COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines guard Majok Deng is the 2024-25 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, the league announced Thursday in conjunction with the conference’s other major award winners and All-RMAC rosters.

University of Colorado Colorado Springs forward William Becker earns the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, while Black Hills State guard Cam Lowe claims the Freshman of the Year honor. Colorado School of Mines’ head coach Pryor Orser rounds out the 2024-25 major awards, winning the Coach of the Year award.

The All-RMAC teams and awards are selected and voted on by the league’s 15 head coaches. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their players.

Deng claims the Player of the Year Award following an impressive 2024-25 regular season campaign for the Orediggers. The 6-4 guard started in every game for Colorado School of Mines this season, averaging 14.7 points per game on 45% shooting. One of the highlights of his 2024-25 campaign came against Adams State, where Deng erupted for a season-high 33 points on an incredible 64% shooting. This performance not only marked his season high but also ranked as the fifth-highest scoring game in the RMAC this season. Deng’s outstanding efforts placed him among the conference's elite, and he ranked ninth in the RMAC for points per game, which earned him the distinction of being the only Oredigger in the Top 25 for scoring. Behind Deng, the Orediggers finished the regular season with a 24-4 record, earning the No. 1 seed in the RMAC Championship and the RMAC’s Regular Season Championship.

Becker earns the Defensive Player of the Year Award after a dominant defensive performance throughout the regular season. Becker’s defensive presence on the court was a cornerstone of UCCS' success, as he averaged 9.1 rebounds per game and 1.6 blocks per game, ranking first and second in the conference, respectively. Becker also led the RMAC in double-doubles, recording an impressive 14 throughout the season, 12th-most in Division II. Becker's defense played a key role in helping UCCS achieve a 17-11 record and securing the No. 7 seed in the RMAC Championship.

Lowe made an immediate impact for the BHSU to secure the league’s Freshman of the Year honor, averaging 15.5 points per game on an efficient 49% shooting, ranking fourth in the conference in scoring. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native also averaged 7.9 rebounds, the third-highest rebounding total in the conference. Lowe recorded a season-high 28 points against UCCS in a 95-89 overtime victory. With the help of Lowe, the Yellow Jackets finished the regular season with a 17-11 record, earning the fifth seed in the RMAC Men’s Basketball Championship.

Colorado School of Mines head coach Pryor Orser has been named the 2024-25 RMAC Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his illustrious career. Under Orser’s leadership, the Orediggers captured their sixth RMAC regular season title, finishing with an outstanding 25-4 overall record and an 18-2 conference mark. Throughout the season, Orser’s team maintained its spot in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top-25 rankings, earning the No. 9 position in the latest poll. The Orediggers lived up to the hype they received to start the season, where they were picked as the No. 1 team in the 2025 RMAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll—the Orediggers now head into the semifinal round of the RMAC Championship as the top overall seed.

Of the 20 student-athletes represented on the 2024-25 Men’s Basketball All-RMAC rosters, 10 institutions are represented. Colorado School of Mines and Regis are tied with three total roster spots each. Black Hills State, Chadron State, Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and UCCS have two honorees. Adams State and Colorado Christian close out the represented institutions with one roster spot apiece.

2024-25 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Award Winners

Player of the Year: Majok Deng, Colorado School of Mines
Defensive Player of the Year: William Becker, UCCS
Freshman of the Year: Cam Lowe, Black Hills State
Coach of the Year: Pryor Orser, Colorado School of Mines

BLACK HILLS STATE: Jaeton Hackley, Tristan Hurdle
CHADRON STATE: Julio Phipps
COLORADO MESA: Will Mortimore
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES: Alex Romack, Grant Pressly
CSU PUEBLO: Armon Muldrew, De’Shaun Cooper
FORT LEWIS: Tru Allen
MSU DENVER: Quave Propst-Allison, Logan Threatt
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS: Blessin Kimble, Kenard Richardson
REGIS: Eddy Egun
UCCS: Haanes Saar
WESTERN COLORADO: Kade Juelfs
WESTMINSTER: Donaval Avila