Mason's Pearson Honored as CAA Men's Basketball Player of the Year
RICHMOND,
Va. (March 1, 2012) - George Mason senior forward Ryan Pearson (Far
Rockaway, N.Y./Christ the King) was selected as the Colonial Athletic
Association men's basketball Player of the Year in voting by the league's head
coaches, sports information directors and members of the media. The
announcement was made Thursday night at the league's pre-tournament awards
banquet in Richmond, Va.
Also
receiving top honors were Drexel's Bruiser
Flint as the CAA Coach of the Year,
Drexel freshman guard Damion Lee (Owings Mills, Md./St. Thomas More) as the
CAA Rookie of the Year and Old Dominion senior guard Kent Bazemore (Kelford, N.C./Bertie) as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Georgia
State senior Jihad Ali (Atlanta, Ga./Martin Luther King) and William and
Mary senior Quinn McDowell (Mason, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) were
recipients of the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award.
Pearson is the first George Mason player to earn CAA
Player of the Year honors since George Evans in 2001. The senior forward was
the league's third-leading scorer with 17.8 points per game and reached double
figures in 27 of 31 contests. Pearson also ranked fifth in the conference with
8.5 rebounds per game and was seventh in field goal percentage (50.5%). He was
Mason's leading scorer in 22 of 31 games, topped the team in rebounding 19
times and recorded 12 double-doubles. A two-time All-CAA selection, Pearson
ranks fifth on Mason's all-time scoring list with 1,616 points and is ninth in
career rebounds with 799. He is one of only four players in school history with
more than 1,500 points, 750 rebounds, 100 assists and 100 steals in a career.
Flint guided Drexel to its most regular-season wins
in school history with a 25-5 mark. The Dragons claimed their first CAA
regular-season title with a 16-2 record by reeling off 16 consecutive victories
after an 0-2 start. Drexel enters this weekend's CAA championship on a
school-record 17-game winning streak, which is the second-longest in the nation
behind only top-ranked Kentucky. It's the fourth CAA Coach of the Year award
for Flint, who also received the honor in 2002, 2004 and 2009.
Lee is the second Drexel player to receive CAA
Rookie of the Year honors, joining Chris Fouch in 2010. The freshman guard was
the Dragons' second-leading scorer with 12.4 points per game, ranked third in
assists (53) and was fourth in rebounding (4.2 rpg). He scored double digits 19
times and topped the 20-point mark four times. Lee, who drained a team-high 54
three-pointers, was sixth in the CAA in 3-point field goal percentage (38%),
ninth in field goal percentage (45.7%) and 13th in free throw
percentage (77.3%).
Bazemore earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year
accolades for the second straight season. The senior guard ranked second in the
conference and 24th in the nation with 67 steals. He made two or
more thefts in 20 of 31 games, including seven in a victory over Big East foe
South Florida. Bazemore, who topped the conference in steals in 2010 and 2011,
ranks third on the CAA's all-time steals with 243. The first-team All-CAA
selection also led the Monarchs in scoring with 15.3 points per game and was
second on the team in rebounding (5.8 rpg).
Ali is the first Georgia State player to receive the
Ehlers Award, which 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." The senior
guard led the Panthers and ranked 13th in the CAA in scoring with
13.0 points per game, and was also 14th in the conference in
rebounding (5.8 rpg). McDowell is the first two-time recipient of the Ehlers
Award. The senior guard/forward topped the Tribe in scoring with 12.7 points
per game this season and is just the fourth player in William & Mary
history with more than 1,500 points (1,615) and 500 rebounds (596) in a career.
Joining Mason's Pearson and ODU's Bazemore on the
All-CAA first team were VCU senior guard/forward Bradford
Burgess (Midlothian, Va./Benedictine), Drexel sophomore
guard Frantz Massenat (Ewing, N.J./Trenton Catholic), and UNCW junior
forward Keith Rendleman (Iron Station, N.C./East Lincoln).
Burgess led the Rams in scoring with 13.5 points per
game and was the team's second-leading rebounder (5.2 rpg). Burgess, who has
started all 141 collegiate games, is one of only three VCU players with more
than 1,600 points and 700 rebounds in a career. Massenat, who was a member of
the CAA All-Rookie team a year ago, led the Dragons with 13.5 points per game
from the point guard spot and was also third in the conference in assists (4.5
apg). He led the league in 3-point field goal percentage (46.6%) and shot 80.8%
from the free throw line. Rendleman topped UNCW and was fifth in the CAA in
scoring with 15.6 points per game and was second in the conference and 12th
in the nation in rebounding (10.5 rpg). He has recorded 16 double-doubles this
season, which is tied for the 6th-best total in the nation.
Earning second-team All-CAA honors were Old Dominion
senior forward Chris Cooper (10.6 ppg/10.3 rpg), Drexel senior forward Samme
Givens (11.7 ppg/7.8 rpg), Delaware junior forward Jamelle Hagins
(12.7 ppg/11.3 rpg), Hofstra senior guard Mike Moore (20.0 ppg/4.6 rpg)
and Delaware sophomore guard Devon Saddler (18.7 ppg/4.1 rpg).
Named to the All-CAA third team were Georgia State
senior guard Jihad Ali (13.0 ppg/5.8 rpg), Georgia State senior forward Eric
Buckner (10.8 ppg/7.0 rpg), James Madison senior guard Humpty Hitchens
(15.0 ppg/2.3 rpg), Northeastern junior guard Jonathan Lee (14.6 ppg/4.0
rpg), VCU sophomore forward Juvonte Reddic (10.8 ppg/7.0 rpg) and VCU
junior guard Darius Theus (8.6 ppg/4.7 apg).
|
First
Team All-CAA
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High
School
|
|
Kent
Bazemore, Old Dominion
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-5
|
195
|
Kelford,
N.C./Bertie
|
|
Bradford
Burgess, VCU
|
Sr.
|
G/F
|
6-6
|
225
|
Midlothian,
Va./Benedictine
|
|
Frantz
Massenat, Drexel
|
So.
|
G
|
6-4
|
185
|
Ewing,
N.J./Trenton Catholic
|
|
Ryan
Pearson, George Mason
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-6
|
237
|
Far
Rockaway, N.Y./Christ the King
|
|
Keith
Rendleman, UNCW
|
Jr.
|
F
|
6-8
|
213
|
Iron
Station, N.C./East Lincoln
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second
Team All-CAA
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High
School
|
|
Chris
Cooper, Old Dominion
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-9
|
230
|
Dumfries,
Va./Forest Park
|
|
Samme
Givens, Drexel
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-5
|
220
|
Philadelphia,
Pa./Acad. of the New Church
|
|
Jamelle
Hagins, Delaware
|
Jr.
|
F
|
6-9
|
240
|
Roanoke,
Va./William Fleming
|
|
Mike
Moore, Hofstra
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-5
|
200
|
New
Haven, Conn./Hillhouse
|
|
Devon
Saddler, Delaware
|
So.
|
G
|
6-2
|
205
|
Aberdeen,
Md./Aberdeen/Winchendon Prep
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Third
Team All-CAA
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High
School
|
|
Jihad
Ali, Georgia State
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-5
|
200
|
Atlanta,
Ga./Martin Luther King
|
|
Eric
Buckner, Georgia State
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-10
|
203
|
Ehrhardt,
S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt
|
|
Humpty
Hitchens, James Madison
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-9
|
185
|
Chillicothe,
Ohio/Chillicothe
|
|
Jonathan
Lee, Northeastern
|
Jr.
|
G
|
6-2
|
200
|
Flint,
Mich./Flint Carmen-Ainworth
|
|
Juvonte
Reddic, VCU
|
So.
|
F
|
6-9
|
235
|
Winston-Salem,
N.C./Quality
Education Acad.
|
|
Darius
Theus, VCU
|
Jr.
|
G
|
6-3
|
200
|
Portsmouth,
Va./I.C. Norcom
|
2012 CAA Player of the Year - Ryan Pearson, George Mason
2012 CAA Coach of the Year - Bruiser Flint, Drexel
2012 CAA Rookie of the Year - Damion Lee, Drexel
2012 CAA Defensive Player of the Year - Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion
2012 Dean Ehlers Leadership Award - Jihad Ali, Georgia State and Quinn McDowell, William and Mary
|
CAA
All-Rookie Team
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High
School
|
|
Quincy
Ford, Northeastern
|
Fr.
|
G/F
|
6-8
|
212
|
St.
Petersburg, Fla./Gibbs
|
|
Damion
Lee, Drexel
|
Fr.
|
G
|
6-6
|
190
|
Owings
Mills, Md./St. Thomas More
|
|
Adam
Smith, UNCW
|
Fr.
|
G
|
6-1
|
161
|
Jonesboro,
Ga./Fayette County
|
|
Marcus
Thornton, William & Mary
|
Fr.
|
G
|
6-4
|
170
|
Upper
Marlboro, Md./Bishop McNamara
|
|
Jarvis
Threatt, Delaware
|
Fr.
|
G
|
6-2
|
170
|
Highland
Springs, Va./Highland Springs
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAA
All-Defensive Team
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High
School
|
|
Kent
Bazemore, Old Dominion
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-5
|
195
|
Kelford,
N.C./Bertie
|
|
Eric
Buckner, Georgia State
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-10
|
203
|
Ehrhardt,
S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt
|
|
Jamelle
Hagins, Delaware
|
Jr.
|
F
|
6-9
|
240
|
Roanoke,
Va./William Fleming
|
|
Robert
Nwankwo, Towson
|
Sr.
|
C
|
6-8
|
220
|
Hyattsville,
Md./Parkdale
|
|
Briante
Weber, VCU
|
Fr.
|
G
|
6-3
|
160
|
Chesapeake,
Va./Great Bridge
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAA
All-Academic First Team
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High
School
|
|
Jihad
Ali, Georgia State
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-5
|
200
|
Atlanta,
Ga./Martin Luther King
|
|
Trian
Iliadis, Old Dominion
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-3
|
185
|
Perth,
Western Australia/Trinity College
|
|
Quinn
McDowell, William & Mary
|
Sr.
|
G/F
|
6-6
|
215
|
Mason,
Ohio/Archbishop Moeller
|
|
Dwan
McMillan, Hofstra
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-0
|
180
|
Brooklyn,
N.Y./St. Benedict's
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim
Rusthoven, William & Mary
|
So.
|
F
|
6-9
|
230
|
Winfield,
Ill./Wheaton Academy
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAA
All-Academic Second Team
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High
School
|
|
Brandon
Britt, William & Mary
|
So.
|
G
|
6-1
|
182
|
Chesapeake,
Va./Atlantic Shores Christian
|
|
James
Fields, Georgia State
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-4
|
182
|
Savannah,
Ga./Urban Christian
|
|
Erique
Gumbs, Towson
|
So.
|
F
|
6-9
|
230
|
Newark,
Del./Caravel Academy
|
|
Jonathan
Lee, Northeastern
|
Jr.
|
G
|
6-2
|
200
|
Flint,
Mich./Flint Carmen-Ainworth
|
|
Tanner
Milson, UNCW
|
So.
|
G
|
6-3
|
190
|
Cedar
Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAA
All-Academic Hon. Mention
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High
School
|
|
Rob
Brandenberg, VCU
|
So.
|
G
|
6-2
|
180
|
Gahanna,
Ohio/Lincoln
|
|
Kyle
Gaillard, William & Mary
|
Jr.
|
F
|
6-8
|
220
|
Huntersville,
N.C./North Mecklenburg
|
|
Matt
Grogan, Hofstra
|
Jr.
|
G
|
6-5
|
195
|
Middle
Village, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy
|
|
Fred
Heldring, William & Mary
|
So.
|
F
|
6-9
|
240
|
Winnetka,
Ill./New Trier
|
|
Doug
Howard, William & Mary
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-9
|
160
|
Leesburg,
Va./Flint Hill
|
|
Anton
Larsen, Old Dominion
|
So.
|
F
|
7-0
|
240
|
Copenhagen,
Denmark/Oster Farimagsgades
|
|
Jacob
Lerner, Drexel
|
So.
|
G
|
6-2
|
190
|
Philadelphia,
Pa./Abington Friends
|
|
Stevan
Manojlovic, Drexel
|
So.
|
G
|
6-5
|
197
|
Toronto,
Ontario/Martingrove Collegiate Inst
|
|
Andrew
Pavloff, William & Mary
|
Jr.
|
F
|
6-9
|
250
|
Akron,
Ohio/Walsh Jesuit
|
|
Ryan
Pierson, Northeastern
|
So.
|
F/C
|
6-10
|
235
|
St.
Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers
|
|
Gene
Swindle, James Madison
|
Jr.
|
C
|
6-11
|
260
|
Miami,
Fla./Gulliver Prep
|
|
Will
Townsville, Delaware
|
Jr.
|
G
|
6-3
|
180
|
Newark,
Del./Glasgow
|