Following a vote by the league's head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season, the Liberty League announced its 2023-24 Men's Basketball Major Awards and All-League teams.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jonny Angbazo, Graduate Student, Forward, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI graduate student forward Jonny Angbazo earned Liberty League Player of the Year honors. Angbazo played and started in all 27 games for the Engineers this season as he led the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists with 14.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He was one of RPI's top shooters with a 44.1 field goal percentage (142-for-322) and a 73.0 free throw percentage (84-for-115). Angbazo also contributed 26 three-pointers and posted a 32.1 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Among league leaders, he was fourth in total points (535), seventh in points per game while ranking fourth in field goal percentage and seventh in free throw percentage. He was also fifth in assists (79) and assists per game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Trey Syroka, Senior, Guard, St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University senior Trey Syroka was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. The Saints earned the second seed in the Liberty League tournament and advanced to the title game for the second straight year. Syroka and the Saints' defense held opponents to a league-low 57.3 points per game. He averaged a team-best 30 minutes per game while playing and starting in all 26 games this season. Syroka was first among league leaders in steals (56) and steals per game (2.2), while ranking second in assists (112), and assists per game (4.3). He also contributed 8.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Tanner Tedesco, Guard, Union College
For the second straight year, a first-year player from Union College has been named the Liberty League Rookie of the Year with Tanner Tedesco earning the recognition this season. Tedesco led the Liberty League in assists (127) and assists per game (5.1) while ranking among the league's top-25 in points per game (22nd) and total points (23rd). He was tops on Union in scoring with a team-best 264 points and 10.4 points per game. He recorded double figures in 13 of 25 games this season and averaged more than 30 minutes per game (30.2). Tedesco also added 94 rebounds (3.8 per game), 13 steals, and four blocks on the year.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Hobart College – Stefan Thompson, Head Coach; Assistant Coaches Ben Horwitz, Dennis Pysnack, Tim Lewis & Charlie Evangelista
The Hobart College basketball coaching staff was named the Liberty League Men's Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year. Head Coach Stefan Thompson and his assistant coaches directed the Statesmen to a 20-5 regular season overall record and a 13-5 mark against league opponents. The Statesmen earned the top seed of the conference postseason for the first time since 2018. With a pair of victories in the tournament, Hobart claimed its first Liberty League title since the 2013-14 campaign. The Statesmen's 22 wins are tied for third most in program history as they head into the NCAA tournament, and they were undefeated on their home court this season (14-0).
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM:
Jonny Angbazo, Gr., F, RPI
Adam Dudzinski, So., F, St. Lawrence
Pat Healy, Jr., G, Hobart
Ryan Miles-Ferguson, Gr., G, Clarkson
Logan Wendell, Jr., G, Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM:
Avery Eugster, Sr., F, RPI
Carter Meshanic, Jr., G/F, Hobart
Lazaros Panagiotounis, Sr., G, Bard
Trey Syroka, Sr., G, St. Lawrence
Triston Wennsersten, Sr., G, Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION:
Brock Bowen, Jr., G, RIT
Chase Dickens, Jr., G, RIT
Aidan Rodgers, Jr., G, Hobart
Shea Fitzgerald, FY, G, Vassar
Tanner Tedesco, FY, G, Union