NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL: Doty declares for second year at Siena, giving full trust to coach Gerry McNamara

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.

When Gavin Doty was being recruited, coming off a record-breaking 2023-24 season at his hometown high school, in Central New York, new Siena College mens basketball coach Gerry McNamara told his parents that their son would become a fan favorite of the Capital Region if he came along for the ride.McNamaras foretelling proved accurate, and Doty plans to keep seeing it through.On Friday afternoon, Doty posted a statement on social media, announcing hell refute the possibility of enlisting in the transfer portal and will return to play his sophomore season with the Saints.IM BACK, he wrote.

I fully trust Coach McNamaras vision and I believe we have a real chance to compete for a championship together...Im committed to helping this program succeed.Doty had a highly productive freshman season in the green-and-gold, averaging 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and a .492 shooting percentage, in 32 games.The Rider University mens basketball team defeated Siena, 78-76, in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, N.J.

(PHOTO BY DREW WEMPLE MEDIANEWSGROUP)The Fulton, N.Y.

native worked his way into a starring role.

He didnt play over 10 minutes in a single game until Sienas seventh contest of the season, on Nov.

26, when he scored 21 points, with nine rebounds, in a loss to Jacksonville.From there, Doty played over 30 minutes in all but five games for the rest of the season, using his tireless motor, even at 65, to grab a team-high 62 offensive rebounds, with six double-doubles and 37 steals.

He was a unanimous Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Rookie Team honoree, winning five of the leagues Rookie of the Week awards during the regular season.Year 2! Doty added in his statement.

Im excited to get to work and continue strengthening the relationships Ive built with my coaches and teammatesThe NCAA transfer portal doesnt officially open for business until Monday, March 24, and closes on April 22.

Siena, which lost in the first round of the MAAC postseason tournament vs.

Rider on March 11, in Atlantic City, already has graduate-forward Myles Wilmoth entering the portal, with one remaining year of eligibility.FILE: The Siena College mens basketball team was defeated, 74-73, by Iona, on Sunday, Jan.

5, at MVP Arena, in Albany, N.Y.

(DREW WEMPLE MEDIANEWS GROUP).Previously, Frank Ambrose, the chairman of the N.I.L.

collective Saints March On, expected the program to be fully aware of who was staying or going by the end of this week.

Doty will be part of the former, but seeing as he finished just behind Manhattans Will Sydnor for the MAACs Rookie of the Year award this season, he couldve almost certainly been with the latter.Other MAAC standouts, such as Merrimacks all-league first-teamer Budd Clark and Bryan Etumnu, the MAACs Defensive Player of the Year, will also reportedly be entering the transfer portal.

The same goes for the MAACs leading scorer, Paul Canisius IV, planning to depart Canisius, and even Sacred Hearts All-league second-teamer, Tanner Thomas.After the firing of two-year head coach Tobin Anderson, Iona has seen a mass exodus from the programs student-athletes who helped guide the Gaels to a MAAC Championship game appearance last weekend.Its undoubtedly a sacrifice for Doty, who dreams of playing in the NBA.

Yet after becoming a staple along the turnaround from 4-28 in 2023-24, to 14-18 for Siena this season, hes confirming belief in his now rising, second-year head coach.Siena College freshman guard Gavin Doty readies for a free throw attempt vs.

Jacksonville, in Fort Myers, on Tuesday, Nov.

26, 2024.

(PHOTO PROVIDED VIA DAN MIHALIK INTERSPORT DBX TEAM)Run it back, Sienas director of basketball operations Ryan Beaury replied via Dotys social media posting.Lets goooo!!! wrote Saints March Ons account.

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