West Haven, Conn. – St. Thomas Aquinas’ redshirt-senior guard/forward Justin Reyes was named the East Region Player of the Year, headlining the 2017-18 NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (CCA) All-East Region Men’s Basketball Team.
The East Coast Conference Player of the Year, Reyes led the Spartans to a 26-7 overall record and an appearance in the NCAA East Region Tournament. For the season, Reyes averaged a double double with 22.2 points-per-game and 10.1 rebounds-per-contest. Reyes is a three-time All-East Region honoree earning First Team accolades following the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
Joining Reyes on the All-East Region First Team was Saint Anselm’s Tim Guers, the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the year, Goldey-Beacom’s Corey Taite, the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, Merrimack’s Juvaris Hayes and Southern New Hampshire’s Chris Walters. For both Hayes and Walters, this honor follows each being named to the NE10 All-Conference First Team. Guers and Walters are also repeat members of the All-Region team with Guers earning a spot on the First Team in 2016-17 and Walters on the 2016-17 Second Team.
University of New Haven senior Danny Upchurch represents the only member of the All-East Region Second Team who will not be returning in 2018-19 as he was joined by four juniors; Bentley’s Ryan Richmond, Saint Michael’s Levi Holmes, Felician’s Terrell Spaulding and NYIT’s Jeffrey Hayden.
Sports Information Directors from NCAA Division II East Region schools and conferences selected the two All-Region teams. The process concludes with All-American selections announced in later this month. This is the second year the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association has sponsored the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball All-Region and All-American teams.
The Division II CCA encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.
2017-18 DIICCA Men’s Basketball All-East Region Team
First Team
Juvaris Hayes, So., G, Merrimack
Tim Guers*, Jr., G, Saint Anselm
Justin Reyes^, R-Sr., G-F, St. Thomas Aquinas
Corey Taite, Jr., G, Goldey-Beacom
Chris Walters**, Gr., F, Southern New Hampshire
Second Team
Jeffrey Hayden, Jr., F, NYIT
Levi Holmes, Jr., F, Saint Michael's
Ryan Richmond, Jr., G, Bentley
Terrell Spaulding, Jr., G, Felician
Danny Upchurch, Sr., G, New Haven
East Region Player of the Year: Justin Reyes, St. Thomas Aquinas
^ 2015-16 & 2016-17 DIICCA East Region First Team Selection
* 2016-17 DIICCA East Region First Team Selection
** 2016-17 DIICCA East Region Second Team Selection
Release provided by Dan Ruder, East Region Coordinator & Associate Director of Athletics for Strategic Communication, New Haven
