FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kenny Manigault is the Mid-South Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, making it three straight seasons that a UPIKE player has received the honor, league officials announced at the annual awards banquet on Thursday.
Manigault was joined by Macari Brooks and K.K. Simmons as First Team All-MSC selections.
The trio combined to average 55.8 points per game during the regular season, led by Manigault and Simmons pouring in 19.8 points per contest each. Brooks rounded out the group, adding 16.2 points per game.
All three players rank high in different NAIA statistical categories as Simmons leads the nation in 3-poiners made per game (3.6) and is second in total threes made with 105. Manigault ranks second in the NAIA in total steals (68) and third in steals per game (2.4). Brooks has the nation’s 15th-best shooting percentage at 56.1 percent.
Also earning awards were a trio of Academic All-MSC selections, including Michael Eneh, Jackson Hussey and Trey Rakes. In order to be nominated, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA and reached at least sophomore academic status.
UPIKE’s last two MSC Player of the Year winners were Bruce Reed in 2014 and Jamar Briscoe in 2013.
The top-seeded Bears open play in the MSC Tournament at 2 p.m. ET on Friday against No. 9 seed Shawnee State (Ohio) in the Frankfort Convention Center. Shawnee State beat No. 8-seed Cumberland (Tenn.) 70-59 in a play-in game on Thursday.
Comments
