The Colonial Athletic Association saw some conference realignment early in the decade. VCU and George Mason left after making Final Four runs for the league. However, new teams have stepped up as the conference creates a new identity. There have been some playmakers here over the last ten years.
Colonial Athletic Association 2010s All-Decade Team
Starters
Guard – Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra
Justin Wright-Foreman finished his career at Hofstra after the 2018-19 season. He won back-to-back player of the year awards. He was also twice an honorable mention for the AP All-American team. Wright-Foreman finished second on the school’s career scoring list and third in conference history. Furthermore, he broke the school and conference single-season points record as a senior.
Wright-Foreman averaged 18.6 points and 2.1 assists per game for his career. He scored in double-figures in 88 straight games to end his career. He was the type of player that, once he got in the zone, it was tough to stop him. While he won two regular-season titles for the Pride, he never got to play in the NCAA Tournament.
Guard – Marcus Thornton, William & Mary
Marcus Thornton was a member of the Tribe from 2011-15. He was the player of the year in 2015, the first for William & Mary as a CAA member. He finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer and also led in five other statistical categories. Thornton is the only player in school history to score 500 or more points in three seasons.
For his career, Thornton averaged 17.1 points and 2.4 assists per game. He also shot 40.2 percent for his career from three. He finished in the top six in CAA history in points, made threes, and points produced. Thornton helped the Tribe achieve a four-way tie for the regular-season title in 2015, ending up in the NIT.
Guard – Juan’ya Green, Hofstra
Juan’ya Green played for Hofstra for two seasons after transferring from Niagara. He was the Colonial Athletic Association’s player of the year in 2016. He is one of four players in NCAA history to score 1,000 points at two different schools. Green’s 243 assists in 2016 broke the single-season school record. He also had the Pride’s first triple-double in school history in 2015.
Green averaged 17.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in his two seasons at Hofstra. He is the NCAA’s all-time leader in total minutes played (5,002). In both seasons in the CAA, Green led the league in made free throws and assists. He sits first in conference history in assist percentage and eighth in NCAA history in points produced. Green helped Hofstra win one regular-season title, appearing in the NIT.
Forward – Jerrelle Benimon, Towson
Jerrelle Benimon is another transfer to the league, coming to Towson from Georgetown. He made the most of his two seasons as a Tiger, winning player of the year both times. He was also an AP All-American honorable mention in 2013. Benimon supplied Towson with its first triple-double in school history during his tenure.
He averaged 18 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in his two CAA seasons. Benimon led the NCAA in defensive rebounds for the 2013-14 season. He also finished in the top ten in five CAA career advanced metrics categories. His only postseason appearance was in the CIT. However, Benimon was a major key in helping Towson go from one win to 18 wins in his first season in Baltimore.
Center – Nathan Knight, William & Mary
Nathan Knight is the first recent current player on the team, having just finished his career this past season. Knight captured the player and defensive player of the year awards for the most recent season, the second player to do so in league history. He was a finalist for the Center of the Year award twice and was also named Mid-Major Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season.
Knight averaged 17.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks for his career. He finished his career second all-time on William & Mary’s points and blocks lists. He is top five all-time in Colonial Athletic Association history in made two-point field goals and made free throws. Knight owns the league’s top all-time player efficiency rating, which is also good enough for tenth-best in NCAA history. He will be a sleeper to watch for in this year’s NBA Draft.
Bench
Guard – Grant Riller, College of Charleston
Grant Riller joins Knight as the other most recent player on the all-decade team. He was a three-time member of the CAA’s first-team. Like a few others on this team, he had Charleston’s first triple-double in school history earlier this season. Riller finished second in school history in points, also good enough for third in league history.
Riller averaged 18.7 points and 2.8 assists per game for his career. He leads the Colonial Athletic Association’s all-time lists for made field goals, points produced, and offensive win shares. Riller helped the Cougars win one regular-season title while appearing in NCAA Tournament and one NIT.
Guard – Vasa Pusica, Northeastern
Vasa Pusica played for Northeastern from 2017-19 after transferring from San Diego. The Serbian appeared on the CAA’s first-team in both years in the league. He was also the conference tournament’s most valuable player in 2019.
For his Northeastern career, Pusica averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He was also a 41.4 percent career three-point shooter as a Husky. Pusica ended his CAA tenure eighth in assist percentage. He helped the Huskies win one regular-season title and make one NCAA appearance.
Guard – Devon Saddler, Delaware
Devon Saddler played for the Blue Hens from 2010-14. He made the CAA’s first-team twice while capturing rookie of the year in 2011. He finished his time in Newark as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
Saddler averaged 17.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game for his career. He finished in the top ten in Colonial Athletic Association history in points, made field goals, and made free throws. He is also second all-time in points produced. Saddler led the Blue Hens to a regular-season title and an NCAA Tournament appearance as a senior in 2014.
Forward – Keith Rendleman, UNC Wilmington
Keith Rendleman played three seasons during this decade for the Seahawks. He made the conference’s first-team twice during that time. He sits third on the league’s all-time list in offensive rebounds, also 16th best in NCAA history.
Rendleman averaged 12.3 points and 8.6 rebounds for his career. He was also a 53.9 percent career shooter. He sits in the top-seven in conference history for the other two rebounding categories. Rendleman led the CAA in player efficiency rating in 2013. During his career, he was the lone bright spot for an otherwise ugly period of UNCW basketball.
Forward – Devontae Cacok, UNC Wilmington
Devontae Cacok helps UNC Wilmington take up both big man spots on the bench for this team. He was a two-time member of the Colonial Athletic Association’s first-team. Cacok won defensive player of the year in 2017, the second Seahawk to do so. He also shot 80 percent (5.3-6.6) from the field that year, setting a new NCAA single-season record.
For his career, Cacok averaged 12.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He also shot 63.9 percent from the field, shooting exclusively from inside the arc. He leads the CAA in career shooting percentage and offensive rebounds. Cacok also sits first or second in each career rebounding metric. He helped the Seahawks capture two regular-season titles and make two NCAA appearances.
Main Photo
