By Jacob Plecker. NEW ORLEANS – The App State duo of CJ Huntley and Myles Tate were both named to the 15-man Preseason All-Sun Belt team, the league announced Monday. Huntley was named to the second team while Tate was a third-team selection.
For Huntley, it is the second consecutive season he has been named to the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference team, earning third-team recognition in 2023-24. Tate’s honor is his first career preseason award.
“This is great recognition for CJ and Myles,” head coach Dustin Kerns said. “We are excited that their hard work and dedication has shown. CJ has great habits and continues to make great progress in elevating his game. Myles has a strong work ethic and has really improved his body and strength. They both come from wonderful families, and we are thrilled for this acknowledgment for them both individually and for their families.”
Huntley, who returns for his fifth year at App State in 2024-25, comes into the season needing just 163 points to become the 37th member of App State’s 1,000-point club after averaging 7.5 points a game a year ago. He appeared in all 34 games last year and posted 10 games with at least 10 points, which included a career-high 22 points against Queens, a 10-point game against Auburn and All-American Johni Broome and a 16-point outing against Wake Forest in the NIT, which led the team.
Additionally, the Huntersville, N.C., native was a force on the defensive end for the Mountaineers, swatting away the 16th-most shots in the Sun Belt. He was also efficient with his offense, shooting a career-best 54 percent from the field.
Tate was dynamic in his first year with the Mountaineers, leading the team in both steals and assists in 2023-24. His 120 assists marked the fifth-most in the Sun Belt last season while his ability to protect the basketball helped him to the fourth-best assist/turnover ratio (1.9) in the conference. Tate was one of just five Sun Belt players with 120 assists a season ago.
On top of his passing prowess, the Spartanburg, S.C., native stepped up in clutch time on multiple occasions last season. His 18 points off the bench against Auburn in front of a sold-out, nationally televised Holmes Center led the team, with his deep three with 27 seconds left to play sealing the deal. He also scored a career-best 25 points at Marshall last February in another nationally televised contest.
App State’s two Preseason All-Sun Belt selections mark the second consecutive year that the Mountaineers have seen two players garner preseason recognition. It’s the third time under Kerns that two players have received preseason honors, with the other time coming prior to the 2019-20 season.
The Mountaineers will make their season and home debut on Monday, Nov. 4 against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge. Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Season tickets for the 2024-25 home schedule are on sale now and can be purchased here. Single-game tickets are set to go on sale later in the fall.
2024 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Kobe Julien, Arkansas State
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
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- Mark Freeman, James Madison
- Kobe Julien, Arkansas State
- Hosana Kitenge, Louisiana
- Nate Martin, Marshall
- Myles Rigsby, Troy
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
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- Obinna Anochili-Killen, Marshall
- Tayton Conerway, Troy
- CJ Huntley, App State
- Toneari Lane, Georgia State
- Taryn Todd, Arkansas State
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
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- Xavier Brown, James Madison
- Andre Curbelo, Southern Miss
- Tyrel Morgan, Texas State
- Izaiyah Nelson, Arkansas State
- Myles Tate, App State
2024 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
- Arkansas State (12) – 193
- James Madison (1) – 170
- Troy (1) – 155
- Louisiana – 144
- Southern Miss – 133
- App State – 122
- Texas State – 89
- Georgia Southern – 85
- Old Dominion – 85
- Marshall – 79
- South Alabama – 78
- Georgia State – 75
- Coastal Carolina – 34
- ULM – 28
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
