MBB: Stephan garners Player of the Year, All-RMAC teams released
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Mesa’s Ryan Stephan was named RMAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year on Tuesday as the conference’s major awards and All-RMAC squads were announced.
Joining Stephan as major award winners were Fort Lewis’ Bob Pietrack (Coach of the Year), Colorado Mines’ Gokul Natesan (Defensive Player of the Year) and Regis’ Jarrett Brodbeck (Freshman of the Year).
All major awards and All-RMAC First and Second Teams were voted on by the league's 16 head coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players. All players who received at least one First Team vote or two Second Team votes earned Honorable Mention.
Stephan, the RMAC Preseason Player of the Year, enjoyed a season in which he dominated the league offensively. He leads the RMAC in scoring, averaging 26.0 points per game. He currently ranks second in the country in scoring average, as well.
To go along with his scoring prowess, the center leads the league in rebounding, pulling down 11.5 rebounds per contest. That number is good for third in the country. His 211 made free throws puts him fifth in the nation. He will enter the RMAC Tournament needing just four points to move into the top 10 on the RMAC career scoring list.
Pietrack didn’t waste any time in garnering the awards. He picked up Coach of the Year honors in his first year as head coach. He led the Skyhawks, who were picked sixth in the preseason poll, to an RMAC Championship with a 24-3 overall mark and a 19-3 RMAC record. They currently rank No. 8 in the country.
Natesan, the Preseason Defensively Player of the Year, turned in a productive junior campaign for the Orediggers. The Santa Clara, Calif. native led the conference with 2.1 steals per game, tying him for 14
th in the country. He also produced on the offensive end, ranking fourth in the RMAC in scoring (21.2 points per game).
Brodbeck was outstanding as a freshman for the Rangers, leading his team with 16.1 points per game. The freshman was a sniper from outside, leading the league with 95 made 3-pointers. That number would put him 10
th in the nation. Early this season against South Dakota Mines, Brodbeck knocked down 10-of-17 from long range, tying for the third most 3-pointers in a game in RMAC history.
RMAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year: Ryan Stephan, Colorado Mesa
RMAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year: Bob Pietrack, Fort Lewis
RMAC Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year: Gokul Natesan, Colorado Mines
RMAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year: Jarrett Brodbeck, Regis
All-RMAC First Team
| Name |
School |
Hometown |
| Joshua Blaylock |
Fort Lewis |
Lancaster, Calif. |
| Tony Dobbinson |
MSU Denver |
Stamford, Conn. |
| Chris Golden |
CSU-Pueblo |
Milwaukee, Wis. |
| Gokul Natesan |
Colorado Mines |
Santa Clara, Calif. |
| Marlon Johnson |
New Mexico Highlands |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Jonathon Mines |
New Mexico Highlands |
Brisbane, Australia |
| Nick Ongarato |
Black Hills State |
Broomfield, Colo. |
| Shakir Smith |
Adams State |
Tucson, Ariz. |
| Ryan Stephan |
Colorado Mesa |
Lakewood, Colo. |
| Alex Welsh |
UCCS |
Westminster, Colo. |
All-RMAC Second Team
| Name |
School |
Hometown |
| Rasmus Bach |
Fort Lewis |
Austin, Texas |
| Jarrett Brodbeck |
Regis |
Yorba Linda, Calif. |
| Nelson Kahler |
CSU-Pueblo |
Noosa Heads, Australia |
| Cade Kloster |
Fort Lewis |
Longmont, Colo. |
| Konor Kulas |
South Dakota MInes |
Appleton, Wis. |
| Ty McGee |
Colorado Christian |
Littleton, Colo. |
| Dalton Patten |
UCCS |
Parker, Colo. |
| Zerrion Payton |
Westminster |
Oakland, Calif. |
| Dexter Sienko |
Regis |
Spokane, Wash. |
| Caleb Waitsman |
Colorado Mines |
Fayetteville, Ark. |