JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The United Athletic Conference has announced the Preseason Men’s Basketball Awards with Central Arkansas at the top of the Coaches Poll.
Austin Peay’s Rashaud Marshall was voted as the Preseason Player of the Year following a Second Team All-ASUN performance last season. The senior forward averaged 27.2 points per game in the Govs final five games of the season last year while averaging 16.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 season.
The Bears were the coach’s favorite in the poll with four first-place votes. Central Arkansas finished with a 22-12 overall record while going 15-3 in ASUN play last, including winning eight of the team’s final nine games of the regular season. John Shulman’s crew played their way into the ASUN Championship game.
Austin Peay checked in at No. 2 in the coaches poll after the Govs earned a share of the ASUN Regular Season title with Central Arkansas last season. The Govs strung together a 10-game winning streak (Jan. 22 - Feb. 21) while making an appearance in the ASUN Tournament Semifinals.
Little Rock rounds out the top three in the poll with three first place votes. The Trojans are coming off a tough Ohio Valley Conference schedule while welcoming new head coach, Travis Ford to lead the program.
UAC Preseason Player of the Year: Rashaud Marshall, Austin Peay
2026-27 Preseason All-UAC Team
Noah Bolanga, Abilene Christian
Zyree Collins, Austin Peay
Rashaud Marshall, Austin Peay
Tucker Anderson, Central Arkansas
Ty Robinson, Central Arkansas
Aaron Clark, Little Rock
Bradyn Hubbard, Little Rock
Jah’Likai King, Little Rock
Caleb Blackwell, Tarleton State
Chas Lewless, West Georgia
2026-27 UAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Arkansas (4)
2. Austin Peay (2)
3. Little Rock (3)
4. Tarleton State
5. UT Arlington
6. EKU
7. Abilene Christian
T8. North Alabama
T8. West Georgia
General media inquiries should be directed to:
Claire Johnson, Senior Director, Strategic Communications & Content
Unisun Sports / claire.johnson@unisunsports.com
About the United Athletic Conference
The newly rebranded United Athletic Conference (UAC) is a competitive NCAA Division I conference sponsoring sixteen (16) sports and championships with nine (9) full member institutions including Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas), the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.), Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, Tenn.), the University of Central Arkansas (Conway, Ark.), Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, Ky.), the University of North Alabama (Florence, Ala.), Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas), the University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, Texas), and the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, Ga.) with the University of West Florida (Pensacola, Fla.) as an affiliate member in football.