WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Coming off a historic 2025-26 season, Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball has been selected second in the 2026-27 Sunshine State Conference preseason coaches' poll, the league announced.

The Sailfish received 21 points and two first-place votes in the poll, trailing only five-time defending SSC champion Nova Southeastern. PBA finished second in the conference standings last season and advanced to the SSC Tournament championship game, establishing itself as one of the league's top programs.

Palm Beach Atlantic enters the new season looking to build on a 26-6 campaign that marked the most wins in the program's NCAA Division II era. The Sailfish finished 16-4 in conference play and climbed as high as No. 3 in the national rankings after defeating then-No. 1 Nova Southeastern. PBA also earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division II South Regional, competing in the first NCAA postseason game in program history.

The Sailfish return several key contributors from last year's lineup, including Christian Kirkland, Ty Burton and Graham Worland. Kirkland earned All-SSC Defensive Team honors and set a PBA Division II-era single-season record with 56 blocks while averaging 7.2 points and a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game. Worland averaged 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest, while Burton contributed 9.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

With a strong group of returners and the experience of last year's postseason run, the Sailfish will look to carry that momentum into the 2026-27 campaign.

Palm Beach Atlantic opens the season Friday, Nov. 13, against Trevecca Nazarene at the South Region Crossover hosted by Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Sailfish will continue the opening weekend Saturday, Nov. 14, against Morehouse.