NEW YORK --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College forward Jonte Wallace has been named to the 2026-27 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Preseason Player to Watch list, as league officials announced the eight-member group on Thursday. 

In 22 games during his stellar rookie campaign, Wallace led the team with 13.5 points to go along with 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per contest, guiding the Cardinals to their best CUNYAC record since 2021-22. During conference play, Wallace increased his offensive output to 15.4 points and 3.2 assists, and netted double-digit points in 12 of 14 matchups. This stretch included a career-best 25 points and 12 rebounds in an 81-74 victory over Brooklyn College (Jan. 21). Among CUNYAC leaders, the Brooklyn native ranked highly in points (5th), rebounds (8th), assists (7th), and steals (3rd) per game. Wallace earned six CUNYAC Rookie of the Week honors before being named CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, marking York's third consecutive season receiving the award.. 

The coaches tab York for a sixth-place finish.  

2026-27 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

	Points (First-Place Votes)
1. Lehman College	47 (5)
2. CCNY	41 (3)
3. Brooklyn College	36
4. Baruch College	31
5. John Jay College	26
6. York College	19
7. Hunter College	17
8. Medgar Evers College	7

Defending champion Lehman College topped the charts with 47 points and five first-place votes, while CCNY collected 41 points and the other three first-place predictions. York received 19 points and finished in sixth.

The Cardinals' 14-game conference schedule commences with a home battle against Medgar Evers College on December 4.

The 2026-27 CUNYAC Championship will take place on February 20 (first round), February 23 (semifinals), and February 7 (finals), with the league champion receiving an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.

The Cardinals tip off the season November 7 with a non-conference battle at SUNY Old Westbury starting at 12 p.m. inside Clark Athletic Center.  

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