Adams Claims Top Award

2/21/2024 2:27:24 PM

Stepping into a starting role this season, Jaquan Adams took his game to the next level, leading the SLIAC in scoring and being named the league's Player of the Year. A senior guard, Adams earned 6th Man of the Year last season, and excelled in his new role this year; averaging 23.4 points per conference game. Adams shot 55-percent from the floor and also averaged 10.4 rebounds per game; finishing as just one of two players in the league to average a double-double. He added 39 assists and 18 steals over 14 SLIAC games. He becomes the second Panther in program history to win the award, joining Micah Paulson in 2018-19.

This year's Newcomer of the Year is Walker Gohring, from Westminster College. The freshman guard averaged 14.6 points per game during conference play, increasing his scoring by two points from non-conference play. Gohring connected on 27 three-point field goals and shot 93-percent from the free-throw line while averaging 2.8 assists per game. He is the first Blue Jay to win the award since 1998-99 when Cory Roper won the award.

This year's 6th Man of the Year is Charles Nelson. Nelson came off the bench for the Griffins and averaged 10.8 points per game while finishing with 38 assists and 29 steals. He is the first Griffin to win the award in program history.

Taking home the league's Defensive Player of the Year award for the second time in his career is Webster University forward Karl Moore Jr. Moore recorded 35 blocked shots against conference opponents, averaging 2.2 per game. Moore has 212 career blocks, the most in Webster history, and currently ranks 2nd in SLIAC history, just four away from the all-time record. He becomes the first two-time winner of the award.

Lance Thornhill was selected as the SLIAC Coach of the Year. He led the Griffins to a share of the SLIAC regular season title, going 13-5 while also winning a league-high 18 games overall during the regular season. This is the second time he has received the league's top coaching award. 

The final individual award is the league's Team Sportsmanship award, which goes to Westminster College.

First Team All-Conference
Jaquan Adams, Principia College
Cody Baer, Eureka College
Ethan Chartrand, Fontbonne University
Kiarie Patrick, Greenville University
Izayah Talmadge, Blackburn College

Second Team All-Conference
Jason Coleman, Webster University
Anthony Dillard, Spalding University
Karl Moore Jr., Webster University
Israel Palmer, Lyon College
Cheikh Thiam, Fontbonne University

Third Team All-Conference
Peewee Brown, Eureka College
Brye Hopkins, MUW
Kylon McCullough, Lyon College
Frank Toney, Lyon College
Brent Wagner, Fontbonne University
Ja'Rod Webb, Greenville University

All-Defensive Team
Malik Madison, Lyon College
Karl Moore Jr., Webster University
Elijah Rice, Fontbonne University
Izayah Talmadge, Blackburn College
Cheikh Thiam, Fontbonne University

All-Sportsmanship Team
Zach Kelsey, Blackburn College
Koen Woods, Eureka College
Kendall Horton, Fontbonne University
Joey Craig, Greenville University
John Paul Morgan, Lyon College
Josh Dukes, MUW
Shemarri Miles, Principia College
Kameron Jones, Spalding University
Rivaldi Hartanto, Webster University
Lee Verslues, Westminster College