Men’s Basketball Honor Roll Announced
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. --- The 2017-18 Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Awards were announced Sunday night at the Fernandez Family Center on the campus of St. Thomas University. The top-seeded Bobcats will host the final four of The Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Presented by Shula’sHotel and Golf Club beginning Monday night.
Keiser’s Deion McClenton headlined the All-Conference team as the top vote-getter to earn Player of the Year distinction. The senior ranks in the top 10 in the NAIA in numerous categories including second in total rebounds per game (13.4), second in blocks per game (2.4), and sixth in field goal percentage (0.662). McClenton is a four-time First Team All-Conferene honoree.
St. Thomas’ Mikon Hewitt was named Defensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive year. Hewitt totaled 50 steals on the season for the Bobcats to help them to a Sun Conference Regular Season Title.
Webber’s Tommie Luke earned Freshman of the Year accolades. Luke ranked second in scoring for the Warriors’, averaging nearly 14 points a game. He also tallied 43 assists and 24 steals.
St. Thomas’ Patrick Gayle was named The Sun Conference Coach of the Year. Gayle led the Bobcats, who were picked to finish tied for second in the preseason coaches’ poll, to a 16-2 mark in Conference play and to the top-seed in the conference tournament. It was the second consecutive 20-plus win season for Coach Gayle and the Bobcats.
The Champions of Character Award was presented to Southeastern’s Carlon Holder. Holder spends the summers as a Ministry Volunteer at Lakeside Church, serving in the Student Ministry and Kids Ministry. He also preaches to youth on Wednesday nights and teaches in Sunday School.
This summer he was put in charge of Social Media for the church. He handles all the post on his churches Social Media platforms. "The goal of my ministry is to give people who are too afraid to come inside the church, a look of what goes on in the church. Hopefully they feel comfortable and confident when coming through our doors,” said Holder.
When the eye of the Hurricane hit Lakeland this Fall, Carlon was the first player to call Head Coach R-Jay Barsh and rally the team to get involved in recovery efforts, partnering with the Police Athletic League in Lakeland. He helped run three basketball clinics for kids in the area who didn't have electricity and/or food. Coach Barsh added, “Carlon is the epitome of Champions of Character and represents the sun conference and SEU very well 365 days a year.”
Nine student-athletes earned Academic All-Conference recognition for their work in the classroom. To be eligible, the recipient must be at least a sophomore that has completed two semesters at their institution with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Keiser led the way with four Academic All-Conference honorees.
First Team All-Conference
Deion McClenton, Keiser
Ryan Atkins, Southeastern
Raheem Bowman, St. Thomas
Melton Sanders, Warner
Haylen Washington, Coastal Georgia
Khalil Ozuna, Warner
Osandai Vaughn, Webber International
Javoris Cooks, Thomas
Andrija Sarenac, Keiser
CJ Reese, Southeastern
Second Team All-Conference
Davon Williams, Florida Memorial
Tim Sada, St. Thomas
Micah Goss, Keiser
Isa Brandon, Johnson & Wales
Katrell Myers, Thomas
Darwin Trotman, St. Thomas
Gianpaolo Riccio, Ave Maria
Omar Outar, Florida Memorial
Nick Preradovic, Johnson & Wales
Gino Fils-Aime, Johnson & Wales
Trystan Pratapas, Keiser
Player of the Year - Deion McClenton, Keiser
Coach of the Year - Patrick Gayle, St. Thomas
Defensive Player of the Year - Mikon Hewitt, St. Thomas
Freshman of the Year - Tommie Luke, Webber International
Champions of Character Award - Carlon Holder, Southeastern
Academic All-Conference Team
Greenan Sullivan, Ave Maria
Dylan Bressler, Keiser
Matt McKewin, Keiser
Andrija Sarenac, Keiser
Trystan Pratapas, Keiser
Harrison Hebert, Southeastern
Dante DiSipio. Thomas
Forest Freeland, Thomas
Andrew Lamb, Warner
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