Valley Hoops Insider – All OVC Team

(St. Louis, MO) – If you ignore Belmont’s domination of the Ohio Valley Conference, this was the most balanced season in years. The Bruins lost just one conference game, but every other team lost at least six league contests, and the seven other play-off teams are separated by just two games.

That balance of power has an effect on all-conference nominations and individual awards. Valley Hoops Insider is naming it’s first ever ‘Valley Hoops Insider All OVC Team’.

Second Team

Terrell Lewis – Eastern Illinois Panthers

The pre-season all-conference point guard (and formerly known as Cornell Johnston) didn’t ascend to the place of dominance, but still had a very solid season. Lewis averaged 10.5 points per game, finished fourth in the OVC in assists (4.7 apg), thirteenth in steals (1.2 spg) and fourth in made three-pointers, but most pointedly he is the top OVC player in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7).

Tahjere McCall – Tennessee State Tigers

Tahjere McCall is a major box score stuffer. McCall is all over the OVC statistical leader board. The rangy guard leads the league in steals (2.9 spg), is thirteenth in scoring (14.4 ppg) and third in assists (5.1 apg). Head coach Dana Ford, told me McCall’s greatest skill is that he plays hard. McCall was twice named the OVC ‘Player of the Week’.

Xavier Moon – Morehead State Eagles

Moon was solid all year, but particularly during league play. The 6’2 senior averaged 16 points per game overall, but was a 17.3 scorer against OVC competition. His 5.3 assists per OVC game average was third best. Moon had the second best three-point shooting accuracy in league contests and connected the third most times of any OVC competitor.

Wayne Martin – Tennessee State Tigers

Martin is a double-double machine (he recorded 10), and was second in the OVC in rebounding (9.2 per game) and is fifteenth in scoring (14.3 ppg). Martin was efficient while making 57.8% of his shots. He and McCall and Kedar Edwards represent the ‘rebounding and defense’ scheme that head coach Ford employs.

Nick Mayo – Eastern Kentucky Colonels

Mayo and the Colonels finished the way many thought they would play all year. It’s not that Mayo played poorly, but in the last two games Mayo scored 53 points and grabbed 18 rebounds during their final week sweep of Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech. For the season the 6’9 sophomore finished fifth in scoring (18.5 ppg), twelfth in rebounding (6.5 rpg) while making over 50 % of his shots. Mayo finished third in blocked shots (1.4 bpg).

First Team

Evan Bradds – Belmont

The defending ‘Player of the Year’ will likely be a repeat winner, since he is the best player on the league’s best team. Bradds was second in scoring (20.8 ppg), fourth in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and finished third in shooting percentage (64.1 %). As the center of the Bruin ‘inside/outside’ offensive scheme, the mid-major all-american has scored 1,880 career points, just 40 behind Division 1 era leader Ian Clark. Bradds was a three-time winner of the ‘Player of the Week‘ award.

Antonius Cleveland – Southeast Missouri Redhawks

SEMO’s senior guard led the return to relevance for the Redhawk program. The 6’6 senior did so much more than finish seventh in scoring (17.0 ppg), while making 55.7 % of his shots (7^th). Cleveland was the consummate leader and finished fourth in steals (1.5 spg). Cleveland recorded three double-doubles, including a 13 point, 11 rebound and seven assist game on February 23 against Murray State.

Jacolby Mobley – UT Martin Skyhawks

Mobley won just one ‘Player of the Week’ award, but the 6′ senior came on like gang-busters at the end of the season and finished third in the league scoring race (19.4 ppg) and led the OVC in three-pointers per game (3.3). His league-only numbers were even better as he made 3.7 treys per OVC game and averaged 21.4 points.

Josh Robinson – Austin Peay Governors

The OVC’s ‘iron man’ for playing the most minutes per game, is a lightning rod for many. Not known for his defensive abilities, the St. Mary’s High School (St. Louis) graduate can score. His 20.3 points per game average placed him third in the scoring race. Forced to play point guard most of the season, he finished 12^th in assists and tenth in assist-turnover ratio. Solid numbers while playing out of position. Twice the 6’2 junior was the recipient of the ‘Player of the Week’ award. Heading into his senior year Robinson is twelfth on the Austin Peay all-time scoring list with 1,494 points and sixth in career three-pointers (187).

Jonathan Stark – Murray State Racers

The OVC’s leading scorer and odds-on favorite to win ‘Newcomer of the Year’ had a special offensive season. Averaging 21.1 points per game AND finishing second to Belmont’s Austin Luke in assists (5.3 apg) put the Ohio transfer at the head of the class. An outstanding free-throw shooter and a capable defender, Stark was a huge addition to the Racer lineup. He made more three pointers than any OVC player and was second to Robinson in minutes played.

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