Humphrey named Male Newcomer of the Year
** PORTRAIT SHOT COURTESY OF DREAM TEAM STUDIOS **
SANBORN, NY — Men’s basketball guard Jacob Humphrey (Buffalo, N.Y.) has been named the 2025-26 SUNY Niagara Male Newcomer of the Year. The announcement was made by the campus’ athletic department Tuesday.
The freshman and Buffalo resident contributed to the Thunderwolves’ 17-10 season, which included winning five games in NJCAA Region III play and clinching the No. 2 seed in the Region III Division II tournament. With Humphrey in the lineup for 20 games (all starts), SUNY Niagara went 13-7 and won seven consecutive games from Jan. 24 to Feb. 15, its longest win streak of the season.
A graduate of Bishop Timon High School, Humphrey made an impact on both ends of the floor in his first year at SUNY Niagara, finishing in the top five in numerous categories in NJCAA Region III this season. Humphrey was second in the region and on the Thunderwolves in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game and shooting 51% from the field (128-of-251).
Humphrey’s 128 made field goals were fourth best in the region and third most on SUNY Niagara. His 348 total points were seventh among the region’s players, while his made free throws (61) and total assists (50) were eighth and ninth, respectively.
One of the top options in SUNY Niagara’s offense, Humphrey was third on the team in 31 made 3-pointers and shot 35.2 % from beyond the arc, both good for 10th in the region. Along with 90 total rebounds, Humphrey logged 566 minutes over the 20 games, including 10 games with at least 30 minutes (2 40-minute games).
(Courtesy of Geoff Schneider, GMS Photography)
After missing SUNY Niagara’s first seven games, Humphrey reached double-digit scoring 16 times, including in 10 of his last 12 outings, since a 26-point outing at Lakeland Community College on Dec. 20. Humphrey also recorded six of his nine 20-point games this season over his last nine games since he posted 24 points in a 78-67 win at Erie Community College on Jan 24.
Humphrey’s breakout game came when he scored a season-high 33 points on 10-of-18 shooting in SUNY Niagara’s 101-96 overtime win versus Monroe Community College on Feb. 4 in Sanborn. The win was one of the Thunderwolves’ three overtime victories this season (3-1).
Humphrey also made an impact beyond the arc for SUNY Niagara. The Thunderwolves were 4-1 when Humphrey converted at least three 3-pointers in a game and hit a season-high four in two games (Cuyahoga Community College on Feb. 8 and Lakeland Community College on Feb. 15).
(Courtesy of Geoff Schneider, GMS Photography)
Along with scoring, Humphrey had at least five rebounds in 10 games. This included a season-high nine in an 82-69 win versus Jamestown Community College on Feb. 7.
Humphrey also helped facilitate SUNY Niagara’s offense and recorded multiple assists in 17 games. Humphrey’s highest output was six in an 85-61 win versus Mohawk Valley Community College on Dec. 17.
Humphrey also recorded two games with five or more steals late in the season. His season-high six came against Erie Community College on Jan. 24 and five against Lakeland Community College on Feb. 15.
Humphrey was named to the NJCAA Region III Division II all-region team, joining teammate Chioke Marshall (Queens, N.Y.). Humphrey is now one of 24 SUNY Niagara men’s basketball players to be named to the all-region first team since 2013.
Additional nominees for the 2025-26 Male Newcomer of the Year award were wrestler Jaron Barrientos (Youngstown, N.Y.) and baseball player Cam Gravelle (Smithville, Ont.).