Central Islip, NY - For the second straight year, Jonathan Schmidt of C.W. Post has been dubbed the East Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. Ra'Shad James of St. Thomas Aquinas and Edil Lacayo of Queens College share Rookie of the Year honors.
A four-time conference player of the week, Schmidt has been a dominate force on the No. 2 nationally-ranked Pioneer squad this season. He tops the ECC in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game, and assists, with 6.17 per game. This season, Schmidt, became C.W. Post's all-time scoring leader, shattering the previous record of 1,835 set by Garee Bryant in 1999. Currently, he has scored 1,852 points in his career.
James is fourth in scoring for the Spartans, averaging 8.2 points per game. The two-time ECC Rookie of the Week is shooting 46% from the floor while adding 2.9 boards per game.
Lacayo has scored into double figures 13 times this season and notched a season high 20 point-performance against the University of Bridgeport. He leads the Knights from beyond the arc with 42 three pointers and ranks fourth on the team averaging 8.9 points per game.
For the second consecutive year Tim Cluess has been named the ECC Coach of the Year. Cluess guided the Pioneers to a perfect regular season with a 24-0 record as well as a No. 2 national ranking.
The First Team All Conference recipients include: Richard Byrd (So., G, Adelphi), Nick Carter (Sr., G, C.W. Post), Akeem Comas (Sr., G/F, STAC), David Seagers (Jr., G, Dowling) and Teairez Stennis (Sr., F, Bridgeport).
The Second Team is comprised of: Khaleef Allicot (Jr., G, Queens), Dave Boykin (So., G, Bridgeport), Kenny Burkes (Sr., G, C.W. Post), Casey Cosgrove (Jr., G, Adelphi) and Bryant Lassiter (Sr., G, NYIT).
The All-Rookie Team includes: Ra'Shad James (G, STAC), Edil Lacayo (G, Queens), Chris Manning (G, Molloy), John Merchant (G, Dowling) and Daniel Olsen (F, Concordia).
2009 All-Conference Teams
First Team
Richard Byrd - So., G, Adelphi
Nick Carter - Sr., G, C.W. Post
Akeem Comas - Sr., G/F, STAC
David Seagers - Jr., G, Dowling
Teairez Stennis - Sr., F, Bridgeport
Second Team
Khaleef Allicot - Jr., G, Queens
Dave Boykin - So., G, Bridgeport
Kenny Burkes - Sr., G, C.W. Post
Casey Cosgrove - Jr., G, Adelphi
Bryant Lassiter - Sr., G, NYIT
All-Rookie Team
Ra'Shad James - G, STAC
Edil Lacayo - G, Queens
Chris Manning - G, Molloy
John Merchant - G, Dowling
Daniel Olsen - F, Concordia
East Coast Conference Player of the Year: Jonathan Schmidt - Sr., G, C.W. Post
East Coast Conference Co-Rookies of the
Year: Ra'Shad James - St. Thomas Aquinas
Edil Lacayo - Queens
Coach of the Year: Tim Cluess - C.W. Post
