The South Atlantic Conference Announces Men's Basketball Annual Award Winners
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Queens forward Jamari Smith was voted the 2021-22 South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, while Carson-Newman forward Bryant Thomas was voted the Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, and Mars Hill guard Kadyn Dawkins was voted the SAC Freshman of the Year. In addition, Lincoln Memorial head coach Jeremiah Samarrippas was tabbed as the Coach of the Year, the Conference announced today.
Smith, a sophomore from Jonesboro, Ga., led the Royals to a share of the SAC Regular Season title and a top-10 national ranking. He is ranked in the top-10 in the league in several statistical categories, including points per game (17.2), rebounds per game (7), and field goal percentage (52.3). A four-time SAC AstroTurf Men's Basketball Player of the Week, Smith was also named to the All-SAC First Team in addition to being named Player of the Year.
Thomas, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., has been a defensive force this season as he leads the league in blocked shots (63) and total rebounds (217). He is averaging 2.3 blocks per game and 7.8 rebounds per game, while also averaging 10 points per game and helping lead the Eagles to an 18-10 overall record.
Dawkins, a freshman from Greensboro, N.C., was the leading scorer for the Lions this season averaging 13.9 points per game. He also hauled in 2.6 rebounds per game with 2.5 assists per game. He finished the season ranked in the top-20 in the league in scoring, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage.
Samarrippas led the Railsplitters to a 24-3 overall record and earned a share of the SAC Regular Season Title. His Railsplitter squad finished the regular season with a league-leading offense that averaged 92 points per game and shot 51.4 percent from the field. There were also first in the conference in total rebounds (1,167) and assists (518). Currently, Samarrippas and the Railsplitters are ranked No. 7 in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the NCAA Southeast Region Ranking.
In addition to Smith, Tusculum's Trenton Gibson received First Team honors, along with Queens' Kenny Dye, Wingate's Jarren Cottingham, Lincoln Memorial's Chase Rankin, and Catawba's Caleb Robinson.
2021-22 South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball All-Conference
First Team
Jarren Cottingham, Wingate
Kenny Dye, Queens
Trenton Gibson, Tusculum
Chase Rankin, Lincoln Memorial
Caleb Robinson, Catawba
Jamari Smith, Queens
Second Team
TJ Brown, Newberry
Mekell Burries, Lincoln Memorial
Tripp Davis, Carson-Newman
Jordan Guest, Lincoln Memorial
Crosby James II, Anderson
Quandaveon McCollum, Newberry
Third Team
Alex Dahling, Lincoln Memorial
Parker Dortch, Anderson
Ben Gahlert, Limestone
Inady Legiste, Tusculum
TJ Nesmith, Lenoir-Rhyne
Bernard Pelote, Catawba
All-Freshman
Kadyn Dawkins, Mars Hill
Myles Jenkins, Anderson
Joel Pettiford, UVA Wise
Kris Robinson, Catawba
Matthew Sells, Lincoln Memorial
Player of the Year
Jamari Smith, Queens
Freshman of the Year
Kadyn Dawkins, Mars Hill
Defensive Player of the Year
Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman
Coach of the Year
Jeremiah Samarrippas, Lincoln Memorial
Statistical Champions
Points Per Game – Crosby James, Anderson; 17.6
Three-Pointers Per Game – Andreas Wilson, Wingate; 2.86
Rebounds Per Game – Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman; 7.8
Blocked Shots Per Game – Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman; 2.22
Field Goal Percentage – TJ Nesmith, Lenoir-Rhyne; 62.3
Assists Per Game – Chase Rankin, Lincoln Memorial; 6.1
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio – Chase Rankin, Lincoln Memorial; 2.89
Steals Per Game – Tripp Davis, Carson-Newman; 2.62
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage – Matthew Sells, Lincoln Memorial; 40.0
Free Throw Percentage – Jalen Johnson, Lenoir-Rhyne; 92.0
Team Scoring Offense – Lincoln Memorial; 88.2
Team Steals – Queens; 231
Team Field Goal Percentage – Lincoln Memorial; 51.4
Team FG Percentage Defense – Lincoln Memorial; 39.8
Team Assists – Lincoln Memorial; 518
Team Rebounds – Lincoln Memorial; 1,167
Team Blocked Shots – Mars Hill; 114
Team Three-Point FG Percentage – Lincoln Memorial; 39.3
Team Scoring Defense – Carson-Newman; 67.1
Team Free Throw Percentage – Lincoln Memorial; 76.4
Team Assist-to-Turnover Ratio – Lenoir-Rhyne; 1.57
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