HSRN ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PLAYER & ROOKIE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
SWAC.org
March 18, 2009
Hartly, DE - The Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN) is announcing the National Player and Rookie of the Year Nominees for the 2008-09 basketball season.
Just like the National Player of the Week Fan Poll, the Player and Rookie of the Year will be selected by the fans across the country. The fan poll for the National Players of the Year will run today thru Monday, March 30. Fans across the country can cast their vote by visiting HSRN.Com, the polls are located on the lower right side of the home page.
The nominees are:
Division I - Men (National Player of the Year)
Tywain McKee - Coppin St. (G, 6'2, Sr., Philadelphia, PA) second best scorer in the MEAC and led his team in scoring (18.2), rebounding (5.7), assists (4.0) and steals (2.9). Named 2009 MEAC Player of the Year.
David Holston - Chicago St. (G, 5'8, 160, Sr., Pontiac, MI) averaged 26 points per game, 6.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 steals. Led the Cougars to their first winning season in 23 years, finishing 19-13. Led the nation (Div. I) in made three-pointers per game with a 4.6 per game average and also finished in the top-five in scoring and steals in the nation. Had 11 games with 30 or more points, including a season high 41 points against Utah Valley (Jan. 29).
Brandon Brooks - Alabama St. (G, 6'2, 180, Sr., Irving, TX) ranked sixth in the SWAC in scoring (14.2), third in field goal percentage (51.4), first in assists (6.8) and fourth in free throw percentage (77.6). He scored a SWAC season high 33 points at Southern (Feb. 21) and posted four games with at least 10 assists, with a season high 13 at Texas Southern (Feb. 2).
Division I - Men (National Rookie of the Year)
Jamar Briscoe - N.C. Central (G, 5'10, 155, Fr., Baltimore, MD) first NCCU freshman to score over 500 points finishing with 535 points. Led the team in scoring averaging 17.8 points per game and assists with 79. Scored a season high 37 points against Longwood (Feb. 28) and averaged 35.5 points per game in their two game week with Longwood.
Rod Melvin - Jackson St. (G, 6'1, 180, Fr., Brandon, MS) averaged 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Name 2009 SWAC Freshman of the Year. He posted a season high 14 points against Texas A&M on Nov. 21.
Cliff Reed - Bethune Cookman (G, 6'3, 175, Fr., Daytona Beach, FL) led the Wildcats with 14.6 points per game and finished the season as the conference's seventh leading scorer. He recorded double digits in 27 of 31 games and also averaged 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Named 2009 MEAC Rookie of the Year.
Division - I Women (National Player of the Year)
Brittanie Taylor-James - N.C. A&T (F, 6'0, Sr., Evanston, IL) led the Aggies to the 2009 regular season and MEAC Tournament Championship. She ranked 18th in the nation and led the MEAC in scoring at 19.5 points per game. Also ranked among the top 20 in the MEAC in seven statistical categories and tallied 20 or more points 13 times and also had three 30-plus point performances. Named 2009 MEAC Player of the Year.
Gaati Werema - Prairie View (F, 6'0, Jr., Miami, FL) averaged 11.6 points and 7.5 rebounds (led SWAC) while shooting 48 percent from the field (2nd in SWAC) and 76 percent from the free throw line (3rd in SWAC). Scored a season high 26 points at Arkansas Pine Bluff (Jan. 26) and had a SWAC season high 20 rebounds against Jackson St. (Feb. 16). She tallied five double-doubles this season. Named 2009 SWAC Player of the Year.
Division I Women (National Rookie of the Year)
Kanesha Smith - Mississippi Valley St. (G, 5'9, Fr., Sanhill, MS) averaged 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Scored a season high 20 points against Texas El-Paso (Dec. 14). Named SWAC Freshman of the Year.
Sonia Johnson - Delaware St. (G, 5'10, Fr., Newport News, VA) led all MEAC freshmen in scoring and field goal percentage, averaging 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. The forward tallied 18 double-digit performances, including four 20 plus point games. Named MEAC Rookie of the Year.
Chasidy Williams - N.C. Central (G/F, 5'10, Fr., Fayetteville, NC) started 23 of 27 games for the Lady Eagles this season. Second on the team in scoring 11.8 ppg and third in team rebounding 5.0 rpg. Topped team with 62 steals (2.3 pg), recorded two double-doubles, 14 double figures scoring, scored 20 points in five games and had a career high of 26 points at Winston Salem St., had a season high 10 rebounds twice against Texas Pan-American and at Chicago State.
Division - II Men (National Player of the Year)
Kenny Boyd - Morehouse (C, 6'8, Sr.., Meridan, MS) led the team in points and rebounds per game. Averaged 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Named SIAC Player of the Year.
Anthony Hilliard - Elizabeth City St. (F, 6'4, Sr., Fayetteville, NC) led the CIAA in scoring (26.3ppg) and rebounding (11.6rpg). Also finished the season ranked 3rd nationally in rebounds and 5th in the nation in scoring. Named CIAA Player of the Year.
Division - II Men (National Rookie of the Year) J.C. Chaney - Virginia St. (F/C, 6'8, Fr., Danville, VA) had five 20 plus games as a starter for the Trojans. Led the team in field goal percentage (.522%) and averaged 10.1 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game. Named 2009 CIAA Rookie of the Year.
Kenneth Simmons - Ft. Valley St. (G, 6'3, Fr., Milledgeville, GA) averaged 10.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Shot .427% from the floor and led the team in three point shooting at .375%. Named 2009 SIAC Freshman of the Year.
Division - II Women (National Player of the Year)
Shantrell Moss - Clark-Atlanta (G, 5'9 Sr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL) led the conference in scoring averaging 24.1 points and led her team to a 2nd place regular season finish and a 26-4 record. Named 2009 SIAC Player of the Year
Tatiana Ellis- St. Paul?s (G, 5'9, Jr., Harlem, NY) ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring and led the conference with 22.2 points per game average. Also led the conference in 3-point field goals made with 2.20 per game. Named CIAA Player of the Year. Division - II Women (National Rookie of the Year)
Keyona Bryant - St. Augustine's (C, 6'0, Fr., Springdale, MD) 8-time CIAA Rookie of the Week this season, leading the Falcons in scoring at 17.8 points per game and was second on the team in rebounding with a 7.3 per game average. Named CIAA Rookie of the Year.
Kendra Evans - Ft. Valley St. (F, 5'11, Fr., Greensboro, GA) led team in rebounding at 7.1 per game and averaged 12 points per game. Helped team to SIAC Tournament Championship. Named SIAC Freshman of the Year.
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