Anderson, Ross Feature Among 2016-17 Division III New England Men's Basketball All-Stars

3/9/2017 10:00:00 AM

DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016-17 Division III New England Men’s Basketball All-ECAC selections and major award winners

Raheem Anderson from Husson University capped off his senior season with the ECAC Player of the Year award, while Jake Ross from Springfield College received the Rookie of the Year accolade. Fitchburg State University’s Titus Manderson was selected as the ECAC Division III New England Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.

Anderson captures the ECAC Player of the Year award after a stellar senior campaign in which he helped the Eagles to a 33rd-consecutive winning season, their fifth straight 20-win season and their sixth North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship. The 2017 NAC Player of the Year ended the season ranked in the top-four in nine statistical categories among conference peers, including leading in points (720), points per game (26.7), free throws made (177), free-throw percentage (89.0), and field goals made (235). A two-time ECAC New England Player of the Week honoree, Anderson also tallied 105 rebounds and 37 steals in 27 games during the regular season and NAC tournament. The guard was remarkably consistent in his offensive production in 2016-17, posting 19 or more points in all 18 conference games, while netting 22 or more points in 16 of those outings.

Ross grabs the honor for Rookie of the Year after establishing himself as a key piece of the Prides’ squad and earning the same award from the New England Men’s and Women’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). In 26 games the freshman led his team in points per game (22.7), rebounds per game (9), assists per game (3.1) and steals per game (1.8). This season, Ross was a six-time ECAC Rookie of the Week selection and five-time NEWMAC Player of the Week.

Manderson garners ECAC Coach of the Year honors after collecting the 2016-17 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Champion’s Choice Coach of the Year award, his second coaching accolade from the conference in as many years. With Manderson at the helm, the Falcons posted a 10-2 record in MASCAC play and repeated as regular-season champions.

2016-17 ECAC Division III New England Men’s Basketball All-Star Team

Player of the Year
Raheem Anderson – Husson University, Sr.

Rookie of the Year
Jake Ross – Springfield College, Fr.

Coach of the Year
Titus Manderson – Fitchburg State University

First Team
Jaleel Bell – Fitchburg State University, Sr.
Jake Ross – Springfield College, Fr.
Raheem Anderson – Husson University, Sr.
Chad Copeland – Castleton University, Sr.
Jourdain Bell – Colby-Sawyer College, So.

Honorable Mention
Jordan Cooper – Brandeis University, Jr.
Justin Martin – Husson University, So.

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