BY CODY LINN
Associate Director for Strategic Communications
NEW ORLEANS – Marshall Men’s Basketball senior Nate Martin and fifth-year Obinna Anochili-Killen were each honored on Monday with 2024-25 Sun Belt Preseason Conference honors with the league announcing its All-Preseason Teams and Preseason Coaches Poll.
Martin earned a first-team nod with Anochili-Killen being named to the second-team.
“Really proud and happy for both Nate and Obinna,” Herd Men’s Basketball Head Coach Cornelius Jackson said. “It’s an honor to have two players named to the preseason all-conference teams. They both have proven their skill, determination and leadership, and both are very deserving. Their inclusion reflects not only their talent, but their potential to help elevate our team as the season unfolds.”
Martin played in and started all 33 of Marshall’s games averaging a double-double with 10.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and rejecting a team-high 44 blocks. The Houston, Texas, native registered 16 double-doubles in 2023-24 with 19 double-figure scoring games, including a season-high 24 points against Southern Miss (Jan. 27), and 22 double-figure rebounding efforts with a season-high 16 against James Madison (Feb. 21).
A 2023-24 NABC All-District 23 Second-Team honoree, Anochili-Killen played in and started 30 games averaging 14.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The native of Lagos, Nigeria, scored 10 or more points in 22 games with eight contests of 20 or more, including a season-high 30 points against Coastal Carolina (Feb. 3), to go with four double-figure rebounding efforts and three double-doubles.
In the coaches poll, The Herd earned 79 points and was picked to finish 10th in the conference.
“We understand that respect isn’t given, it’s earned,” Coach Jackson said. “We know the road ahead won’t be easy, but we’re determined to exceed expectations and show that we’re capable of far more than anyone anticipates.”
Marshall is set to kick off the 2024-25 campaign on October 27 with its Fans First contest against Pikeville at 4 p.m. in The Cam.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Kobe Julien, Arkansas State [R-SR | F | Baton Rouge, La.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Mark Freeman, James Madison [R-SR | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Kobe Julien, Arkansas State [R-SR | F | Baton Rouge, La.]
Hosana Kitenge, Louisiana [SR | F | Crawley, England]
Nate Martin, Marshall [SR | F | Houston, Texas]
Myles Rigsby, Troy [SO | F | Fort Worth, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Obinna Anochili-Killen, Marshall [5th Yr. | F | Lagos, Nigeria]
Tayton Conerway, Troy [SR | G | Burleson, Texas]
C.J. Huntley, App State [GR | F | Huntersville, N.C.]
Toneari Lane, Georgia State [SR | G | Atlanta, Ga.]
Taryn Todd, Arkansas State [SR | G | Ontario, Canada]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Xavier Brown, James Madison [JR | G | Williamsburg, Va.]
Andre Curbelo, Southern Miss [GR | G | Vega Baja, Puerto Rico]
Tyrel Morgan, Texas State [GR | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Izaiyah Nelson, Arkansas State [JR | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Myles Tate, App State [SR | G | Spartanburg, S.C.]
2024 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Arkansas State (12) – 193
2. James Madison (1) – 170
3. Troy (1) – 155
4. Louisiana – 144
5. Southern Miss – 133
6. App State – 122
7. Texas State – 89
T8. Georgia Southern – 85
T8. Old Dominion – 85
10. Marshall – 79
11. South Alabama – 78
12. Georgia State – 75
13. Coastal Carolina – 34
14. ULM – 28
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
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