CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Canisius guards Isaiah Reese, Malik Johnson and Takal Molson were all named to the 2018-19 Preseason All-Big 4 Teams, which were announced Friday afternoon in advance of the official start of the college basketball season. Reese was named to the Preseason All-Big 4 First Team, while Johnson and Molson earned Preseason All-Big 4 Second Team honors. The 2018-19 Preseason All-Big 4 Teams were voted on by media and athletic communications staffs that cover Buffalo, Canisius, Niagara and St. Bonaventure.
Reese, who was recently named the 2018-19 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, was one of four unanimous choices to the Preseason All-Big 4 First Team, along with Buffalo’s CJ Massinburg and Nick Perkins and St. Bonaventure guard Courtney Stockard. Buffalo’s Jeremy Harris was also named to the Preseason All-Big 4 First Team. Additionally, Massinburg was chosen as the Preseason All-Big 4 Men’s Player of the Year.
Reese is coming off a sophomore campaign which saw him lead the team in rebounding average, assists per game average and steals per game average, while ranking second on the roster in scoring average. His 16.9 points per game ranked seventh best in the MAAC a season ago, and his 4.7 assists per contest ranked fifth-best in the league. His 73 steals in 2017-18 stand as the most for a Canisius player since 1995, and his 2.2 steals per game ranked 15th nationally among all Division I players.
For his efforts in 2017-18, Reese was named All-MAAC First Team, making him the first Canisius sophomore to earn a place on the league’s top postseason all-star unit since Micheal Meeks was recognized in 1994.
Johnson was voted to the Preseason All-Big 4 Second Team after he averaged 7.8 points, 4.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game in 33 contests a season ago. His 152 total assists in his sophomore campaign makes him just the second player in school history to distribute 145-or more assists in each of his first two seasons on Main Street, and he ended the year ranked sixth in the MAAC and 105th in the nation in assists per game average. He also led the MAAC and ranked 26th in the country with his 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Molson, a 2018-19 Preseason All-MAAC Second Team choice and the MAAC’s 2018 Rookie of the Year, earned Preseason All-Big 4 Second Team honors after a stellar freshman season in 2017-18. Molson, who set the program record for points in a Canisius debut by a true freshman with 25 at Buffalo, ended his first campaign on Main Street ranked second in the MAAC among all newcomers with his 12.6 points per game scoring average. He was also good for 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season in 33 starts as the Griffs won 21 games and earned a share of the 2017-18 MAAC regular-season championship.
Joining Johnson and Molson on the Preseason All-Big 4 Second Team are Mavin Prochet and James Towns from Niagara and LaDarien Griffin from St. Bonaventure.
Canisius will officially open the 115th season in program history on Tuesday, Nov. 13, when the Blue and Gold travels to play at defending Patriot League champion Bucknell. The Griffs’ 2018-19 home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 17, against Albany, and the team’s first Big 4 game of the season will be Nov. 28 at St. Bonaventure.
Season tickets for the 2018-19 season are on sale now through the Canisius Ticket Office by calling (716) 888-TIXX, or online HERE.
2018-19 Preseason All-Big 4 Men’s Basketball Teams
First Team
* CJ Massinburg, Buffalo – Preseason Big 4 Player of the Year
* Nick Perkins, Buffalo
Jeremy Harris, Buffalo
* Isaiah Reese, Canisius
* Courtney Stockard, St. Bonaventure
Second Team
Malik Johnson, Canisius
Takal Molson, Canisius
Marvin Prochet, Niagara
James Towns, Niagara
LaDarien Griffin, St. Bonaventure
* denotes unanimous selection
