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2016-17 Men's Basketball All-Conference Awards Announced

2016-17 Men's Basketball All-Conference Awards Announced
February 23, 2017

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the 2017 All-AAC Men's Basketball Team on Wednesday, and Gerrard Newby of Union College is the Player of the Year.

Newby was also named the Defensive Player of the Year, while Connor Zinaich of St. Andrews University. Kevin Burton of Union is the Coach of the Year as he guided the Bulldogs to the AAC regular-season championship.

On the year, Newby led the AAC in scoring (22.0 points per game) and rebounding (10.2 rebounds per game). He scored a season-high 36 points twice and was named the AAC Player of the Week nine times this season. Newby ranks sixth in NAIA Division II in total rebounds (306) and eighth in total scoring (661 points). He also posted 16 double-doubles on the year.

Joining Newby on the All-AAC First Team are: Zinaich; Brandon Moore of Allen University; Cordaris Townes of Bluefield College; Oteriah Lee of Bryan College; Alonzo Mobley of Montreat College; Justin Bridges of Reinhardt; Tre Tiller of Tennessee Wesleyan University; and Tyrone Sherman and Paul Stone of Union College.

Making the second team are: Ivory Drummer of Allen; Jacob Cawood and Tyler Nichols of Milligan College; David Everage of Montreat; Samuel Bunkley and Nehemiah Jones of Reinhardt; Titus Gary and Lee Vanderhorst of St. Andrews; David Campbell of Truett McConnell University; and Mike Martin of Union.

Zinaich finished the season ranked third in the confernce in scoring (17.7 points per game) and rebounding (8.82 rebounds per game). He recorded season highs with 35 points and 19 rebounds and was named the AAC Player of the Week once.

Joining Zinaich on the All-Freshmen Team are: Moore; Daxton Bostian and Bo Pless of Milligan; Terrell Sheffey of Montreat; Kobe Foster of Tennessee Wesleyan; and Kai Lambert of Truett McConnell.

Newby is the Defensive Player of the Year for the third year in a row. He posted 46 blocks and 58 steals to go along with 10.2 rebounds per game.

Joining him on the All-Defensive Team are: Townes; Mobley; Sherman; and Dwight Sanders of Reinhardt.

A total of 21 student-athletes made the Academic All-Conference Team with Truett McConnell leading the way with five honorees.

To view the entire list of honorees, click here.