Liberty League unveils 2016-17 Men's Basketball Awards
The Liberty League has announced its 2016-17 All-League awards and teams for men's basketball as voted by the league coaches.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Aldin Medunjanin, Sr., Guard, Skidmore College
Skidmore College senior guard Aldin Medunjanin was selected as the Liberty League Player of the Year. After missing 23 games last season due to injury, Medunjanin returned to play and start in all 26 of Skidmore’s games this season. He is second on the team in scoring and rebounding with 15.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, ranking him among the top-ten league leaders in both categories. He paces the league in assists with 144 (5.5 per game) and assist to turnover ratio (2.5 per game). He is the program’s all-time leader in assists and is second in points. Medunjanin is also Skidmore’s top defender and was a big part in the Thoroughbreds field goal percentage defense (.408), which was one of the best in the league.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kyle Edwards, Sr., Guard, St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University senior guard Kyle Edwards was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year. Edwards is a threat on both sides of the ball in 26 starts for the Saints as he leads the team in steals (31) while also ranking second in defensive rebounds (109). This season, he helped St. Lawrence advance to its second straight league tournament. Edwards is also tops on the team in scoring with 16.8 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game. The two-year captain, scored his 1,000 career point earlier this season and is currently ranked 13
th on the Saints’ all-time scoring list.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Tucker Lescoe, Guard, Hobart College *
Hobart College guard Tucker Lescoe was unanimously selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. He helped the Statesmen, the fourth seed in the league tournament, advance to its first championship game since 2013-14. Lescoe averaged 12.2 points per game and recorded 39 steals, both of which were good for second on the team. The seven-time Rookie of the Week selection paced the Statesmen and league in three-pointers made with 72, putting him third on Hobart’s single season list, seven away from the record. He was also tops in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.385).
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Skidmore College – Joe Burke, Head Coach; Assistant Coach Rey Crossman
Skidmore head coach Joe Burke and assistant coach Rey Crossman were voted Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote by the league’s head coaches for the third straight year. The Thoroughbreds claimed their third consecutive regular season title and were undefeated at home during the regular season (8-0). Skidmore went 19-7 overall and posted a program-best 14-2 mark in conference play. The team leads the league in scoring margin (8.1), 3-pointer field goal percentage (.363) and free throw percentage (0.795). Nationally, Skidmore’s free throw percentage is ranked fourth.
ALL LEAGUE – FIRST TEAM
Deshon Burgess, Sr., G, Union
Kyle Edwards, Sr., G, St. Lawrence
Derek Hart, Sr., F, Clarkson *
Aldin Medunjanin, Sr., G, Skidmore *
Edvinas Rupkus, So., G, Skidmore *
ALL LEAGUE – SECOND TEAM
Colin Dougherty, So., G., Hobart
A.J. Horde, Jr., G., RIT
Wade McNamara, Sr., G, Union
Andreas Kontopidis, So., F RPI
Riley Naclerio, Jr., F., St. Lawrence
ALL LEAGUE – HONORABLE MENTION:
Tucker Lescoe, Fr., G, Hobart
Jonathan Luster, Sr., G, RPI
Alex Seff, So., G, Vassar
Troy Pierre-Louis, Jr., G, RIT
Willie Zachery, Sr., G, St. Lawrence
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Robert Aguilera, F, RIT *
Sam Allen, F, Hobart *
Pat Gallagher, F, Skidmore
Tucker Lescoe, G, Hobart *
Christopher Rogers, F, Bard *
*denotes unanimous selection