Men's Basketball Awards Announced for 2016-17
TOWSON, Md. – The Landmark Conference men's basketball coaches voted and named Susquehanna Steven Weidlich the Landmark Conference Player of the Year. Scranton's John Vitkus was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, and Drew's Riley Collins was chosen as the Rookie of the Year.
Weidlich finished the regular season averaging 21.4 points per game to go along with nearly five rebounds per game. He boasted a 44.6 field goal percentage while shooting 85.9 percent from the free throw line.
For the second consecutive season, the coaches voted John Vitkus from Scranton as the Defensive Player of the Year. This season, he has notched 45 blocks after averaging 1.7 during the regular season. His defensive presence helped the Royals defense to hold opponents to a 63.8 scoring average and has accumulated 18 steals this season. Offensively, Vitkus average 16.6 points per game and pulled down 8.6 rebounds per contest. Vitkus also earned First Team All-Conference honors for the first time in his career after being named to the Second Team last season.
Joining Weidlich and Vitkus on the First Team is Catholic's Jay Howard. Howard, now a three-time First Team selection, averaged 18.4 points per game and 7.5 rebounds. He ranked second in the league in scoring and fourth in rebounding. Juniata's Marcus Lee is also making his second appearance on the First Team. Lee led the Eagles in scoring this season. He averaged 16.0 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds per game. A first time honoree on the First Team, Moravian's Brandon McGuire finished the regular season ranked first in rebounding (10.1 rpg), fourth in scoring (17.3 ppg), and totaled 15 blocks and 47 assists. McGuire helped the Greyhounds to the conference title match, scoring 27 points to go along with his 12 rebounds. Susquehanna's Ryan Traub rounds out the First Team. He scored more than 17 points per game and shot nearly 60 percent from the field.
Drew freshman guard Riley Collins was chosen as the Rookie of the Year after scoring more than 16 points per game this season. He scored in double figures in 21 games including 10 of the last 11.
For the first time in his career, Moravian head coach Justin Potts and his staff were voted coach of the Year. In his second season at the helm of the Greyhounds. The team earned its first trip the Landmark title game last Saturday after missing out in 2008 and 2012.
Five different institutions are represented on the First Team. Susquehanna is the most represented with two players earning First Team recognition.
|
|
|
|
| Player of the Year |
Defensive
Player of the Year |
Rookie of the Year |
Coach of the Year
|
Steven Weidlich,
Susquehanna
|
John Vitkus,
Scranton |
Riley Collins,
Drew
|
Justin Potts,
Moravian
|
The 2016-17 Landmark Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams:
| First Team |
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team |
|
|
|
|
Jay Howard $*
|
Catholic
|
Jr. |
G
|
Pennsauken, N.J. |
|
Louis Khouri
|
Catholic
|
Sr.
|
G
|
Alexandria, Va. |
Marcus Lee $
|
Juniata
|
Jr. |
C/F
|
Carrolltown, Pa. |
|
Riley Collins
|
Drew
|
Fr.
|
G |
Lacey, N.J.
|
Brandon McGuire
|
Moravian
|
Sr. |
G |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
|
Chris Outing
|
Goucher
|
Sr.
|
G |
New Windsor, N.Y. |
John Vitkus
|
Scranton
|
Sr.
|
C
|
Mahopac, N.Y. |
|
Jimmy Murray
|
Moravian
|
So.
|
G
|
Plymouth Meeting, Pa. |
Ryan Traub
|
Susquehanna
|
Jr. |
C
|
Mt. Olive, N.J.
|
|
Ethan Danzig
|
Scranton
|
Jr.
|
G
|
Clarks Green, Pa |
Steven Weidlich
|
Susquehanna
|
Sr. |
G
|
Watchung, N.J. |
|
Kevin Doolan
|
Scranton
|
Jr.
|
G
|
Basking Ridge, N.J. |
$ 2016-17 First Team All-Landmark
* 2015-16 First Team All-Landmark
^ 2014-15 First Team All-Landmark