University at Albany coach Will Brown makes his opening remarks on Monday about the departures of Gerardo Suero and Logan Aronhalt.




Gerardo Suero talks about his decision

Logan Aronhalt. talks about his decision.

ALBANY - What was expected to be a big loss for the University at Albany basketball team got even worse on Monday afternoon.

Gerardo Suero announced his intentions to put his name into the NBA Draft on Monday, which was expected after that news broke late Friday.

What wasn't expected was that Logan Aronhalt is leaving the Great Danes as well.

Aronhalt will leave to further his education, looking for a master's degree in a physical therapy field. UAlbany's second leading scorer said it was the most difficult decision of his life to leave his teammates, but that he needed to do it.

Aronhalt expects to play next season and will be eligible at the Division I level, if he selects a master's program which UAlbany does not offer.

Suero and Aronhalt were two of the top seven scores in the America East Conference last season. Suero averaged a league-best 21.5 points per game, good for Top 10 in the entire country. Aronhalt, who struggled through some injuries, still managed to average 13.8 points per game.

Suero isn't on any draft rader, but he is certaily a dynamic offensive player. 

"I am looking to pursue a professional career right now in my life whether it be in the NBA or overseas," Suero said, in a release by the school. "I just wanted to thank coach (Will Brown) for everything he has taught me up to this point. He was the one who was recruiting me when everyone else was not. I also want to thank the coaching staff and the players, especially, for helping get to where I am right now."

The departure of the two players leaves the Great Danes in a world of hurt offensively, as they combined for nearly 49 percent of the team's offense (35.3-72.1) throughout the season.

UAlbany does have three starters, Mike Black, Luke Devlin and Blake Metcalf.

The Record

ALBANY - Gerardo Suero burst onto the scene this past season at the University at Albany.

Suero, a junior college transfer, finished seventh in the nation in scoring (21.5 ppg) in 2011-12. It seemed like he would only get better in his second season for the Great Danes.

That will not happen.

Suero confirmed on twitter, on Friday, his 23rd birthday, that he will be leaving the program.

Suero set the program record for points in a single-season, finishing with 689 points and was also named a first team All-America East conference selection.

The Great Danes finished 19-15, losing to Stony Brook in the America East semifinals.

Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro talks about the team's season at the year-end banquet on Thursday.



Siena senior Kyle Downey talks at the year-end banquet.

Siena holds a press conference on Thursday to introduce new women's basketball coach Ali Jaques.

LOUDONVILLE — The Siena women’s basketball program will begin a new era this afternoon.

Just five weeks after longtime coach Gina Castelli and the school parted ways, Siena is set to announce the hiring of Ali Jaques as the eighth women’s coach in program history, this afternoon.

Jaques leaves Northwestern, where she was the associate head coach. The New Jersey native has also made coaching stops at Rider, Sacred Heart, Furman, Dayton and George Washington.

At Dayton, she assisted under former Siena coach Jim Jabir (1987-90), who was the coach that preceded Castelli in Loudonville.

Jaques played Division III basketball at New York University and was part of the 1997 national championship team.

Castelli had just finished her 22nd season at the helm, leading the Saints to a 12-17 record, but making it to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals, before losing to Fairfield. On March 8, it was announced that the school and Castelli had agreed to move in a new direction. 

Castelli finished her career with a 336-296 record, won one MAAC tournament title (2001) and was named MAAC coach of the year five times.

Athletic Director John D’Argenio will meet with the media today to discuss the hiring of Jaques.

On Tuesday, Siena freshman Evan Hymes was named to the CollegeInsider.com's All-American team.

Hymes had a terrific season for the Saints this year, after being thrust into the starting role once Rakeem Brookins went down with a season-ending injury.

Hymes was one of just 25 freshmen named to the team and one of only three MAAC players joining Marist's Chavaughn Lewis and Niagara's Juan'ya Green. Following the season, Hymes was also named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.