Conference

CBSSports.com Best Defenders

Staten Island, NY - Reigning Northeast Conference (NEC) Defensive Player of Year junior Kenneth Ortiz (Newark, NJ / Science Park / Southern Mississippi) has been named by CBSSports.Com as one of the top 30 defenders in the Division I ranks.

Among the list, Ortiz was cited among the top 15 perimeter defenders.

"He's a rugged, hard-nosed on-ball defender - maybe as good of an on-ball defender as there is in the entire country. Physically strong and compact. Great instincts."

Last season, the Garden State native ranked third in the NEC with 1.8 steals per game and was fifth with 4.3 assists per game, while also averaging 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds each time out. His solid all-around play helped lead Wagner to a school-record 25 victories, including a 59-54 win at No. 15 Pitt. Against the Panthers, Ortiz scored 12 points with seven assists over 35 minutes while helping the Seahawks to their first victory over a nationally ranked team since the 1978-1979 season.

In 2012-2013, the Green & White return nine letterwinners, including four starters, while bringing back 74.4 percent of its scoring and 84.2 percent of its rebounding.

Wagner opens its 92nd season of intercollegiate basketball on November 14 at Delaware State with tip time slated for 7:00 pm.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department, @WagnerHoops for news and updates on the men's basketball program and @bashirmason to get news from the Seahawks' first-year head coach.