BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama A&M guard/forward James Graham III and guard Sami Pissis were named to the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Men's Basketball Second Team, the league announced on Tuesday..
 
The duo returns for another season after ranking among Alabama A&M's top contributors during the 2025-26 campaign.
 
Graham emerged as one of the Bulldogs' most efficient frontcourt performers last season, averaging 10.3 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from 3-point range. He appeared in 27 games with 22 starts and finished with 277 points and 109 rebounds.
 
The forward scored a season-high 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting at Florida A&M and recorded his lone double-double with 19 points and a season-high 12 rebounds against Southern. Graham also delivered 18 points in the SWAC Tournament semifinal against Prairie View A&M, connecting on four of his five attempts from beyond the arc.
 
Pissis served as Alabama A&M's primary playmaker, averaging 10.4 points, 4.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He totaled 313 points and a team-leading 120 assists against just 54 turnovers for a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
The guard scored a season-high 22 points against Alabama State and added four assists and four steals. He also posted 21 points and seven assists against Tennessee State and finished the season with eight assists against Texas Southern in the SWAC Tournament.
 
Jackson State's Daeshun Ruffin was named Preseason Player of the Year, while Florida A&M's Antonio Baker earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors.
 
Alabama A&M begins its exhibition season in less than a week when the Bulldogs play Samford in the Ballin in Boutwell on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. from Boutwell Arena. AAMU begins the regular season on Nov. 2, playing host to Oakwood. Tip-off against the Ambassadors is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center.
 
 
2026-27 PRESEASON ALL-SWAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS
Preseason Player of the Year
Daeshun Ruffin, Jackson State
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Antonio Baker, Florida A&M
 
First Team
Daeshun Ruffin, Jackson State
Daniel Rouzan, Bethune-Cookman
Michael James, Alabama State
Dorian McMillian, Jackson State
Jaquan Sanders, Florida A&M
 
Second Team
James Graham III, Alabama A&M
Sami Pissis, Alabama A&M
Quentin Heady, Bethune-Cookman
Antonio Baker, Florida A&M
Jalen Tatum, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 
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