ATLANTA, Ga. – Benedict College junior guard Brandon Beidleman has been named the 2022-23 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, while the Tigers were picked to finish second in the SIAC East Division, announced Thursday by the league office.
 
Beildleman returns to the Benedict Tigers for his third season. He collected 35 steals and averaged 2.3 rebounds per game to lead Benedict to a 22-7 overall record (14-3 SIAC record) last season and a berth in the 2022 SIAC Championship game. The Charlotte, N.C. native also averaged 4.0 points per game shooting 84.2 percent from the free-throw line. Beildleman was also named to the SIAC Preseason All-Conference second team.
 
The preseason honors and predicted order of finish are voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
Morehouse was picked to win the SIAC East Division, with Benedict second. Savannah State, which won the SIAC title last year, is picked to finish third. Miles College, the 2019 and 2020 SIAC Champions, were picked to win the West Division.
 
Fort Valley State sophomore forward K.J. Doucett was voted the 2022 SIAC Preseason Player of the Year.
 
Preseason Superlative Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
K.J. Doucett, Fort Valley State
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Brandon Beildleman, Benedict
 
Men's Basketball Preseason Rankings by Division
East Division

1. Morehouse
2. Benedict
3. Savannah State
4. Albany State
5. Fort Valley State
6. Clark Atlanta
7. Allen
8. Edward Waters

 
West Division

1. Miles
2. Tuskegee
3. LeMoyne-Owen
4. Kentucky State
5. Central State
6. Lane
7. Spring Hill

 

2022-23 SIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Team
First Team
Yasim Hooker*	Miles	Senior	Guard	Newark, NJ
Jordan Simpson*	Albany State	Senior	Forward	Pasadena, CA
Malik Parker*	Albany State	Senior	Guard	Chicago, IL
Kabamba Beril*	Spring Hill	Sophomore	Forward	Clearwater, FL
K.J. Doucett	Fort Valley State	Sophomore	Forward	Austell, GA

 
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Second Team
Montrell Jacobs	Kentucky State	Senior	Guard	Milwaukee, WI
Gregg Boyd	Tuskegee	R-Senior	Guard	Seat Pleasant, MD
Mykayle Carter	Miles	Junior	Forward	Lauderhill, FL
Marcus Scott	Central State	Junior	Guard	Hinesville, GA
Brandon Beidleman	Benedict	Junior	Guard	Charlotte, N.C.

 
*Indicates returner for 2021-22 SIAC All-Conference Team