Charlotte, NC – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces the 2019 Men’s All-CIAA Team, All-Rookie team, and superlatives as selected by the Men’s Basketball Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association. These outstanding individuals were formally recognized today during the annual CIAA Tip-Off Awards Breakfast.
Shaw University junior guard Amir Hinton has been named Men’s CIAA Player of the Year. Averaging over 30 points per game, Hinton currently leads the CIAA and all of Division II in scoring while shooting just under 50 percent from the field and nearly 90 percent from the free throw line. The 6-5 Philadelphia native is more than just a scorer as he ranks top three in the CIAA in assists and steals while leading the league at just under 38 minutes per game.
Lincoln University (PA) (Cameron Campbell and Deaquan Williams), Livingstone College (Roger Ray and Lydell Elmore), and Winston-Salem State University (Robert Colon and William Crandell) lead the way with two men’s selections each. Hinton, Tyre Gathright (Saint Augustine’s), Jahmere Howze (Virginia State), William Jenkins (Virgina Union), Saiquan Jamison (Bowie State), and Roddric Ross (Johnson C. Smith) round out the men’s team as 8 of 13 schools were represented. Ross, Ray, and Gathright all return from the 2018 team while Crandell makes the team for the third consecutive year.
William Jenkins of Virginia Union University has been named Men’s Defensive Player of the Year. Jenkins, a Baltimore, MD native, ranks among the league leaders in defensive rebounds per game, total rebounds per game, steals, and blocked shots. The 6-7 junior also a top 10 scorer in the CIAA, averaging more than 15 points per game.
Virginia State University Coach Lonnnie Blow, Jr. has earned his fourth Coach of the Year honor in five seasons. Coach Blow led his program to a conference-best 16-1 record in league play and a 24-4 overall record this season. Blow’s Trojans have been nationally ranked for much of the season and currently sit at no. 3 in the D2SIDA Atlantic region. Coming into this year’s tournament ranked No. 1 in the Northern Divison, Coach Blow, and the Trojans will be looking to win their first tournament title since 2016.
Virginia Union freshman guard Demarius Pitts has earned the Men’s Rookie of the Year honor. Pitts leads all CIAA freshmen in scoring this season at 13 points per game. The Clinton, MD native has also recorded 101 rebounds, 71 assists, and 28 steals in his first CIAA season.
The Men’s All-Rookie Team includes two sets of teammates in Pitts & Raemaad Wright (Virginia Union) along with Zahrion Blue & Tamir Green (Lincoln (PA)) with Xavier Fennell (Winston Salem State) finishing out the team.
Men’s All-CIAA Backcourt
Amir Hinton, Shaw University
Roger Ray, Livingstone College
Tyre Gathright, St. Augustine’s University
Cameron Campbell, Lincoln University
Robert Colon, Winston-Salem State University
Men’s All-CIAA Frontcourt
William Crandell, Winston-Salem State University
Lydell Elmore, Livingstone College
Jahmere Howze, Virginia State University
William Jenkins, Virginia Union University
Saiquan Jamison, Bowie State University
Roddric Ross, Johnson C. Smith University
Deaquan Williams, Lincoln University (PA)
Men’s All-Rookie Team
Zahrion Blue, Lincoln University (PA)
Xavier Fennell, Winston-Salem State University
Demarius Pitts, Virginia Union University
Tamir Green, Lincoln University (PA)
Raemaad Wright, Virginia Union University
Men’s Player of the Year – Amir Hinton, Shaw University
Men’s Defensive Player of the Year – William Jenkins, Virginia Union University
Rookie of the Year – Demarius Pitts, Virginia Union University
Men’s Coach of the Year – Lonnie Blow, Virginia State University
Courtesy: CIAA
