Rochester Men's and Women's Basketball Honored with Vaden Cup Preseason Honors
Five players from Rochester's men's and women's Bobcats basketball teams earned preseason Vaden Cup honors.
After a successful inaugural 2020-21 season of the Vaden Cup in men’s and women’s basketball – which saw B&SC Rochester capture the women’s championship and B&SC Buffalo take home the men’s title – the 2021-22 season is slated to begin in just two weeks with all teams, coaches and players looking to compete for the Cup.
Sam Dorissaint and Kat Kanhoye of Bryant & Stratton Buffalo were selected as the 2021-22 Vaden Cup Preseason Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players of the Year, the conference announced on Friday. The conference also announced its Preseason First and Second All-Conference Teams as well. All awards were voted on by coaches and administration.
Dorissaint, a junior, who was selected as the Vaden Cup Tournament Most Valuable Player last season, is looking to build upon what was a ultra-impressive 2020-21 campaign. He led Buffalo in scoring (14.2), blocks per game (1.2), and three point percentage (43.6), while also ranking third in rebounds per game (6.3), helping lead the Bobcats to a 16-5 overall record. In the Vaden Cup Championship game against Syracuse, Dorissaint dominated with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting 10-13 from the floor and 3-4 from three point range, leading Buffalo to a thrilling 91-89 win.
Kanhoye joins Buffalo this season after transferring from Rochester and helping lead her team to a Vaden Cup Title. The sophomore scored 22 in a come-from-behind win over Buffalo in the Championship. She scored 15 of her 22 in the fourth quarter and went 5-6 from beyond the arc. For the year, she averaged 14.8 points per game and shot 50 percent from beyond the arc.
The Preseason All-Conference First and Second Teams were also announced on Friday and highlights the numerous tremendous players the Vaden Cup has to offer. On the men’s side, it is highlighted by two selections from Buffalo, two from Syracuse and one from Albany. Sophomore’s Davon Ware and Eric Waters from Buffalo were voted to the First Team. Jameel Abdallah and Tyler Gadson were voted from Syracuse. And Jamil Hood, Jr. was voted from Albany. Ware and Abdallah were named to the Vaden Cup All-Tournament Team last season.
The Second Team featured selections from all four schools with Rochester placing two on the team and Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany each placing one. Dynamic Guards Marcus Zappia and Victor Caldwell were selected from Rochester. Marcellus Cooper was selected from Buffalo. Khallyn LaFond was selected from Albany. And big man Richard Jenkins was selected from Syracuse.
The women’s First Team features two selections from Rochester, two from Buffalo, and one from Syracuse. Last season’s Vaden Cup Tournament MVP Dorian Sharp highlights the First Team from Rochester. Joining her from Rochester is Kahijah Jones. Julie Trowers and Alissa Johnson were voted from Buffalo. And newcomer Jehiah Cook rounds out the team from Syracuse.
The second team features three selections from Syracuse, and one each from Rochester and Buffalo. Suliat Afolabi, Traynise Delaney, and Eunice Silong all were voted in from Syracuse. Buffalo’s Nia Caver and Rochester’s Myjoi Adams round out the team.
The 2022 Vaden Cup is set for February 26th and 27th.