NECC Recognizes Four From MBB
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Four members of the Mitchell College men's basketball team were recognized by the New England Collegiate Conference on Monday as the league announced its annual awards.
Junior Domenico Santiago was one of five players named to the NECC All-Conference First Team, while senior Alan Morgan and sophomore Hasani Williams earned spots on the NECC All-Conference Second Team. Senior Colizel Lewis rounded out the Mitchell honorees as one of eight selected to the NECC All-Sportsmanship Team. All awards were determined by a vote of the conference's head coaches.
Santiago, a center, is the fourth Mitchell player to ever earn NECC first team status. An all-conference third team pick a year ago, he started 26 games this season and averaged career highs of 19.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. He led the NECC in rebounding and double-doubles (15) and ranked fifth in scoring, and his .710 shooting percentage ranked third-highest in the country. After three seasons at Mitchell he ranks second in the school's Division III history in career rebounds (804) and fourth in career points (1,224).
Morgan earned all-conference recognition for the first time in his career, averaging 7.1 points and a league-high 6.3 assists over 22 games this season. He ranked 10th in the country in assists per game, and he finished his career as the program's all-time assists leader with 557 over 97 games. A three-year starter at the point, he also holds the school record for most games played in a career.
Williams, a forward, turned in an impressive second season to earn his first all-conference nod. He played in 26 games and made 25 starts while averaging career highs of 17.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest. He ranked third in the NECC in rebounding and eighth in scoring, and his 13 double-doubles ranked second only to Santiago in the league. In two seasons he has started 51 of 52 games and has career totals of 731 points and 465 rebounds.
Lewis joined the Mariners for his final collegiate season and played in 26 games while making five starts, averaging 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in a reserve role. He netted a season-high 23 points against Albertus Magnus College and handed out a season-high seven assists against Salve Regina University.
Mitchell finished the season with an overall record of 14-13 and went 9-5 in NECC play to finish tied for second in the regular season standings. The Mariners won a first-round game in the NECC Championship before falling to Becker College in the semifinals.
2018 New England Collegiate Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Mike Pierre, Southern Vermont (Sr., G, Melrose, N.Y.)
Rookie of the Year: Greg Metelus, Elms (Fr., G., Palm Beach, Fla.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Daemond Carter, Southern Vermont (Sr., G, Forestville, Md.)
Coach of the Year: Dan Engelstad, Southern Vermont
First Team All-NECC
Kareem Davis, Becker (Jr., G, Lowell, Mass.)
Samuel Durodola, Becker (Sr., F, Rosedale, N.Y.)
Jordan Booker, Dean (So., G, Waterbury, Conn.)
Domenico Santiago, Mitchell (Jr., C, Port St. Lucie, Fla.)
Mike Pierre, Southern Vermont (Sr., G, Melrose, N.Y.)
Second Team All-NECC
Joey Martin, Lesley (Jr., F, Melbourne, Fla.)
Alan Morgan, Mitchell (Sr., G, Port St. Lucie, Fla.)
Hasani Williams, Mitchell (So., F, Miramar, Fla.)
Jeduan Langston, Newbury (Sr., G, Roxbury, Mass.)
Dejuan Rodriguez, Wheelock (Jr., F, New London, Conn.)
All-NECC Sportsmanship Team
Bernard Broaster, Becker (Jr., F, Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
Noah Cesar, Dean (Fr., G, Miami, Fla.)
Tyler Sterling, Elms (Fr., G, Laurel, Md.)
William Cuffee, Lesley (Jr., F, Amherst, Mass.)
Colizel Lewis, Mitchell (Sr., G, Stockton, Calif.)
Tim Deng, Newbury (Fr., F, Portland, Maine)
Rohan Piple, Southern Vermont (Jr., G/F, Germantown, Md.)
Brendan Miller, Wheelock (Fr., F, Tampa, Fla.)