First Team
Fred VanVleet, Wichita State—11.6 ppg, 5.4 apg, 1.9 spg
- VanVleet won MVC Player of the Year and was one of the nation’s best point guards this season, regardless of conference-level. The sophomore was a phenomenal distributor and seemed to score at will when the shot clock was winding down. Though he struggled to score in Wichita State’s two NCAA Tournament games, he still posted 14 assists and only two turnovers at the Big Dance.
Billy Baron, Canisius—24.1 ppg, 5.3 apg, 42.1 3P%
- Baron was right up there with VanVleet among the nation’s best point guards this season. The two-time transfer easily took home the MAAC Player of the Year award with his phenomenal statistics. In addition to scoring and distributing, Baron also averaged 1.6 steals and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Keifer Sykes, Green Bay—20.3 ppg, 4.9 apg
- Sykes suffered an injury late in the season that potentially cost Green Bay a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, but that does not take away from the phenomenal season this Chicago native had. Sykes was the most dynamic player in the Horizon League, averaging more than 20 points while also distributing at a high-level. And even though he is only 5’11”, he demonstrated some serious leaping ability. That leaping ability helped him average 4.4 rebounds per game, which is very impressive considering his size. Sykes will be back next season to try and lead Green Bay to its first NCAA Tournament since 1996.
Cleanthony Early, Wichita State—16.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 47.5 3P%
- Early was Wichita State’s leading scorer and equally deserved the MVC Player of the Year honors that VanVleet received. The senior also led the Shockers’ in rebounding, proving his ability to play both inside and outside. Early made his mark nationally and improved his draft stock by averaging 27 points on 65.6% shooting in two NCAA Tournament games.
Alan Williams, UC Santa Barbara—21.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.4 bpg
- Statistically, Alan Williams is as good of a player as you will find in college basketball. The junior forward averaged a double-double and was the most dominating presence in the Big West. Williams finished the season ranked in the top 20 for both offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding percentage. He also ranked No. 50 in block percentage and No. 32 in fouls drawn per 40 minutes, according to KenPom.
Second Team
Jason Brickman, LIU Brooklyn—11.3 ppg, 10.0 apg, 40.2 3P%
Ron Baker, Wichita State—13.1 ppg, 3.1 apg, 38.0 3P%
Tyler Haws, Brigham Young—23.2 ppg, 40.4 3P%
Taylor Braun, North Dakota State—17.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.8 apg
Alec Brown, Green Bay—15.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.1 bpg
Third Team
D.J. Balentine, Evansville—22.8 ppg, 4.2 apg, 39.8 3p%
Kareem Jamar, Montana—18.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.0 apg
Davion Berry, Weber State—19.2 ppg, 3.9 apg, 38.9 3P%
George Beamon, Manhattan—18.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 37.1 3P%
Shawn Glover, Oral Roberts—21.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Coach of the Year
Gregg Marshall, Wichita State
- Regardless of league and schedule, to lead any team into the NCAA Tournament with an undefeated record is remarkable. And that’s exactly what Gregg Marshall did. Though his Shockers bowed out of the NCAA Tournament to eventual Midwest-Region champion Kentucky in the Round of 32, their 35-0 start to the season is part of college basketball’s record books.
