FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Junior guard Derek Needham (Dolton, Ill.) started the 2011-12 campaign with a preseason All-America selection, earning a spot on the Lou Henson Preseason All-America team by Collegeinsider.com. The all-America team was selected by a panel of media and coaches.

Needham, who was also named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason first team, comes off another outstanding season. He, led the Stags in scoring for the second straight season with 14.1 points per game. He dished just over four assists per game, and was the team's top three-point shooter (2.2 made per game).

The Lou Henson Preseason All-America Team is named in honor of Lou Henson who retired after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years. When he left the game in 2005 he was sixth all-time in career Division I wins with 779. He is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State. He is one of only 12 coaches in the history of the game to take two schools to the Final Four

The Fairfield University men's basketball team opens the 2011-12 regular season on November 11 as part of the Connecticut 6 Clasic at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Stags will play Quinnipiac University in the middle game of the tripleheader, scheduled for 5:30 pm. Fairfield's home opener is slated for November 14 against Providence College at the Webster Bank Arena. For ticket information, please call the Fairfield University ticket office at 9203) 254-4136 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.