PITTSBURGH — In the 2025 A-10 Preseason Poll released on Tuesday morning, VCU received 11 first-place votes and the number one spot in the rankings, with Saint Louis close in pursuit. This vote was extremely close, with the Rams edging out Saint Louis by a single point.
VCU has relatively little turnover on its roster. Still, they feature seven transfers, with three of them (Barry Evans, Jadrian Tracey, and Tyrell Ward) making the Preseason All-Conference Second Team and Ahmad Nowell making the third team.
Saint Louis finishes in second, returning a key player in Robbie Avila, who averaged 17.3 PPG last year for Billikens’ second-year head coach Josh Schertz. Avila was also named to the Preseason All-Conference First Team.
Rounding out the top three is Dayton, who received three first-place votes. The Flyers return two key players in Javon Bennett and Amael L’Etang. Bennett, a Preseason All-Conference First Teamer, averaged 11.6 points per game last season. L’Etang was a 2025 A-10 All-Rookie Member who is on the Second Team this preseason.
Led by Rafael Castro, George Washington takes the number four spot in the poll. Castro came on strong in conference play for the Revs with a team-leading 16.4 PPG in such games. They also snagged former Duquesne Duke Tre Dinkins III in the transfer portal. Christian Jones, Trey Autry, and Trey Moss are among the other important returning pieces for GW.
Drew Valentine and his Loyola Chicago squad come in at fifth in the poll, led by returning forward Miles Rubin. He averaged 9.6 PPG and led the Ramblers in boards with 5.5 per game.
George Mason lands in sixth after a big season last year that saw them reach the A-10 Championship game for the first time since joining the A-10 in 2013. Brayden O’Conner was named to the 2025 Preseason All-Conference First Team.
Despite the departure of former Head Coach Billy Lange, Saint Joseph’s ranks seventh, strengthened by the arrival of La Salle transfer Deuce Jones II. Jones has also found his way onto the 2025 Preseason All-Conference First team.
Following them is St. Bonaventure, a program that added seven transfers from the portal, notably former Golden Gopher Frank Mitchell. Dasante Bowen will come back for the Bonnies, as he will try to bounce back from a junior year that was marred by injuries.
Duquesne comes in 9th in the A-10 poll. They try to improve on their 8-10 A-10 record last season under second-year Head Coach Dru Joyce III.
Richmond, Davidson and Rhode Island are 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively, in the poll, with La Salle and Fordham wrapping things up in that order.
The A-10 conference schedule kicks off on December 30th with Duquesne and Davidson, and the other 12 teams kick things off on New Year’s Eve for the second-straight season.
2025 A-10 Preseason Poll Results:
1. VCU (11): 342
2. Saint Louis (11): 341
3. Dayton (3): 321
4. George Washington: 296
5. Loyola Chicago (2): 286
6. George Mason: 254
7. Saint Joseph’s: 195
8. St. Bonaventure: 185
9. Duquesne: 155
10. Richmond: 142
11. Davidson: 107
12. Rhode Island: 102
13. La Salle: 56
14. Fordham: 53
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Brayden O’Connor (GMU)
Javon Bennett (DAY)
Rafael Castro (GW)
Miles Rubin (LUC)
Deuce Jones II (SJU)
Robbie Avila (SLU)
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Amaël L’Etang (DAY)
Tre Dinkins III (GW)
Dasante Bowen (SBU)
Barry Evans (VCU)
Jadrian Tracey (VCU)
Tyrell Ward (VCU)
Preseason All-Conference Third Team
Keonte Jones (DAY)
Dejour Reeves (FOR)
Trey Autry (GW)
Christian Jones (GW)
Mike Walz (RICH)
Ahmad Nowell (VCU)
Preseason All-Defensive Team:
Javon Bennett (DAY)
Rafael Castro (GW)
Miles Rubin (LUC)
Justice Ajogbar (SJU)
Brandon Jennings (VCU)
Jack Morgan is a regular contributor for A-10 Talk, who is also on the Duquesne basketball beat. For more from him, follow him on X @imjackonthecall.
