averaged 20.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game as he led the Bruins to a 4A State Championship.

Charlotte native Isaiah Henry elected to stay home after spending a season with the OTE Diamond Doves of PHHoenix Prep. The former Cannon School standout was a three-star prospect and the 17th-best player in the state of Arizona according to 247Sports. With the Diamond Doves, Henry averaged 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game and turned in five double-doubles.

Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2025-26 season are available today. Be sure to follow Queens Men's Basketball on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for news and updates throughout the season. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media to stay up to date on all the Royals sports in action.

2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Chris Ashby, Queens
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Montavious Myrick, Eastern Kentucky

Preseason All-ASUN Team
^Chris Ashby, Queens
^Cornelious Williams, North Alabama
Tate McCubbin, Austin Peay
Camren Hunter, Central Arkansas
Montavious Myrick, Eastern Kentucky
Chris Arias, Jacksonville
Charlie Williams, Lipscomb
Donte Bacchus, North Alabama
Jamie Phillips Jr., Stetson
Shelton Williams-Dryden, West Georgia
^denotes a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-ASUN Team

Preseason Coaches Poll