Unprecedented two years in a row; Kevin Keatts named CAA coach of the year
BALTIMORE, MD (UNCW) — UNCW’s Kevin Keatts became the first coach in Colonial Athletic Association history to win Coach-of-the-Year honors in consecutive seasons and four of his players – Chris Flemmings, Denzel Ingram, C.J. Bryce and Kevin Hickson – collected postseason accolades in voting announced by league officials late Thursday.
Keatts, who piloted the Seahawks to their second consecutive CAA regular season title, was the overwhelming choice as the circuit’s top coach after proving pollsters wrong for the second straight year. UNCW was tabbed to finish sixth in the CAA’s preseason poll, but wound up tied for first with a 22-7 overall record and 14-4 mark in the conference in 2015-16.
Keatts joins former UNCW head coaches Jerry Wainwright (1996-97 and 2000-01) and Brad Brownell (2002-03 and 2005-06) as two-time CAA Coach-of-the-Year honorees.
Flemmings, a 6-5, 175-pound junior forward, is believed to be the first walk-on in league history to earn First-Team All-CAA honors. The Cary, N.C., product made the CAA’s top unit this season after starting his career at NCAA Division II Barton and transferring to UNCW.
Flemmings ranked seventh in the conference in scoring (15.9 ppg) and 11th in rebounding (6.1 rpg). He was also third in field goal percentage (51.0%), eighth in free throw percentage (80.2%) and eighth in steals (1.4 spg). Flemmings was the Seahawks’ leading scorer in 15 games and topped the team in rebounding 11 times.
Joining Flemmings on the All-CAA First-Team were Hofstra senior guard Juan’ya Green, James Madison senior guard Ron Curry, Hofstra sophomore center Rokas Gustys, William & Mary junior guard/forward Omar Prewitt and Northeastern senior guard David Walker.
The speedy Ingram became eligible for the Seahawks this year after transferring from UNC Charlotte and earned Third-Team All-CAA honors. He ranks second in scoring with 12.6 ppg and second in assists with 88 helpers. The Chapel Hill native led the team in scoring in four games, including a 30-point effort in UNCW’s 97-94 overtime win over William & Mary on Jan. 16 at Trask Coliseum.
Bryce also made a big splash in his first year with the club. The Charlotte product averaged 10.1 ppg and 4.0 rpg and started 27-of-29 games for the Seahawks en route to All-Rookie honors. He was selected CAA Rookie-of-the-Week four times and poured in a career-high 24 points in UNCW’s 79-67 win at Hofstra on Feb. 4, 2016.
Hickson, a walk-on the last two seasons, registered a 3.179 grade point average as a Business Administration major and was named to the CAA’s All-Academic unit. He is concentrating on Entrepreneurship and Business Development.
In addition to Keatts, other top honors went to Green as the CAA Player-of-the-Year, College of Charleston freshman forward Jarrell Brantley as the CAA Rookie-of-the-Year and William and Mary senior guard/forward Terry Tarpey as the CAA Defensive Player-of-the-Year. Northeastern senior guard Caleb Donnelly was chosen as the recipient of the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award.
The Seahawks, who reeled off 11 consecutive victories from Jan. 9 to Feb. 13 and tied a school record for wins during the regular season, open play in the 2016 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship on Saturday at 6 p.m. against the winner of Friday’s game between No. 7 seeded Charleston and No. 10 Delaware.
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RICHMOND, Va. (CAA) – Hofstra senior guard Juan’ya Green was selected as the Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball Player of the Year in voting by the league’s head coaches, media relations directors and members of the media.
Also receiving top honors were UNCW’s Kevin Keatts as the CAA Coach of the Year, College of Charleston freshman forward Jarrell Brantley as the CAA Rookie of the Year and William and Mary senior guard/forward Terry Tarpey as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Northeastern senior guard Caleb Donnelly was chosen as the recipient of the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award.
Green capped an outstanding career with a sensational senior season. The Pride point guard ranked third in the conference in scoring with 17.7 points per game and tallied double figures in 29 of 30 contests. He also led the CAA and was seventh in the nation in assists with 7.2 per contest and was second in the league with 53 steals. He is one of only three players nationally who are averaging better than 17.0 points and 7.0 assists per game this season. Green became just the fourth player to score more than 1,000 points at two NCAA Division I schools and he’s currently among the top five active Division I players in career points (2,242), assists (746) and steals (227). Green is Hofstra’s third CAA Player of the Year, joining Loren Stokes (2006-07) and Charles Jenkins (2009-10 and 2010-11).
Keatts became the first coach to receive CAA Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons after guiding UNCW to a share of its second consecutive regular-season title. The Seahawks went 14-4 in league play, which was their most CAA wins since 2005-06. UNCW was 22-7 overall and tied a school record for regular-season victories in a season. The Seahawks, who returned just two starters and were picked sixth in the league’s pre-season poll, won a school-record 11 games from Jan. 9 – Feb. 13. Keatts joins former UNCW head coaches Jerry Wainwright (1996-97 and 2000-01) and Brad Brownell (2002-03 and 2005-06) as two-time CAA Coach of the Year honorees.
Brantley received Rookie of the Year accolades after an impressive freshman campaign. The Cougars’ forward started all 29 games this season and led all CAA freshmen in scoring (11.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg). He ranked fifth in the league in rebounding, 20th in scoring and sixth in field goal percentage (46.8%). Brantley closed the regular season by scoring double figures in 11 straight games and he recorded a team-high four double-doubles. He is the first College of Charleston player to be chosen as the CAA Rookie of the Year.
Tarpey earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second year in a row. The senior guard led the conference and ranked 25th nationally with 2.1 steals per game. He was also second in the conference with 38 blocked shots and ranked fourth in the CAA in rebounding with 8.0 per game. Tarpey ranks third in career blocks (117), third in career steals (166) and fifth in career rebounds (790) at W&M and is the first player in school history with more than 100 steals and 100 blocks. He’s the fifth player to be named CAA Defensive Player of the Year in multiple seasons.
Donnelly was chosen for the Ehlers Award for the second year in a row, becoming just the second two-time recipient. The Ehlers Award is presented annually to the men’s basketball student-athlete who “embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship in conjunction with his academic athletic achievement.” Donnelly has a 3.99 grade point average while working on Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in chemical engineering and minoring in mathematics. He was selected as a class representative to the 2016 American Institute for Chemical Engineers and was a Huntington 100 Award winner, which recognizes the 100 most influential students at Northeastern University. Donnelly volunteered for six months as a teacher through the Citizen Schools Program and taught an inner-city, sixth-grade class how to build solar-powered toy cars.
Joining Green on the All-CAA first team were James Madison senior guard Ron Curry, UNCW junior forward Chris Flemmings, Hofstra sophomore center Rokas Gustys, William & Mary junior guard/forward Omar Prewitt and Northeastern senior guard David Walker.
Curry received first-team honors in 2016 after earning a spot on the All-CAA second team a year ago. The senior guard ranked fifth in the league in scoring (17.2 ppg) and seventh in assists (3.6 apg). He scored 20 or more points 12 times and tallied double figures in his final 22 games this season. Curry’s 70 three-pointers were the fourth-most in the CAA and he was sixth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (38.3%).
Flemmings claimed a spot on the All-CAA first team in his first year at UNCW. The junior forward ranked seventh in the conference in scoring (15.9 ppg) and 11th in rebounding (6.1 rpg). He was also third in field goal percentage (51.0%), eighth in free throw percentage (80.2%) and eighth in steals (1.4 spg). Flemmings was the Seahawks’ leading scorer in 15 games and topped the team in rebounding nine times.
Gustys was a dominant force in the post for Hofstra. The sophomore center led the conference and ranked fourth in the nation in rebounding (12.7 rpg) and his 382 total rebounds are the third-highest season total in CAA history. He averaged 13.6 points per game and shot a league-best 65% from the floor, which ranks ninth in Division I. Gustys recorded a CAA-best 19 double-doubles, including 15 in his final 16 contests. He had five games with 20 or more rebounds, which is the most by a Division I player since 2010-11.
Prewitt moved up to the All-CAA first team after receiving third-team All-CAA honors last year and being named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2013-14. The junior guard/forward led the CAA in scoring (18.0 ppg) and also ranked among the league’s top 20 in rebounding (5.4 rpg/17th) and assists (2.5 apg/14th). He scored 20 or more points 12 times and tallied double figures in his final 11 contests. Prewitt shot 50.4% from the floor, which was fourth-best in the CAA.
Walker earned first-team All-CAA accolades after being named to the second team a year ago. The senior guard ranked second in the conference in scoring (18.0 ppg), sixth in assists (4.0 apg) and seventh in steals (1.5 spg). He also led the CAA and ranked among national leaders in 3-pointers made (92), 3-point field goal percentage (41.3%) and free throw percentage (86.4%). His 92 treys set an NU season record and he had a streak of 31 consecutive games with at least one made three that ended in February.
Earning second-team All-CAA honors were Towson junior forward William Adala Moto (13.7 ppg/8.0 rpg), Northeastern senior forward/guard Quincy Ford (16.1 ppg/7.1 rpg), Delaware sophomore guard Kory Holden (17.3 ppg/4.3 apg), Hofstra senior guard/forward Ameen Tanksley (15.6 ppg/5.3 rpg) and W&M’s Tarpey (11.0 ppg/8.0 rpg).
Named to the All-CAA third team were CofC’s Brantley (11.6 ppg/7.2 rpg), UNCW junior guard Denzel Ingram (12.6 ppg/2.1 rpg), College of Charleston sophomore guard Cameron Johnson (12.1 ppg/3.6 rpg), Delaware senior forward Marvin King-Davis (14.8 ppg/9.0 rpg) and Towson sophomore forward Mike Morsell (12.6 ppg/4.2 rpg).
The awards were announced on the eve of the 2016 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship, which will be held March 4-7 at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Md.
2015-16 CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL AWARD WINNERS
First Team All-CAA Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Ron Curry, James Madison Sr. G 6-3 200 Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI
Chris Flemmings, UNCW Jr. G 6-5 175 Cary, N.C./Green Hope
Juan’ya Green, Hofstra Sr. G 6-3 205 Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll
Rokas Gustys, Hofstra So. F/C 6-9 260 Kaunas, Lithuania/Oak Hill Academy
Omar Prewitt, William & Mary Jr. G/F 6-7 195 Mount Sterling, Ky./Montgomery County
David Walker, Northeastern Sr. G 6-6 196 Stow, Ohio/Stow-Munroe Falls
Second Team All-CAA Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
William Adala Moto, Towson Jr. F 6-6 225 Yaounde, Cameroon/Episcopal
Quincy Ford, Northeastern Sr. F/G 6-8 225 St. Petersburg, Fla./Gibbs
Kory Holden, Delaware So. G 6-2 180 Salisbury, Md./J.M. Bennett
Ameen Tanksley, Hofstra Sr. G/F 6-6 218 Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter
Terry Tarpey, William & Mary Sr. G/F 6-5 210 Stamford, Conn./Fairfield Prep
Third Team All-CAA Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Jarrell Brantley, Charleston Fr. F 6-7 245 Columbia, S.C./Notre Dame Prep
Denzel Ingram, UNCW Jr. G 6-0 170 Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill
Cameron Johnson, Charleston So. G 6-4 196 Athens, Ga./Clarke Central
Marvin King-Davis, Delaware Sr. F 6-7 230 Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook
Mike Morsell, Towson So. F 6-5 190 Fort Washington, Md./St. John’s College
2015-16 CAA Player of the Year – Juan’ya Green, Hofstra
2015-16 CAA Coach of the Year – Kevin Keatts, UNCW
2015-16 CAA Rookie of the Year – Jarrell Brantley, College of Charleston
2015-16 CAA Defensive Player of the Year – Terry Tarpey, William & Mary
2015-16 Dean Ehlers Leadership Award – Caleb Donnelly, Northeastern
CAA All-Rookie Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Terrell Allen, Drexel Fr. G 6-2 180 Upper Marlboro, Md./DeMatha
Jarrell Brantley, Charleston Fr. F 6-7 245 Columbia, S.C./Notre Dame Prep
C.J. Bryce, UNCW Fr. G 6-5 180 Charlotte, N.C./North Mecklenburg
Marquise Pointer, Charleston Fr. G 6-0 205 Jonesboro, Ark./Jonesboro Senior
Tyler Seibring, Elon Fr. F 6-8 225 Towanda, Ill./Normal Community
CAA All-Defensive Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Ron Curry, James Madison Sr. G 6-3 200 Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI
Rokas Gustys, Hofstra So. F/C 6-9 260 Kaunas, Lithuania/Oak Hill Academy
Payton Hulsey, Charleston Jr. G 6-5 215 Memphis, Tenn./Southwind
Cameron Johnson, Charleston So. G 6-4 196 Athens, Ga./Clarke Central
Timajh Parker-Rivera, Towson Sr. F 6-7 215 Milford, Conn./St. Joseph
Terry Tarpey, William & Mary Sr. G 6-5 210 Stamford, Conn./Fairfield Prep
CAA All-Academic Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
William Adala Moto, Towson Jr. F 6-6 225 Yaounde, Cameroon/Episcopal
Jack Anton, Elon So. F 6-8 240 Mason, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller
Evan Bailey, Coll. of Charleston So. F 6-6 207 Canton, Ohio/Jackson
Canyon Barry, Coll. of Charleston Jr. G 6-6 210 Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain
Dimitrije Cabarkapa, James Madison Jr. F 6-10 240 Novi Sad, Serbia/High Medical School
Caleb Donnelly, Northeastern Sr. G 6-1 181 Hudson, N.H./Alvirne
Luke Eddy, Elon Jr. G 6-1 185 Charleston, W.Va./George Washington
Rokas Gustys, Hofstra So. F/C 6-9 260 Kaunas, Lithuania/Oak Hill Academy
Christian Hairston, Elon Jr. G/F 6-7 205 Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School
Kevin Hickson, UNCW Sr. F 6-8 215 Charlotte, N.C./Wofford
Sean Locke, Delaware Sr. G 6-4 195 Newark, Del./St. Mark’s
Timajh Parker-Rivera, Towson Sr. F 6-7 215 Milford, Conn./St. Joseph
Michael Schlotman, William & Mary So. G 6-5 200 Munster, Ind./Munster
Sean Sheldon, William & Mary Sr. F 6-9 252 Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis Catholic
Rodney Williams, Drexel Jr. F 6-7 225 Richmond, Va./St. Christopher’s
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