2019-20 All-AAC Men's Basketball Team, Awards Announced
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The 2019-20 Men's Basketball All-Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Team and Awards are out, and Austin Butler of Montreat is the Player of the Year.
Vernon Jackson of Allen is the Defensive Player of the Year, while Blake McIntyre of Reinhardt and Skyler McKinney of Columbia International are Co-Freshmen of the Year. Kevin Burton of Union is the Coach of the Year, and Union was recognized as the regular-season champion. Union finished with an 18-6 league record to claim the title.
The awards were announced Wednesday at the AAC Tournament banquet in Kingsport, Tenn. The four-day tournament is being held at the MeadowView Marriott.
Butler led the AAC in scoring with 21.8 points per game. He hit 110 3-pointers and shot 42.1 percent from beyond the arc. Early in the season, the senior netted his 1,000th-career point and is currently closing in on 1,600.
Jackson leads the AAC in steals with 81 while netting 16.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He has also dished out 146 assists and blocked seven shots.
McIntyre averaged 12.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game for Reinhardt while dishing out 53 assists. McKinney netted 9.9 points per game and pulled down 5.1 rebounds a night to go along with 51 steals.
Butler and Jackson both made the All-AAC First Team. Joining them are Bryant Bernard of Tennessee Wesleyan, Richard Brown of Union, Jacob Cawood of Milligan, Niquan Cousins of Bluefield, Jeff McIlwain of Columbia International, Sae'Quahn Rogers of Point, Brandon Thomas of Bryan, and Jakobe Wharton of Union.
Making up the second team are Corey Benton of Columbia International, Corey Bowen of Point, Isaac Clay of St. Andrews, JaJa Davis of Montreat, Enocka Franky of Truett McConnell, Cole Gilliland of Kentucky Christian, Desean Green of Milligan, Jermiah Jenkins of Bluefield, Terrell Sheffey of Montreat, and Leroy Williams II of Allen.
Joining McIntyre and McKinney on the All-Freshmen Team are Marlon Allen of Truett McConnell, Cardinal Brown of Kentucky Christian, Dominique Oggs of Tennessee Wesleyan, Markelle Turner of Union, and Jamiel Wright of Montreat.
Jackson, Green, and Wharton are joined on the All-Defensive Team by Mike Featherston of Milligan and Virgil Lackey of Allen.
Green also made the Champions of Character Team as did Joshua Chairs of Tennessee Wesleyan, Nick Cook of Allen, Keaton Dotson of Bryan, Shaquille Evans of Montreat, Brent Gaither of Point, Marcus Kirkland of Reinhardt, Rob Littlejohn of Bluefield, Matthew McDonough of Truett McConnell, Dominique Mitchell of Kentucky Christian, Derek Morgan of Union, Colo Piatko of Columbia International, and Martaye Sembly of St. Andrews.
Dozens of student-athletes made the grade to earn a spot on the All-Academic Team.
To view a complete list of the award winners, click here.
The tournament tips off on Thursday. For more info on the event, click here.