2015-16 All-Liberty League Men's Basketball
The Liberty League has announced its 2015-16 All-League awards for men's basketball as voted by league coaches. The major award winners and all-league teams are listed below.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Deshon Burgess, Jr., Guard, Union College *
Union College's Deshon Burgess was selected as the Liberty League Player of the Year. Burgess and the Dutchmen went 13-12 (10-6 Liberty League) as they advanced to the Liberty League tournament for the first time in three years. The junior guard led the team in scoring, averaging 19.9 points per game, ranking him second among league leaders. He scored double figures in 24 of 25 games for the Dutchmen while starting all 25 games. He was also tops on the team and ranked among the league's top-ten in minutes played (2nd, 35.8), three-point field goal percentage (5th, .394) field goal percentage (6th, .467), three-pointers per game (7th, 2.0) and assists per game (8th, 2.8).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Felix Abongo, Sr., Forward, Clarkson University *
Clarkson University senior Felix Abongo was selected as Defensive Player of the Year after starting all 25 games for the Golden Knights this season. Clarkson had one of the league's best defenses as the team was ranked second in scoring defense, allowing 66.2 points per game. Abongo recorded a team-high 28 steals and was second in blocked shots with 10 on the year. It was Abongo's defensive versatility, both on and off the ball that helped the Golden Knights most as he was assigned to cover both guards and forwards throughout the season.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Edvinas Rupkus, Guard, Skidmore College
Skidmore College freshman Edvinas Rupkus earned Rookie of the Week honors after he stepped into the Thoroughbreds' starting lineup in only the fifth game of the season. Rupkus never looked back as he led the team in scoring, averaging 16.7 points per game, good for fourth among league leaders. He was also second in the league in field goal percentage, shooting from the floor at a .550 clip. A four-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection, he had ten games where he recorded 20 or more points, including a career-high 28 points in a road win against Union.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Skidmore College – Joe Burke, Head Coach
Skidmore College men's basketball head coach Joe Burke and assistant coach Rey Crossman were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. Burke and Crossman directed the Thoroughbreds to their second straight Liberty League championship despite having to use four different freshman in the starting lineup throughout the season. Skidmore went 18-8 overall and posted an 11-5 mark in Liberty League play en route to its fourth Liberty League title in six years. It is the first time Skidmore has claimed back-to-back titles since the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
ALL LEAGUE – FIRST TEAM:
Felix Abongo, Sr., F, Clarkson
Deshon Burgess, Jr., G, Union *
Kyle Edwards, Jr., G, St. Lawrence
A.J. Horde, So., G, RIT
Edvinas Rupkus, Fr., G, Skidmore
ALL LEAGUE – SECOND TEAM:
William Hython, Sr., F, Union
Jesse Browne, So., G, Vassar
DaVahnte Mosley, So., G, Bard
Erik Sanders, Sr., F, Skidmore
Erikson Wasyl, Sr., G, Vassar
ALL LEAGUE – HONORABLE MENTION:
Kamron Davis, Sr., F, RIT
Jamal Lucas, Fr., G, Hobart
Wade McNamara, Jr., G, Union
Willie Zachery, Jr., G, St. Lawrence
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM:
Colin Dougherty, Fr., G, Hobart
Tom Horvat, Fr., G, RPI *
Paul Grinde, Fr., C, Vassar
Jamal Lucas, Fr., G, Hobart *
Edvinas Rupkus, Fr., G, Skidmore *
* denotes unanimous selection