Guided by Coach Marquee Poole, the Regional Coach of the Year, and featuring the remarkable TeAmo Ebron, Regional MVP, the Hostos Caimans displayed unparalleled sportsmanship.

 
The Hostos Men’s Basketball Team finished the regular season 15–2.
As the final buzzer echoed through the arena on Thursday, March 14, the Hostos Community College Men's Basketball team capped off an extraordinary season, securing the 12th position in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) rankings. With the electrifying TeAmo Ebron leading the charge as the team's all-star player, and the strategic genius of Marquee Poole earning him the Regional Coach of the Year accolade, the Caimans have truly set a new benchmark for excellence in community college basketball. This season has demonstrated their unwavering determination and skill, as well as the powerful synergy between players and coaching staff, marking a historic moment for the Hostos Athletics program.
 
“I am incredibly proud of our wonderful student-athletes, who have shown what it means to be a holistic human being. They excel in both their academics and their sports talent. Congratulations to their main supporters—the entire Hostos Athletics family—who continue to uplift the College through their work, dedication, and determination. Bravi!” said Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis.
 
Coach Marquee Poole celebrating the Regional win.
Reflecting on the season, Poole highlighted the program's invaluable impact on the young student-athletes, emphasizing the opportunity to grow both athletically and academically at the College.
 
“Don’t come here if you don’t want a scholarship because we’re going to invest in you. This took a lot of hard work and we deserved this. There’s a lot of bad things and distractions in our community and we were able to create a safe haven for all of them [the players]. This is home. We have a family here,” he said. 
Poole was joined by his team and Hostos Athletics colleagues after receiving the Coach of the Year award.
The journey to the regional championship was anything but easy for the team. Honing their craft through challenges and high-stakes moments, they showcased their unparalleled determination in a historic, nail-biting double overtime game marked by 17 ties on Friday, February 16, against the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) squad. This intense battle led to their triumphant emergence, securing a second league title in three seasons and marking their seventh in the CUNY Athletic Conference's (CUNYAC) history. 
 
During that pivotal game, the Hostos team truly demonstrated mastery on the court. The game's intensity peaked when trailing by four points late in regulation, the Caimans launched a thrilling comeback led by TeAmo Ebron, who was instrumental in the team’s success all throughout the season. 
 
TeAmo Ebron set himself apart since early in the season, and stood out in every championship, including the NJCAA Region XV tournament.
Actually, every basketball court got the heat this season with the unmistakable brilliance of Ebron, who was a monumental emblem of prowess and embodied the resilient spirit of the Caimans. His collection of achievements is the stuff of legends – from Regular Season Champ, CUNY Champion, Region XV Champion, to 1st Team All-Region, CUNYAC All-Star, and the distinguished CUNY All-Academic Team Scholar Athlete, alongside the All-Tournament CUNY accolade, and culminating with the prestigious Regional MVP award. 
 
“I did it for them [the team] because they kept me motivated. Without them, right now, I don’t know where I’d be,” said Ebron. 
 
The women’s team made history as the first to win seven consecutive CUNYAC championships.
In an equally historic feat, the women’s basketball team made its mark in CUNY sports history with a breathtaking display of talent. The women Caimans cemented their dominance within the CUNYAC by clinching their 11th championship title, achieving an unparalleled seventh consecutive title defense. This remarkable streak underscores their exceptional skills on the court and their unwavering determination to maintain their championship legacy, setting a new standard of excellence within college basketball in the CUNY system. "This means everything for our community, program, and team. We'll continue focusing on one game and step at a time,” said Dwight Shaw, a three-time CUNYAC Coach of the Year.
(L-R) Gym Facilities Manager Keith Hinton, Coach Marquee Poole, Hostos Athletics Director Brent Wilson, and Coach Dwight Shaw.
The Hostos Caimans' remarkable season has captivated fans and drawn significant attention from the media, shining a spotlight on their achievements far and wide. Outlets like News 12 The Bronx, Norwood News, Amsterdam News, and all the CUNYAC and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) media channels have been in awe of the team's exceptional talent and accomplishments. This widespread recognition underscores the team's impact on and off the court, celebrating their hard-earned success and the thrilling moments they've provided to basketball enthusiasts, further elevating the Caimans' status in the collegiate sports landscape.
 
For his part, since arriving at the College in August, Hostos Athletics Director Brent Wilson has consistently admired the team's relentless drive, often commending the players and coaches for their unparalleled excellence.
 
“I cannot thank coaches Poole and Shaw enough for their hard work and that of all of our assistant coaches. Their dedication has created an environment where our students can be at their best,” he said. “It is easy to celebrate the championship success on the basketball court. However, I am just as excited to share that both of these teams had multiple members earn above a 3.0 GPA for the fall semester. They truly have been the definition of student-athletes!” 

This widespread acclaim and the Hostos Caimans' accomplishments are undeniable proof of the team's excellence and the quality of well-rounded individuals Hostos contributes to the world. It's a testament to how the Caimans are not just champions in the game but also champions in character and academia, embodying the true spirit of success and community. It is evident that they will continue to roar.
 
“We were counted out once; we won’t be counted out again,” concluded Ebron.  

 
About Eugenio María de Hostos Community College
 
Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities for over half a century. Since 1968, Hostos has been a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs.
 
Hostos offers 28 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate secure transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. A two-time Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence finalist, the College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos also boasts both men's and women's basketball teams, which have won multiple CUNY Athletic Conference and National Junior College Athletic Association championships, with the women's team making history in 2024 as the only team ever to secure seven consecutive titles in CUNY’s history. The College is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 25 colleges.
 
For inquiries, email publicrelations@hostos.cuny.edu. 
 
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