Player of the Year
Guard Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State
South Dakota State seems to be playing their best basketball heading into the Summit League Tournament, and the same goes for their best player and team leader. These reasons factored into Mayo’s announcement of Reaching the Summit Player of the Year. One of the better two-way players in the league who was announced preseason player and answered the bell. Late in the season, Mayo looked every part league MVP and voters stated that as one of the reasons for their choice of Mayo. As far as statistics, Mayo was 4th in the league in scoring, 4th in assists, 4th in free throw percentage, 9th in 2-point field goal percentage, and 6th in steals. Showing his ability on both ends of the floor. Mayo edged out Tommy Bruner of Denver and Frankie Fidler of Omaha for the award.
Reaching the Summit 1st Team
Guard Tommy Bruner Denver
Guard Issac McBride Oral Roberts
Guard Jamar Brown Kansas City
Forward BJ Omot North Dakota
Forward Frankie Fidler Omaha
Reaching the Summit 2nd Team
Guard Tyree Ihenacho North Dakota
Guard Raheem Anthony St. Thomas
Forward Andrew Morgan North Dakota State
Forward William Kyle South Dakota State
Forward Parker Bjorklund St. Thomas
Others receiving votes
Lahat Thioune, Charlie Easley, Boden Skunberg, Kaleb Stewart, Touko Tainamo, Amar Kuljuhovic, Kareem Thompson, Damari Wheeler-Thomas, Jaxon Brenchley, Drake Dobbs
Newcomer of the Year
Guard Jamar Brown Kansas City
Guard Raheem Anthony St. Thomas
So in an incredible turn of events, there was a tie for newcomer of the year. After some internal debate was initially going go with Brown as he had more first-place votes. After thinking more about it, if the voters are tied the voters are tied and we are crowning both Anthony and Brown. Brown was top 10 in the league in points, rebounds, and steals. Anthony top 5 in assists and steals. Both are rewarded for their accomplishments on both ends of the floor.
All-Newcomer
Guard Jamar Brown Kansas City
Guard Raheem Anthony St. Thomas
Guard Kaleb Stewart South Dakota
Guard Jailen Bedford Oral Roberts
Forward Lahat Thioune South Dakota
Defensive Player of the Year
Guard Charlie Easley South Dakota State
Whether it be a key steal, block, offensive rebound, or other hustle play, there were constant examples of the reason Easley is named Reaching the Summit Defensive Player of the Year. Easley led the league in steals with 2.3 steals per game and the next closest player was at 1.6. Yet anyone who watched a large amount of Summit League games this year saw that Easley not only had the statistics but constantly did things that didn’t show up in the box score. Typically took on the other team’s best scorer and made his biggest plays in clutch situations.
Reaching the Summit All-Defense
Guard Charlie Easley South Dakota State
Guard Drake Dobbs St. Thomas
Forward BJ Omot North Dakota
Forward Isaiah Carr Denver
Forward William Kyle South Dakota State
Reaching the Summit Most Improved Player
Forward William Kyle South Dakota State
What an explosion in year two for Kyle. Every statistical category was an improvement for Kyle in year 2 leading to his capturing the Most Improved Player award. In his second year, Kyle went from 9 points to 13 points per game, 5 rebounds to 6.5 rebounds, up half an assist and half a block per game, and went from 54% to 62% shooting. Kyle took on a much bigger role and started to take on the role of a leader on the Jackrabbits squad.
Coach of the Year
Marvin Menzies Kansas City
Picked to finish at the bottom of the league, preseason voters were not confident in Kansas City this season. While the Roos were returning some talent, they lost their top two scorers who were accountable for a large percentage of the scoring last season to the transfer portal late. So the Kansas City Coaching staff went into scramble mode. After probably using the most variations of the starting lineup of any Summit League team the Roos settled on one and finished with a flurry to their best finish in their time in the Summit League, landing the 2 seed in the Summit League Tournament.