Since third-year head coach Keith Kenney has taken over the helm of the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball program, the team has improved each season with last year's team on the cusp of making the playoffs for the first time in six years. The Hawks were positioned with four games left to grab one of the last spots, but a tough final weekend, coupled with a miraculous run by conference opposition knocked them out of contention, as they finished 9-9 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action.
 
Heading into the 2019-2020 campaign, Kenney on paper brings in his most talented group that not only has the ability to make the postseason, but contend for the program's first ever SUNYAC championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament. 
"Last spring we said all the right things about learning from it, but I do think they have learned from that experience," Kenney said. "As bad as it was in the moment, it might be helpful for this season, but that is to be determined. I would say this group is supremely motivated and focused, more than the other year's I have coached here."
 
SUNY New Paltz returns its top two leading scorers from last season in seniors Tristan Wissemann (14.9 points per game) and Scott Reisert (11.5 ppg), while also bringing back starting point guard Jake Passaretti for his junior season. The group then brought in a highly touted incoming class that can make an immediate impact. 
 
"Tristan was our leading scorer last year and he has worked hard to where he has improved his game and can take on that role, but there are three or four guys that have all gotten better and an impact transfer that I think we have more guys that can score," Kenney said. "I think we'll be well-rounded and I think we will be able to have different leading scorers. I think Jake has really improved his game and has taken on more of a bigger role in our offense."
 
Richard Alternord, a junior transfer from Division II Long Island University-CW Post, will immediately be inserted into the lineup. He has the versatility to play both guard and forward positions and is a difference maker on both sides of the ball. Along with Alternord, the Hawks bring in four freshmen: RJ Meyers-Turner, Tyreik Frazier, Aaron Satin and Rylan Blondo, who each have the opportunity to see early minutes.
 
Forwards Isaiah Bien-Aise and Brandon Scott also return for SUNY New Paltz and will look to build off promising freshmen campaigns. The two combined for 185 points and 132 rebounds, with both playing in all 25 games last season. "I think that is what I've liked so far, our newcomers — we have four freshmen and one transfer — I have been really happy with their impact so far," Kenney said. "We're a much deeper team because of them, and I would say each returner has improved their game or is in better condition. Having this group I think has motivated everyone to get better individually prior the season."
 
What they did lose last year from their three seniors was a lock down perimeter defender in Cory Garcia, a spot-up shooter in Nick Paquette and an all-around intangibles player in Paddy Parr, who frequently totaled double-figure rebound totals to go along with his excellent passing. Garcia and Parr were two of the top-three assist leaders for the Hawks last season combining for 171 of the team's 392 assists.
 
"With our three seniors they each had something that they did really, really well. Cory, I don't think we'll ever replace him as a defender. He was our best defender, but we have more guys that can defend. I think Rich Altenord, our transfer, can be that guy that defends the other team's best player," Kenney said. "I am nervous about the ball movement and making sure that Cory and Paddy's contributions as passers gets filled and then we lose Nick's shooting. We are a deeper team, but we have to fill those holes with a few different guys and that is what I like about this team. We are very versatile. I think we have a lot of guys that can do many things."
 
SUNY New Paltz opens up the season Nov. 9 at home in the Hawk Center against Baruch for a 3 p.m. game. They then will face Farmingdale, The Sage Colleges and SUNY Maritime before entering SUNYAC play Dec. 6 against SUNY Potsdam. 

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