NEC Player of the Week: Teshaun Steele, New Haven
NEC Rookie of the Week: Leandro Gysel, Le Moyne
Previous NEC Releases: Preseason Poll Release
INFLUXER/NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Teshaun Steele, New Haven
Forward, Sophomore, 6-7, Worcester, MA/Darrow School
Last Week’s Stats: 16.5 ppg, 58.1 FG% (13-of-22), 100.0 3PFG% (3-of-3), 80.0 FT% (4-of-5), 6.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg
New Haven forward Teshaun Steele opened the 2026-27 campaign in a big way, earning the league’s first NEC/Influxer Player of the Week honor of the season after delivering a league-best 16.5 points per game on sizzling 59.1 percent shooting from the field (13-of-22). The sophomore stuffed the stat sheet with 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per contest, turning in back-to-back impressive performances against Power Four competitors. Steele poured in 18 points at Syracuse on Opening Night before following that outing with 16 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three assists at Rutgers. Steele was a one-time NEC Rookie of the Week and an All-NEC All-Rookie Team selection for the Chargers last season.
INFLUXER/NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Leandro Gysel, Le Moyne
Guard, Freshman, 6-2, 190 lbs., Lausanne, Switzerland/Gymnase de Chamblandes
Last Week’s Stats: 5.0 ppg, 5.5 apg
Le Moyne guard Leandro Gysel made an impressive first impression on the collegiate stage, earning the first NEC/Influxer Rookie of the Week award of the 2026-27 campaign after facing a challenging opening week against Power Four opponents Nebraska and Creighton. The rookie showcased playmaking ability and ability to create opportunities for teammates right out of the gate, dishing out five assists in his debut against the Cornhuskers on Monday. On Thursday against the Blue Jays, Gysel turned in an eight-point, six-assist, one-steal performance to make his presence felt in the Dolphins’ backcourt.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Ashton Reynolds, CCSU (G, So)
Shooting north of 50 percent in two of Central Connecticut’s three games, Reynolds, an NEC All-Rookie Team honoree in 2025-26, opened the new season by averaging 13.3 points, 4.2 boards and 2.0 steals. The sophomore led the Blue Devils at Temple on Monday with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting off the bench before he contributed 13 points and two steals to his team’s 78-71 win over Dartmouth on Sunday.
Mike Price, CSU (G, Jr)
Price was the NEC’s top scorer during Opening Week after he averaged 16.5 points over a two-game stretch in the Lonestar State. The Windy City product and CSU-Bakersfield transfer netted 12 points in Monday’s season-opener at Texas before he went off for a game-high 21 points in Chicago State’s 66-54 win over Incarnate Word on Thursday.
Trevor Roe, LEM (F, Sr)
Roe got his Le Moyne career started with a bang, averaging 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 dimes and 1.5 steals against stiff non-conference competition in Nebraska and Creighton. The veteran forward drained five shots from long range, passed for six assists and led all scorers with 20 points to highlight the Dolphins’ season opener against the Cornhuskers.
Vasean Allette, LIU (G, Sr)
Allette banked 13.3 points, 7.0 assists and 2.7 assists over his first three games as a Shark last week. Combining for a near-perfect 16-of-17 clip from the charity stripe for a 94.1 percent conversion rate, the senior transfer from UTSA stole the show in a narrow 67-60 defeat to Big East foe Seton Hall after putting up game-best numbers in points (20), rebounds (7), assists (5) and steals (4).
Jake Lemelman, MU (G, Jr)
The NEC’s top returning scorer and Preseason All-NEC selection picked up right where he left with a trio of double-figure scoring games. Dropping 16 and 18 points in road tilts at Marquette and Notre Dame, respectively, Lemelman charted a double-double against Penn State-Shanango after he netted 13 points and dropped 12 assists.
Teshaun Steele, NHVN (F, So)
Steele had a hot hand against teams from the ACC and Big Ten, combining to shoot 13-of-22 from the field for a 59.1 percent clip. Draining each of his two three-pointers to finish with 18 points at Syracuse on Monday, the sophomore forward racked up 15 points, eight boards, four blocks and three assists at Rutgers on Friday.
2026-27 INFLUXER/NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 9: Teshaun Steele (New Haven)
Nov. 16:
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 9: Leandro Gysel (Le Moyne)
Nov. 16: