Carleton swingman Connor Wood was named recipient of the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy. Wood, a 6-4 psychology student from Guelph, Ont., and the 2016 Jack Donohue Trophy as the CIS’s postseason tourney MVP, was the Ontario University Athletics player of the year. He averaged a career-high 19.1 ppg (fourth in the OUA), while shooting 50.8 per cent from the floor (11th in the OUA). He ranked second in U Sports with 76 three-pointers made, while his .503 conversion rate from the beyond the arc was the third highest total across the country and 2nd in the OUA. He also averaged 4.5 rpg and 2.7 apg on the campaign. Over the course of his career, Wood won five national championships, two OUA Wilson Cup titles, two U Sports men’s Final 8 all-tournament selections, and three OUA All-Star awards, including one first-team selection and two second-team selections. “Connor has worked very hard over the past five years to get to this point,” said Ravens coach Dave Smart. “His relentless commitment to excellence on the basketball court has paid off with this well-deserved honour.” He became the fifth different Raven to be named national player of the year and it marked the eighth time a Carleton player earned the laurels. The other Moser nominees were other nominees were guard Conor Morgan of UBC, forward Kevin Bercy of StFX and guard Dele Ogundokun of McGill.
uOttawa swingman Caleb Agada was named the national defensive player of the year for the second consecutive season. The 6-4 fifth-year economic students from Burlington, Ont., pilfered 49 balls to rank third in the nation with 2.9 spg. Agada was also the second-leading rebounder for Ottawa, pulling down 6.4 per game. A three-time OUA first-team all-star and two-time recipient of the OUA’s defensive player of the year award, Agada finished his career with 578 rebounds and 1137 points in regular season play, and represented Canada at the 2015 Summer Universiade. “Caleb continued his explosive play on the defensive end again this year. His length, speed and anticipation make a threat to steal a pass, block a shot or pull down a big defensive rebound at any time,” said Gee-Gees coach James Derouin. “Caleb showed this year he could guard all five positions and lead his team to become one of the top defences in the country.” The other nominees were guards Ritchie Kanza Mata of Dalhousie, Dele Ogundokun of McGill, and Jordan Jensen-Whyte of Calgary.
Laurentian guard Kadre Gray was named recipient of the nation’s rookie of the year award. The 6-1 guard and human kinetics student from Toronto Eastern Commerce was also named to the U Sports all-rookie team and was the Ontario University Athletics rookie of the year and a first-team OUA all-star. He led the OUA and U Sports in scoring with 23.2 ppg. He finished second in the country in total points (441) and free throws made (130), was ranked in the top 10 in field goals made (141) and minutes played per game (33.5), came in the top 20 in free throw percentage (80.7) and steals (37) and was 22nd in assists (69). “Kadre worked hard on and off the court all year,” said Voyageurs coach Shawn Swords. “His desire to learn and improve was only matched by his competitiveness. Kadre is a great team player who, at times, had to carry his team this season. The future looks very bright for Kadre and the rest of our team.” The other nominees were forward Jamaal Potopsingh of UNB, guards Scott Kellum of Victoria, and Kendrick Jolin of McGill.
Carleton coach Dave Smart was named recipient of the Stuart W. Aberdeen Trophy as national coach of the year for the eighth time in his career. Following a one-year sabbatical while working with the Canadian senior men’s national team, Smart returned to the Ravens where he guided Carleton to its first undefeated regular season (19-0) since 2013-14. The Ravens went on to win their 13th national title in 15 seasons. Their average scoring margin was 33.4 ppg. They finished second in the nation in scoring (92.0 points per game) and first overall in scoring defence (58.6 points per game). In his 17 years at the helm of the Ravens program, Smart has won 12 national championships, nine OUA Wilson Cup conference banners and 10 OUA Coach of the Year awards. Smart led the Ravens to an unbeaten 19-0 OUA regular season. “Dave is an exceptional coach, he is focused on each student-athlete’s development, for them to be best they can be not only as an individual, but more importantly as a member of the team,” said Jennifer Brenning, Carleton’s Director of Recreation and Athletics. “Through coaching and leadership, Dave develops outstanding young men, instilling the values of hard work, respectfulness, modesty and community spirit.” The other nominees were Rick Plato of Dalhousie, Kevin Hanson of UBC, and David DeAveiro of McGill.
Joining Wood on the All-Canadian first-team were: Conor Morgan (U.B.C.); Adika Peter-McNeilly (Ryerson); Kevin Bercy (St. Francis Xavier); and Thomas Cooper (Calgary). …………………………………………………… Morgan, a fourth-year kinesiology student from Victoria, B.C., was named Canada West player of the year and a first-team all-star after leading the Thunderbirds to a 19-1 regular season championship. Playing in 19 games, Morgan was dominant at both ends of the court finishing inside the top five in several Canada West categories. The 6-9 Victoria Mount Douglas product was first in ppg (23.1) and field goals (161), fourth in field goal percentage (.567), while also finishing fifth in blocks (28). “Not only did Conor have a great season statistically by leading Canada West in scoring, he also took on a more advanced leadership role on our team,” said Thunderbirds coach Kevin Hanson. “Conor’s hard work in the off-season made him a more complete player this season, and the results showed.” …………………………………………………… Peter-McNeilly, a fifth-year sociology student from Scarborough, Ont., was a first-team Ontario University Athletics all-star for the second consecutive season. He finished tied for fourth in the league and 12th in the country with 19.2 ppg. The 6-3 guard from Scarborough Blessed Mother Theresa hit .873 from the line (best in the OUA and second in the country. His 132 field goals were third in the province. He finished with 134 total rebounds (12th in the OUA), 69 assists (seventh) and 39 steals (sixth). He 29 points and collected 12 rebounds to lead Ryerson to an 86-79 victory over the Carleton Ravens to secure the OUA banner for the second consecutive season, and averaged a team-high 34.3 minutes, 17.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game at the 2017 U Sports’ Final 8. His 53 total points was second best in the tournament and his 18 total rebounds eighth. He scored 23 in a 78-69 loss to the Carleton Ravens in the gold medal game. …………………………………………………… Bercy, a fourth-year business administration student from Kanata, Ont., was named the Atlantic University Sport player of the year. The 6-7 forward averaged a double-double with a team-high 19.8 ppg and 11.3 rpg. He led the nation in defensive rebounding with an average of 8.3 per game and finished second in the country in overall rebounding with 11.3 per game. His field goal percentage of 59.4 was the best in the AUS. …………………………………………………… Cooper, a fifth-year arts student from Chattanooga, Tennessee, was a first-team Canada West all-star. A transfer from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, the 6-5 guard averaged 25.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 3.1 apg in Canada West regular season play, while hitting .428 from the floor, .389 from the arc and .831 from the line. He was the Canada West scoring champ for the second consecutive campaign.
Joining Agada on the All-Canadian second team were: Kaza Kajami-Keane (Carleton); Dele Ogundokun (McGill); Javon Masters (New Brunswick); and Shane Osayande (Saskatchewan). …………………………………………………… Kajami-Keane, a fifth-year communications & media studies student from Ajax, Ont., was a first-team Ontario University Athletics all-star for the second consecutive season after leading the league in assists with 99 (5.2 apg). The Cleveland State transfer was Carleton’s second-leading scorer, averaging 15.5 ppg. He also ranked in the top ten in field goal percentage (51.8). He hit .368 from the arc and had a 2.1 assists-to-turnover ratio (7th in the OUA), while nabbing 4.1 rpg and 1.1 spg. …………………………………………………… Ogundokun, a fourth-year accounting student from Hamilton, Ont., was the RSEQ player of the year, defensive player of the year for the second consecutive season, and a first-team all-star. The 6-2 guard finished fifth in the conference scoring race with a 12.7 ppg, was third in rebounding with a 7.0 rpg, including a league-leading 5.5 in the defensive zone. He ranked fourth in field-goal shooting (46.0 %), second in assists per game (3.6), second in steals per game (2.2) and was fifth in three-point shooting (39.0%). He also led the league in assists per turnover ratio (1.3) and was sixth in minutes played, averaging 29.6 per game. Ogundokun reached double figures in scoring 10 times and registered three “double doubles”. …………………………………………………… Masters, a fourth-year arts student from Kitchener, Ont., was a first-team AUS all-star. The 6-0 guard averaged 19.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 5.8 apg in AUS regular season play, while hitting .467 from the floor, .380 from the arc and .836 from the line. …………………………………………………… Osayande, a fourth-year arts & sciences student from Toronto, Ont., was a first-team Canada West all-star. The 6-6 transfer from Lakeland College led Canada West in rebounding (10.6 rpg), while notching 17.4 ppg and 1.9 apg. He hit .475 from the floor, .250 from the arc and .833 from the line.
Joining Gray on the all-rookie team were: Eddie Ekiyor (Carleton); Scott Kellum (Victoria); Jamaal Potopsingh (New Brunswick); and Kendrick John (McGill). …………………………………………………… Ekiyor, a psychology student from Ottawa, Ont., was an OUA all-rookie selection. The 6-9 post became a starter for the Ravens in the second half of the season and was the team’s fourth leading scorer (9.8 ppg), and top rebounder (playing in 60% of team games) with 6.4 boards per outing. Ekiyor secured two double-doubles while providing Carleton with team-high 13 blocks. …………………………………………………… Kellum, a business student from Issaquah, Washington, was the Canada West rookie of the year. The 6-1 guard led the league in rookie scoring (13.2 ppg), while nailing 41 treys and shooting .441 from the arc (4th in the league). He hit .415 from the floor, and .722 from the line, while notching 2.4 apg, 2.4 tpg, and 0.5 spg. “Scott was one of our most consistent players all season. By the end of the season he was our starting point guard. It is rare to have a first-year player make such significant contributions to the team in their first season. His future is very bright if he continues to work hard,” said Vikes coach Craig Beauchamp. …………………………………………………… Potopsingh, an arts student from Brampton, Ont. was named Atlantic University Sport rookie of the year. The 6-4 forward started 12 games for the Varsity Reds and played in 18. He led UNB in rebounding with 6.6 rpg, while scoring 12.8 ppg. …………………………………………………… Jolin, an arts student from Pointe Claire, Que., was selected RSEQ rookie of the year. The 6-2 point guard battled through an injury-plagued season to start in 10 games, while averaging 9.4 ppg. He led the league in three-point shooting (48.5 %), ranked sixth in free-throw shooting (66.7 %) and sixth in assists (2.6) and seventh in steals (1.6) per game.