HADDONFIELD, N.J. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Men's Basketball All-Conference teams and major awards on Tuesday. The All-Conference teams are voted on by the league's head coaches.

Going back-to-back, Donte Dupriest was named the Player of the Year for a second consecutive season. The Neumann Knight averaged the second-most points this season across conference competitors with 19.6 per game, scoring 470 total points, the conference best. His historical .596 field goal percentage is fourth-best in conference history. The senior also totaled 262 rebounds, the best in the conference and a second-best all-time AEC mark. Through 24 games, Dupriest went 103-for-151 from the line, all while playing the most minutes in the conference, clocking a total of 822 throughout his senior campaign.

Gwynedd Mercy’s D.J. Johnson received the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year award, leading the Griffins from the backcourt. The guard, who was tabbed as Rookie of the Year in 2023, concluded his senior campaign by sitting atop the conference in steals, taking away the ball 63 times, for an average of 2.7 per game, sixth-best in conference history. He played 681 regular season minutes, scoring 317 points, an average of 13.8 per game. The senior also pulled down 136 rebounds, 105 of which were defensive, all while averaging the third-most assists per game, with 3.3. After coming third in the preseason poll, Johnson and Co. went 11-3 in conference play to earn the second seed in postseason play, alongside the rights to host a semifinal match.

Kurt Thomas of Pratt received Rookie of the Year honors after a strong freshman outing. He averaged 13.2 points, 10th most in the conference, while going 79-for-123 from the line. The freshman also blocked 24 shots, a mark that places him fifth-best in the conference, adding 36 steals to his statline.

Patrick Bean, a sophomore from Gwynedd Mercy, took home the Atlantic East Elite Scholar Athlete Award. This honor is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA competing at the finals site at each of the Atlantic East’s championships. Bean  is majoring in Criminal Justic and holds a 3.67 GPA. Full criteria can be found here.

The Coaching Staff of the Year was awarded to Centenary, who are led by Head Coach Christopher LaBelle. The Cyclones posted an 11-14 record, going 9-5 in conference play to earn the third seed in postseason play. LaBelle, in his second year at the helm, also mentored one First Team All-Conference selection this season. 

2026 Atlantic East Men’s Basketball All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Donte Dupriest, Neumann
Defensive Player of the Year: D.J. Johnson, Gwynedd Mercy
Rookie of the Year: Kurt Thomas, Pratt
Elite Scholar Athlete Award: Patrick Bean, Gwynedd Mercy
Coaching Staff of the Year: Centenary

First Team
Donte Dupriest, Neumann, Sr.
DJ Earl, Neumann, Sr.
D.J. Johnson, Gwynedd Mercy, Sr.
AJ McClary, Marymount, So.
Kenneth Rankin, Centenary, Jr

Second Team
Dylan Crews, Immaculata, 5th Year
Dylan Harris, Gwynedd Mercy, 5th Year
CJ Highsmith Jr., Marymount, Jr.
Collin Himmelberg, Marywood, Sr.
Reuben McEachern, Marymount, Jr.
Tye-Rell Monroe, Saint Elizabeth, Sr.

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