EDISON, NJ - Manhattan College senior guard Luis Flores has been chosen as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, following a vote of the MAAC's 10 head coaches.

Joining Flores on the first team is Fairfield junior forward Deng Gai, Niagara junior forward Juan Mendez, Rider junior guard Jerry Johnson and Saint Peter's sophomore guard Keydren Clark.

Flores, a two-time member of the All-MAAC First Team, earned the Pepsi MAAC Player of the Year Award last season after averaging 24.6 points per game. He led the Jaspers to a 23-7 overall record and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995.

Gai, a First Team All-MAAC choice last season, averaged 12.8 points per game last season while grabbing 6.8 boards a night for the Stags. He also led the league in blocks (3.8 bpg), en route to earning the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year award for the second year in a row.

Mendez, an All-MAAC performer and a member of the 2003 All-MAAC Tournament Team, led the conference in rebounding with 9.0 caroms per game while averaging 18.4 points an outing for the Purple Eagles.

Johnson, an All-MAAC First Team selection, averaged 18.3 points and 3.2 assists per contest for the Broncs. Additionally, Johnson finished third in the MAAC in made three-point field goals with 66.

Clark, the 2003 HSBC MAAC Rookie of the Year, averaged 24.9 points, ranking first in the MAAC and sixth in the nation in scoring. Additionally, he made a league-best 101 three-pointers last season, becoming the fifth player in MAAC history to top 100 treys in a season.

The preseason second and third teams are listed below.

2003-2004 Preseason All-MAAC Teams

First TeamDeng Gai, Fairfield           Jr.  F  6-9  SudanLuis Flores, Manhattan        Sr.  G  6-2  New York, NYJuan Mendez, Niagara          Jr.  F  6-8  Montreal, QuebecJerry Johnson, Rider          Jr.  G  6-0  Lancaster, PAKeydren Clark, Saint Peter's  So.  G  6-8  New York, NYSecond TeamGreg Jenkins, Iona          Sr.  F/C  6-9   Mount Vernon, NYDavid Holmes, Manhattan     Sr.  F    6-7   Washington, DCTremmell Darden, Niagara    Sr.  G    6-4   Las Vegas, NVJames Reaves, Niagara       Sr.  F    6-10  Rochester, NYMichael Haddix, Siena       So.  F    6-6   Vineland, NJThird TeamToby Foster, Canisius     Sr.  F  6-6   Candor, NYSteve Smith, Iona         Sr.  F  6-5   New Castle, DEDeShaun Williams, Iona    Sr.  G  6-3   Paterson, NJBrandon Ellerbee, Marist  Jr.  G  5-11  Plano, TXTommy Mitchell, Siena     Jr.  G  6-3   Tyler, TX

2003-2004 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year:
Luis Flores, Manhattan