STANDISH, ME - The Maine Men's Basketball Coaches
and Writers Association (MMBCWA) has announced its 2008-2009 men's
basketball awards. The head coaches from the thirteen college
programs in the State of Maine voted for the Player, Rookie and
Coach of the Year awards as well as the All-State and Rookie
Teams.
Colby College junior forward Adam Choice (Newport, RI) was selected
as the Player of the Year, University of New England freshman guard
Quentin Thompson (Austin, TX) is the Rookie of the Year and Saint
Joseph's College Head Coach Rob Sanicola is the
Coach of the Year.
Sanicola, who was also selected as the MMBCWA
Coach of the Year following the 2006-07 campaign, led the Monks to
their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship and
earned the program's first NCAA tournament berth since 2003.
Sanicola, a 1999 Saint Joseph's graduate, was voted GNAC Coach of
the Year after leading the Monks to a 12-6 league record and 21-8
overall record. The sixth-year head coach notched his 100th career
win during the season.
Saint Joseph's junior forward Ray
Eatmon (Huntington, NY/Walt Whitman) has received
his first All-State honors after being voted to the First Team,
senior forward Elbie Murphy
(Loudonville, NY/Albany Academy) has been named to the Second Team
and freshman guard Zach O'Brien (Schenectady,
NY/Bishop Gibbons) was voted to the All-Rookie Team.
Eatmon, a GNAC All-Conference First Team
selection, led the Monks with 12.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game
and his 58.8% (147-250) success rate from the field also ranked as
a team-high. His FG% and RPG average both ranked second in the
GNAC. Eatmon is the fourth player in team history to gather 250
rebounds in a campaign and was listed on the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll
four times during the season. He was also named to the
All-Tournament Team.
Murphy, a GNAC All-Conference Second Team honoree
for the second straight year, averaged 11.1 PPG, 4.3 APG and 4.0
RPG this season for the Monks. He capped his senior season ranking
in the top three in 11 statistical categories and is the third
player in team history to reach 1,400 points, 500 rebounds and 300
assists in their career. Murphy captured GNAC Weekly Honor
accolades twice and was named to the All-Tournament Team. The
senior leaves Saint Joseph's having been voted to the All-State
team following each of his four seasons.
O'Brien averaged 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2
assists per game for the GNAC Champions in 2008-09. The guard shot
47.5 (84-177) from the field and 80% (36-45) from the charity
stripe as a first-year player and paced the squad in scoring in
three games. He also notched his first collegiate double-double
with 19 points and 13 boards in an 87-86 win over Albertus Magnus
on February 10th. O'Brien was named the GNAC Rookie of the Week on
December 1st and was listed on both the conference and MMBCWA honor
rolls on two occasions.
Choice has been named the Player of the Year for the second
straight year after leading the Mules in scoring (15.7 PPG),
rebounding (7.8 RPG) and blocked shots (.80 BPG). He led Colby in
scoring, blocked shots, free throw percentage, and minutes played
(32.9). Choice also was second in rebounding, field goal
percentage, defensive rebounds, and was tied for second in steals.
Was NESCAC Player of the Week and Maine State Player of the Week
twice this year. Choice was the only Maine college player on the
D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region Team after making the third team.
Choice finished his junior season with 1,077 points and 486
rebounds in his career.
Thompson, a first-year guard from Austin, Texas, was voted state of
Maine Rookie of the Year after averaging 11.8 points and 5.6
rebounds for the 24-5 Nor'easters. He shot 35.8 percent (39 of 109)
from beyond the three-point and was second on the team in steals
with 55. Thompson scored a game-high 20 points as UNE defeated
Colby-Sawyer College, 90-79, in the TCCC championship game.
Thompson was also voted The Commonwealth Coast Conference Rookie of
the Year.
Player of the Year: Adam Choice, Colby College
Rookie of the Year: Quentin Thompson, University of New England
Coach of the Year: Rob Sanicola, Saint Joseph's College
First Team All-State: | |
Choice, Adam | Colby College |
Jefferson, Johnnie | University of New England |
Duncanson, Andrew | Thomas College |
Eatmon, Ray | Saint Joseph's College |
Jackson, Kyle | Bowdoin College |
Second Team All-State: | |
Simpson, Jaykyri | University of New England |
MacKenzie, Matt | Husson University |
Wilson, Chris | Bates College |
Murphy, Elbie | Saint Joseph's College |
Cutrone, Artie | Colby College |
All-Rookie Team: | |
Thompson, Quentin | University of New England |
Rodgers, Shawn | Thomas College |
Fox, Brandon | Me.-Fort Kent |
Hanley, Will | Bowdoin College |
O'Brien, Zach | Saint Joseph's College |