Posted: 02/28/2011 | Last updated: February 28, 2011 at 11:16 AM
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following impressive regular seasons on the hardwood, Lehigh men’s basketball sophomore C.J. McCollum has been named to the All-Patriot League First Team while freshman Mackey McKnight cracked the All-Rookie Team, as announced on Monday. This marks the second time in as many years that McCollum was named a first-team honoree after garnering Patriot League Player and Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
McCollum is joined on the first team by three others, who all garnered first-team laurels for the second consecutive season - Vlad Moldoveanu (American), Mike Muscala (Bucknell) and Jared Mintz (Navy). Also selected was Bucknell’s Darryl Shazier.
McCollum’s bid to win his second straight Patriot League Player of the Year fell short as Bucknell’s Muscala walked away with the honor. McCollum’s play has jumped greatly from last season, though, as he is averaging a league-leading 21.8 points per game, 23.2 in league play. His point total also ranks among the top 10 nationally while his 2.5 steals per game are among the top 20 in the country as well.
A native of Canton, Ohio, McCollum’s 7.8 rebounds per game stand third in the Patriot League while he leads the way (and is among the best in the nation) with his 84.6 free throw percentage (181-of-214). McCollum’s highlight game came on Nov. 26 at Kent State when he scored 42 points on 15-of-25 shooting. That marked the highest single-game scoring outburst by a Patriot League player this season while tying for the third largest scoring outburst in school history.
McCollum has also topped 30 points five times while scoring in double figures in all but two Lehigh games. He finished the regular season with nine double-doubles, including one stretch of four in a row. McCollum also set a Patriot League record with six league player of the week awards.
McKnight enjoyed a strong rookie campaign as the team’s starting point guard. He is averaging 7.8 points per game (fourth on the team) while he has dished a team-leading 109 assists (3.9 per game), just outside the top 10 in single-season school history.
The Houston, Texas native has enjoyed a strong season from the start, scoring 13 points and adding three assists in the season-opener at Penn State. McKnight also scored a career-high 24 points and added seven assists at defending NEC Regular Season Champion Quinnipiac while dishing a career-high eight assists at home against Holy Cross. McKnight is coming off a strong week which saw him score 26 total points and add 12 rebounds and six assists in a pair of road games at Bucknell and Holy Cross.
This marks the second straight season and fourth time in the past five years that the Mountain Hawks have placed at least one member on the All-Rookie Team. McCollum and sophomore Gabe Knutson both made it last season while senior Rob Keefer was named Rookie of the Year in 2008. Zahir Carrington and Marquis Hall also cracked the All-Rookie Team in 2007 with Hall garnering Rookie of the Year.
The Mountain Hawks will host Navy in the Patriot League Quarterfinals on Wednesday. Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased on Lehighsports.com or by calling the ticket office at (610) 7LU-GAME.
First Team All-League
|
Name, School
|
Pos.
|
Yr.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High School
|
|
C.J. McCollum, Lehigh
|
G
|
So.
|
6-3
|
180
|
Canton, Ohio/GlenOak
|
|
Jared Mintz, Lafayette
|
F
|
Sr.
|
6-9
|
245
|
Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Vaughn Academy
|
|
Vlad Moldoveanu, American
|
F
|
Sr.
|
6-9
|
215
|
Bucharest, Romania/St. John’s College
|
|
Mike Muscala, Bucknell
|
F/C
|
So.
|
6-11
|
225
|
Roseville, Minn./Roseville
|
|
Darryl Shazier, Bucknell
|
G
|
Sr.
|
6-0
|
180
|
Newport News, Va./Menchville
|
Second Team All-League
|
Name, School
|
Pos.
|
Yr.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High School
|
|
Devin Brown, Holy Cross
|
G
|
Jr.
|
6-1
|
190
|
Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City
|
|
Bryson Johnson, Bucknell
|
G
|
So.
|
6-1
|
181
|
Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada/St. David Catholic (Ontario)
|
|
Andrew Keister, Holy Cross
|
C
|
Sr.
|
6-9
|
235
|
Galloway, N.J./Absegami
|
|
Stephen Lumpkins, American
|
F
|
Jr.
|
6-8
|
225
|
Redwood City, Calif./Juniperro Serra
|
|
Jordan Sugars, Navy
|
G
|
Jr.
|
6-4
|
216
|
Winchester, Va./Millbrook
|
All-Rookie Team*
|
Name, School
|
Pos.
|
Yr.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/High School
|
|
J.J. Avila, Navy
|
F
|
Fr.
|
6-7
|
225
|
McAllen, Texas/McAllen
|
|
Cameron Ayers, Bucknell
|
G
|
Fr.
|
6-5
|
200
|
Blue Bell, Pa./Germantown Academy
|
|
Dave Dudzinski, Holy Cross
|
F
|
Fr.
|
6-9
|
220
|
Maple Park, Ill./Kaneland
|
|
Josh Herbeck, Army
|
G
|
Fr.
|
6-2
|
195
|
Ann Arbor, Mich./Fr. Gabriel Richard
|
|
Mackey McKnight, Lehigh
|
G
|
Fr.
|
6-0
|
170
|
Houston, Texas/Langham Creek
|
|
Pat Moore, Colgate
|
G
|
Fr.
|
6-5
|
185
|
Utica, N.Y./Utica Notre Dame
|
|
Isaiah Roberts, Navy
|
G
|
Fr.
|
6-2
|
175
|
Pennsauken, N.J./Woodbury
|
* - Seven players due to a tie in the voting