Following a vote by the league's head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season, the Liberty League announced its 2022-23 Men's Basketball Major Awards and All-League teams.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jackson Meshanic, Senior, Forward, Hobart College
Hobart College senior forward Jackson Meshanic was selected as the Liberty League Player of the Year. Meshanic paced the conference in scoring with 21.5 points per game (580 total points) and was second in rebounds per game with 10.4 in 27 games. He finished the year among the top 30 in Division III for field goals made (6th, 218), defensive rebounds per game (14th, 230), total points (14th), total rebounds (19th, 281), points per game (21st), and rebounds per game (30th). The six-time Liberty League Performer of the Week also recorded a league-high 16 double-doubles, good for 13th in Division III. Meshanic and the Statesmen advanced to the Liberty League semifinals, finishing the year at 17-10.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dom Black, Graduate Student, Guard, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI graduate student Dom Black was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year for the third time. The Engineers earned the fourth seed in the Liberty League tournament and advanced to the title game for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign. As a team, RPI was tops in the league for scoring defense for the third straight year, holding opponents to 57.1 points per game. In 28 games, Black averaged a team-best 32.9 minutes per game and amassed a team-high 50 steals. He had multiple steals in 13 games this season and recorded a season-high of five twice. He was third in the Liberty League in steals per game (1.8). Black also led the Engineers in points (13.0) and rebounds per game (7.0) while tying for first in assists (77).
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Aren Cummings, Forward, Union College
Union College first-year forward Aren Cummings earned Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors. Cummings led all conference rookies in points per game with 10.1 and rebounds per game with 4.6 while ranking among the top-25 overall (21st and 22nd, respectively) despite missing the final eight games of the season. He was a starter in all 17 games he played and registered double figures in scoring during 10 of his 17 appearances. Cummings finished the year ranked fourth on the team in total points (171) and third in points per game while ranking fourth in rebounds per game and sixth in total rebounds (79).
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: St. Lawrence University – Chris Downs, Head Coach; Assistant Coaches Paige McCormick, Tom Miller & Mark Bicelhaupt
The St. Lawrence University men's basketball coaching staff was recognized with Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Head Coach Chris Downs and his trio of assistant coaches guided the Saints to a 19-7 overall record and a 13-5 mark in league play. With a pair of thrilling overtime victories during the Liberty League tournament, St. Lawrence earned its first Liberty League title since 2009-10. As a team, the Saints produced a league-high 231 steals and averaged 8.88 per game while ranking second in scoring defense (57.1). They were also among the top-three teams in field goal percentage (3rd, 0.438) and three-pointer percentage (2nd, 0.337). The Saints are riding an eight-game win streak as they return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since March 2017.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
Trent Adamson, Sr., F, St. Lawrence
Dom Black, Gr., G, RPI
Tautvydas Kupstas, Sr., G, Skidmore
Jackson Meshanic, Sr., F, Hobart
Luka Radovich, So., G, Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM
Jonny Angbazo, Sr., F, RPI
Riley Greene, Sr., G, Skidmore
Avni Mustafaj, Sr., G, Vassar
Trey Syroka, Jr., G, St. Lawrence
Logan Wendell, Gr., F, Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION
Blake Gearhart, Sr., G, Clarkson
Jack Rothenberg, Sr., G/F, Vassar
Kevin Ryan, Sr., F, RIT
Greg Skoric, Sr., C/F, Skidmore
Patrick Walker, Sr., G/F, Hobart