Following a vote by the league's head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season, the Liberty League has announced its 2024-25 Men's Basketball Major Awards and All-League teams.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Shea Fitzgerald, Sophomore, Guard, Vassar
Vassar College sophomore guard Shea Fitzgerald was recognized as the Liberty League Player of the Year. Fitzgerald played and started all 25 games this season for the Brewers as he led the team in scoring (19.7 points per game), assists (3.0 per game), free throws made (132), and free throw shooting percentage (.880). He paced the conference in total points with 492 while also topping the league leaderboard in points per game, and free throw shooting percentage. He was second in total free throws, third in 3-pointer shooting percentage (.372), and fourth from the field (.430). He was also among the top ten in total steals (T-4th, 47), steals per game (T-3rd, 1.9), total assists (8th, 75), and assists per game (9th). Fitzgerald, a three-time Liberty League Performer of the Week, ends the year ranked 25th nationally in free throw percentage and 71st in points per game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Azriel Almodovar, Graduate Student, Guard, Bard
Bard College graduate student guard Azriel Almodovar was selected as the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. Almodovar played in all 25 games for the Raptors while tallying a team-high 66 steals and 89 assists. He also chipped in a team-best 138 defensive rebounds, and 11.6 points per game, good for third on the team. He was second in total rebounds (122), and third in rebounds per game with 7.1. Almodovar spearheaded a defense that held opponents to 69.4 points per game. He closed out the year as the league’s leader in total steals (66) and steals per game. He also finished third in total assists and tied for third in assists per game (3.6).
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Chris Leysath, Forward, Ithaca College
Ithaca College first-year Chris Leysath was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Leysath has had a strong rookie campaign with the Bombers, starting and playing in all 27 games this season. He is averaging a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game and is fifth in scoring with 7.4 points per game. He also leads the team in field goal shooting percentage (.481) and blocks with 14. Leysath, a six-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week honoree, paced the league in offensive rebounds (75) and was second in offensive rebounds per game (2.8). Leysath is also among the league’s top ten total rebounds (5th, 184), and rebounds per game (8th, 6.8). Leysath and the Bombers earned the second seed in the league tournament and claimed their first league title since 2020.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Vassar College – Ryan Mee, Head Coach; Assistant Coaches Leo Clibanoff and Jon Salerno
The Vassar College Men’s Basketball coaching staff was named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. Head Coach Ryan Mee along with assistant coaches Leo Clibanoff and Jon Salerno guided the Brewers to a 16-10 overall record and a 12-6 mark in league play. Voted to finish eighth in the league standings in the preseason poll, the Brewers added six victories to their win total from a year ago, including four wins against conference foes to finish third and return to the league tournament after missing it last season. As a team, the Brewers averaged 75.4 points per game, good for second in the Liberty League. Two players were among the conference’s top ten in scoring with Shea Fitzgerald leading the way (19.7 points per game) and Avery Lee ranking sixth (15.5 points per game). Vassar was also second in team free throw percentage (0.777) and tied for third in field goal percentage (.432).