By Mattie Fitzpatrick | April 17, 2023
Beagle during a game.
Photo Credit: UAlbany Athletics
While the University at Albany’s Men’s basketball team went 8-23 in a difficult 2022-2023, freshman Jonathan Beagle proved to be a stand out player. Beagle earned the America East conference’s Rookie of the Year title as well as breaking the record for the most America East rookie of the week titles in UAlbany history. After receiving the award for eight weeks with the award and being presented it two weeks in a row twice, Beagle made UAlbany history breaking the previous record of seven awards.
Beagle finished the season averaging 12.5 points with 78 total assists, and game highs of three steals, and four blocks. He ranked second on the team in scoring, and contributed to UAlbany ranking fifth in the conference for points per game on the year. He started in all but two games and averaged 31.7 minutes on the court, giving him the second-most play time this season.
On his Rookie Of The Year prestige, Beagle said, “my teammates and coaches made it really easy with the trust they had for me, so I’m really lucky to have those guys by my side.”
UAlbany has been bestowed this honor for the second time in two years. Last season, Justin Neely claimed the award along with six rookie of the week titles.
Jon Iati originally set this record during the 2003-2004 season with seven America East Rookie of the Week titles. Iati went on to become the 2004 America East Rookie of the Year and graduated UAlbany as career leader in games played. He went on to become part of the coaching staff at UAlbany in the position of assistant coach between 2012 and 2017 before being promoted to associate head coach. before eventually moving on when the former head coach William Brown mutually parted ways with UAlbany. He is now an assistant coach at UMass Lowell.
For much of the last month, Beagle’s future at UAlbany was in doubt. He entered the transfer portal on March 17 after junior guard Malik Edmead and senior forward Gerald Drumgoole Jr. entered the portal days earlier.
A source familiar with Beagle’s thinking indicated that he was interested in transferring to Siena. In an interview with the Times Union, the source said that Siena “was definitely in the conversation” as a destination citing their potential as a basketball program.
In his original statement declaring his intention to transfer, Beagle wrote in a Twitter post, “...after a long talk with my family, I am announcing that I will be entering the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.”
Beagle has now decided to stay at UAlbany. Beagle said on Instagram, “my family, friends, and hometown mean so much to me, and I’m excited for what our program can accomplish next year.”
Beagle, who is native to Hudson Falls, said in regards to next season, “I think there’s going to be big things in the future.” Rooted in UAlbany again, Beagle is looking forward to next year’s season.