Lehigh University Athletics
Photo by: Tommy Herstich
10/1/2026 9:58:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Junior forward/center Hank Alvey has been named the Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, the league announced on Thursday morning. The Mountain Hawks, the defending league champions, were picked to finish in second place in the 2026-27 Preseason Patriot League Men's Basketball Poll.
Alvey improved greatly upon a solid first-year season, averaging 15.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, a league-best 1.8 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game as a sophomore in 2025-26. The Mapleton, Illinois native reached double-figures 23 times, scored 20+ points 13 times, and posted four double-doubles. Alvey's .624 field goal percentage ranked third in the Patriot League and 16th in all of NCAA Division I basketball. Alvey was named to the second team All-Patriot League, Patriot League All-Tournament Team, Patriot League All-Academic team, and received Patriot League Player of the Week honorable mention twice last season.
Lehigh earned its fourth Patriot League championship and third under the direction of Murray H. Goodman '48 head coach Brett Reed last season. The Mountain Hawks went 18-17 with an 11-7 mark in Patriot League play, good for the second seed in the Patriot League postseason. The Mountain Hawks defeated Boston University 74-60 in the league championship game before falling in the NCAA Tournament First Four to Prairie View A&M.
The Mountain Hawks will kick off the 2026-27 campaign on Monday, November 2 on the road at Saint Louis University before returning to Stabler Arena for the home opener on November 5 against Cornell. Single-game and season-ticket information for men's and women's basketball will be announced on LehighSports.com at a later date.
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
2026-27 Preseason Patriot League Men's Basketball Poll
1. American, 81 (9 first-place votes)
2. Lehigh, 72 (1)
T3. Colgate, 61
T3. Boston University, 61
5. Navy, 42
6. Bucknell, 39
7. Lafayette, 29
8. Holy Cross, 28
9. Loyola Maryland, 26
10. Army West Point, 11
2026-27 Preseason Patriot League Men's Basketball Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Hank Alvey, Lehigh, Jr., F/C
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Greg Jones, American, Sr., G
2026-27 Preseason Men's Basketball All-Patriot League Team
Madden Collins, American, So., G
Greg Jones, American, Sr., F
Kyrone Alexander, Boston University, Sr., G
Andrew Alekseyenko, Colgate, So., F
Hank Alvey, Lehigh, Jr., F/C
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Alvey improved greatly upon a solid first-year season, averaging 15.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, a league-best 1.8 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game as a sophomore in 2025-26. The Mapleton, Illinois native reached double-figures 23 times, scored 20+ points 13 times, and posted four double-doubles. Alvey's .624 field goal percentage ranked third in the Patriot League and 16th in all of NCAA Division I basketball. Alvey was named to the second team All-Patriot League, Patriot League All-Tournament Team, Patriot League All-Academic team, and received Patriot League Player of the Week honorable mention twice last season.
Lehigh earned its fourth Patriot League championship and third under the direction of Murray H. Goodman '48 head coach Brett Reed last season. The Mountain Hawks went 18-17 with an 11-7 mark in Patriot League play, good for the second seed in the Patriot League postseason. The Mountain Hawks defeated Boston University 74-60 in the league championship game before falling in the NCAA Tournament First Four to Prairie View A&M.
The Mountain Hawks will kick off the 2026-27 campaign on Monday, November 2 on the road at Saint Louis University before returning to Stabler Arena for the home opener on November 5 against Cornell. Single-game and season-ticket information for men's and women's basketball will be announced on LehighSports.com at a later date.
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
2026-27 Preseason Patriot League Men's Basketball Poll
1. American, 81 (9 first-place votes)
2. Lehigh, 72 (1)
T3. Colgate, 61
T3. Boston University, 61
5. Navy, 42
6. Bucknell, 39
7. Lafayette, 29
8. Holy Cross, 28
9. Loyola Maryland, 26
10. Army West Point, 11
2026-27 Preseason Patriot League Men's Basketball Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Hank Alvey, Lehigh, Jr., F/C
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Greg Jones, American, Sr., G
2026-27 Preseason Men's Basketball All-Patriot League Team
Madden Collins, American, So., G
Greg Jones, American, Sr., F
Kyrone Alexander, Boston University, Sr., G
Andrew Alekseyenko, Colgate, So., F
Hank Alvey, Lehigh, Jr., F/C
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Players Mentioned
F/C
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