Robinson, Braxton Feature Among 2016-17 Division I Men's Basketball Major Awards & All-Star Selections
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016-17 Division I Men’s Basketball major award recipients and All-ECAC selections.
Justin Robinson from Monmouth University was selected as the ECAC Division I Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, while Saint Francis University’s Keith Braxton secured top rookie honors. John Becker from the University of Vermont collected the Coach of the Year accolade to round out the major awards.
Robinson receives the ECAC Player of the Year award after being named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Year for the second time in as many seasons. Through 33 games during the regular season and MAAC tournament, the guard collected 669 points and averaged almost 20 points per game (19.7), highlighted by a season-high 40 in a 102-82 road win over Siena College on Feb. 13. The senior earned the third MAAC First Team honor of his career as a result. Robinson was a three-time MAAC Player of the Week in addition to being named the Lute Olsen National Player of the Week once during the season.
Braxton’s award for ECAC Rookie of the Year comes on the heels of an impressive freshman campaign. Braxton was the only freshman to be named to an All-Northeast Conference (NEC) team in addition to being named NEC Rookie of the Year. Through 32 games during the regular season and NEC tournament, Braxton averaged 13.3 points and led all Division I freshmen in rebounds per game (8.8) and defensive rebounds per game (6.7). His defensive rebounds per game also ranked him third among all DI guards. The rookie posted nine double-doubles during the year, and earned seven NEC Rookie of the Week awards to finish just one honor short of setting a conference record for most rookie of the week awards in a single season.
Becker’s honor comes after he led the University of Vermont to a 29-5 record and the school’s sixth America East Championship. Becker was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association District I (New England) Coach of the Year and America East Coach of the Year. Under his direction, UVM posted its ninth-straight 20-win season and became the first America East team to post an undefeated (16-0) conference campaign. Becker and his Catamounts set numerous marks throughout the year, including the UVM and America East record for wins in a single season, and new program single-season records for longest conference win streak (16 games) and longest overall win streak (21 games).
Player of the Year
Justin Robinson – Monmouth University, Sr.
Rookie of the Year
Keith Braxton –Saint Francis University, Fr.
Coach of the Year
John Becker – University of Vermont
All-ECAC First Team
Angel Delgado – Seton Hall University, Jr.
Justin Robinson – Monmouth University, Sr.
Tim Kempton – Lehigh University, Sr.
Trae Bell-Haynes – University of Vermont, Jr.
Jordan Washington – Iona College, Sr.
All-ECAC Second Team*
Daniel Dixon – College of William & Mary, Sr.
Nisre Zouzoua – Bryant University, So.
Phillip Carr – Morgan State, Jr.
Bryce Aiken – Harvard University, Fr.
Tiwian Kendley – Morgan State, Jr.
Jerome Frink – LIU Brooklyn, Sr.
Steven Spieth – Brown University, Sr.
*Additional players due to ties
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