Aug. 31, 2016 LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Siena Basketball Head Coach Jimmy Patsos has announced the addition of three newcomers to the Saints' 2016-17 roster. Freshmen Thomas Huerter, Jr. and Ahsante Shivers and junior transfer Kevin Degnan have all officially joined the program.
Huerter, Jr., Shivers and Degnan join incoming freshmen Sammy Friday and Khalil Richard, who both signed earlier, as newcomers on Siena's now 14-member 2016-17 squad. Degnan, who matriculates to Siena from Fairfield University, will sit out the 2016-17 season per NCAA transfer regulations and then have two years of eligibility remaining.
A local product from nearby Clifton Park, N.Y., Huerter starred at Shenendehowa before playing a postgraduate year at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut this past season. As a high school senior, the 6'7" forward led Shen to a perfect 25-0 record and the school's first NYSPHSAA Class AA State Championship in 28 years. Huerter was named to the Class AA All-Tournament Team after scoring 22 points and pulling down seven rebounds in the championship game against Brentwood. He also earned Times Union Second Team All-Star and NYSSWA Class AA Seventh Team All-State accolades after scoring in double figures 20 times including seven 20-point efforts during a breakout 2014-15 campaign. Huerter, who played his AAU basketball for the Albany City Rocks, is the namesake of his father, Tom Huerter '91, who played from 1987-91 for Siena and was a key member of the 1988-89 team which upset Stanford in the NCAA Tournament.
"Thomas had a great summer and we're looking forward to him joining us," said Patsos. "He knows his role, and fits well within the team. It's great to have someone who is both local and comes from a very successful winning program (Shenendehowa) which is one of the best in the state."
Shivers continues a long line of highly touted Maryland prospects to matriculate to Siena under Patsos, and becomes the sixth member from the state on the Saints' 2016-17 roster. The powerful 6'4" wing from Seat Pleasant, Maryland graduated from Clinton Christian, before spending a postgraduate year at Mt. Zion Prep in Baltimore last season which he led to a 30-5 record. Shivers averaged 15.8 points during his senior season at Clinton Christian, and competed with his team in the first-ever LeBron James Classic. He played his AAU basketball for DC Assault.
"We're really excited to have Sante," noted Patsos. "He's a big wing who gives us some depth. This is an important preseason for him, and we're excited to see what he can do. Sante really wanted to be here and we're pleased to have him."
Degnan appeared in 45 games over his two seasons at MAAC foe Fairfield, averaging 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.9 minutes of action. The 6'9" forward from Pearl River, New York shot 48.4% from the field and a team-high 44.8% (13-29) from three-point range, while averaging 3.1 points in 7.3 minutes last season for a Stags squad which won 19 games and advanced to the CIT. Degnan averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds as a high school senior at Pearl River where he was named Section I's "Mr. Basketball" by the Lower Hudson Basketball Coaches Association in addition to being tabbed an All-County honoree.
"This is a great year for Kevin to get better while he sits out this season," commented Patsos. "We look forward to the two years he will have with us following next season."
Huerter, Jr., Shivers and Degnan join a Siena squad which posted a 21-13 overall record last season including a 13-7 mark in the MAAC. The Saints return their top-five scorers from that team which recorded the program's most victories in six years, and advanced to the College Basketball Invitational.
