University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs Featured Heavily in Big South Men’s Basketball All-Conference Awards
02.27.2017 | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team dominated the major individual awards for the 2016-17 regular-season for the Big South Conference with Nick McDevitt named Coach of the Year, junior guard Ahmad Thomas chosen Defensive Player of the Year, freshman guard MaCio Teague selected as Freshman of the Year and senior forward Giacomo Zilli tabbed as Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The league office unveiled the 2016-17 Big South Men's Basketball All-Conference awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.
"It's an honor to receive these postseason awards," McDevitt said. "Although they are individual accolades, we all recognize that it takes hard work and dedication by many for any of it to be possible. I'm very proud of my staff and our players for what they continue to do each day to make this basketball program successful."
In addition, Teague and Thomas were chosen first-team All-Conference with Teague also garnering a spot on the All-Freshman team.
UNC Asheville men's basketball picked up their sixth Big South Conference regular-season title in the 2016-17 season (1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2016-17) by finishing as co-champions in the league.
UNC Asheville (23-8, 15-3 Big South Conference) and Winthrop (22-6, 15-3 Big South Conference) shared this year's regular-season title. Due to numerous tiebreaking procedures, Winthrop earned the No. 1 seed in the Big South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and will play host to the quarterfinals and semifinals. The highest remaining seed will host the championship game.
McDevitt has been a part of five of the six Big South Conference regular-season crowns either as a player, assistant coach or head coach (1997-98, 2001-02, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2016-17). Just the third coach in Big South Conference history to win 15 or more games in each of his first four seasons as a head coach in the conference, McDevitt has already guided the Bulldogs to their second-most wins in program history in a season with 23.
Thomas finished the regular-season tied for second in the nation and first in the league with 94 steals. He collected three or more steals in 17 of Asheville's 31 regular-season games. Thomas collected a program-record 10 steals in a home win over Warren Wilson on Dec. 10, 2016.
With his six rebounds in the regular-season finale against Liberty, Thomas became the 56th player in Big South Conference history to score over 1,000 points and collect over 500 rebounds. Thomas enters the Big South Conference Tournament with 1,064 career points and 503 career rebounds.
The Hargrave Military Academy product with his two steals in the regular-season finale now also has 184 steals in his Bulldog career. The first-team all-league selection is nearing becoming just the sixth player in league history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals.
Overall, the Danville, Va. native and three-time Big South Player of the Week finished the regular-season in the top-10 in the Big South Conference in steals (tied first-94), field goal percentage (first-54.3 percent), scoring (third-18.0), rebounding (seventh-6.5) and minutes played (sixth-32.8).
"Ahmad Thomas has gotten better each year at UNC Asheville and has become an all-around player," McDevitt said. "He is tremendous on the defensive end of the floor as he uses his length, athleticism and anticipation to influence the game. But he can also score in a variety of ways and he is a very good passer, which makes him one of the best players in the Big South."
Teague concluded Asheville's regular-season in the top-10 in the Big South in free throw percentage (second-88 percent), scoring (seventh-15.5), field goal percentage (fifth-47.1), assists (eighth-2.8), three-point field goals made (seventh-2.1) and minutes played (fourth-34.2).
The Walnut Hills High School product scored a career-best 30 points with six three-pointers in a Bulldog road win at Longwood on Feb. 11, 2017. The Cincinnati, Ohio native just missed on a triple double with 15 points, 10 boards and seven assists in a win over Coastal Carolina on Dec. 3, 2016.
Teague made an impressive 29 straight free throws in league play during the latter part of the conference season.
In total, the first-team All-Conference, All-Freshman choice and conference Freshman of the Year received five weekly honors from the league office during the regular-season as he was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Week four times (Nov. 21, Jan. 2, Jan. 9 and Feb. 13) and the Big South Conference Player of the Week once (Dec. 27).
"MaCio Teague plays with a level of confidence, composure and poise that is very unusual for a true freshman," McDevitt said. "He is a very driven young man and he has a will to be great. From the moment he got on campus, he has been one of our hardest workers, which immediately endeared him to his teammates and allowed him to be one of our team leaders so early in his college career."
Zilli earns Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors for the second time in his career as he also received the award in the 2014-15 season. He is the only Bulldog men's basketball player to ever collect the prestigious award.
A double major in Management and Economics, Zilli boasts an impressive 3.966 grade point average.
A native of Udine, Italy, Zilli originally made his way to the UNC Asheville men's basketball program out of Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C. The first player ever from Italy in the program, Zilli has been a key four-year contributor who has put together many impressive games in his Bulldog career. This season, Zilli has made 13 starts for the Bulldogs and he is averaging 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
"Giacomo Zilli epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete," McDevitt said. "He's one of the hardest workers I've ever been around, both on and off the court, and he is very deserving of this great honor."
The Big South Conference regular-season co-champion UNC Asheville men's basketball team will next open the 2017 league tournament at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, in Rock Hill, S.C.
The second-seeded Bulldogs will take on the winner of the seventh-seeded Campbell-10th-seeded Presbyterian game that will be contested Tuesday, Feb. 28, in Buies Creek, N.C.
Big South Official Release (Click Link to Access)
2016-17 MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE
First-Team All-Conference
Keon Johnson, G, Sr., Winthrop
Xavier Cooks, F, Jr., Winthrop
Ahmad Thomas, G, Jr., UNC Asheville
Chris Clemons, G, Soph., Campbell
MaCio Teague, G, Fr., UNC Asheville
Second-Team All-Conference
LaQuincy Rideau, G, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Miles Bowman Jr., F, R-Sr., High Point
Tyrell Nelson, F, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Ryan Kemrite, G, R-Jr., Liberty
Khris Lane, F, R-Jr., Longwood
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Christian Keeling, G, Fr., Charleston Southern
Ed Polite Jr., F, Soph., Radford
Darrion Allen, G, Sr., Longwood
David Efianayi, G, R-Soph., Gardner-Webb
John Dawson, G, R-Sr., Liberty
All-Freshman Team
MaCio Teague, G, Fr., UNC Asheville
Christian Keeling, G, Fr., Charleston Southern
Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz, G, Fr., Liberty
Myo Baxter-Bell, F, R-Fr., Liberty
Jo'Vontae Millner, G, Fr., Presbyterian College
All-Academic Team
Chris Clemons, G, Soph., Campbell
Patrick Wallace, G, Sr., Charleston Southern
Tyrell Nelson, F, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Austin White, G, Jr., High Point
Ryan Kemrite, G, R-Jr., Liberty
Christian Lutete, F, Soph., Radford
Giacomo Zilli, F, Sr., UNC Asheville
Anders Broman, G, Jr., Winthrop
Player of the Year
Keon Johnson, G, Sr., Winthrop
Freshman of the Year
MaCio Teague, G, Fr., UNC Asheville
Defensive Player of the Year
Ahmad Thomas, G, Jr., UNC Asheville
Coach of the Year
Nick McDevitt, UNC Asheville
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Giacomo Zilli, F, Sr., UNC Asheville
The league office unveiled the 2016-17 Big South Men's Basketball All-Conference awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.
"It's an honor to receive these postseason awards," McDevitt said. "Although they are individual accolades, we all recognize that it takes hard work and dedication by many for any of it to be possible. I'm very proud of my staff and our players for what they continue to do each day to make this basketball program successful."
In addition, Teague and Thomas were chosen first-team All-Conference with Teague also garnering a spot on the All-Freshman team.
UNC Asheville men's basketball picked up their sixth Big South Conference regular-season title in the 2016-17 season (1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2016-17) by finishing as co-champions in the league.
UNC Asheville (23-8, 15-3 Big South Conference) and Winthrop (22-6, 15-3 Big South Conference) shared this year's regular-season title. Due to numerous tiebreaking procedures, Winthrop earned the No. 1 seed in the Big South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and will play host to the quarterfinals and semifinals. The highest remaining seed will host the championship game.
McDevitt has been a part of five of the six Big South Conference regular-season crowns either as a player, assistant coach or head coach (1997-98, 2001-02, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2016-17). Just the third coach in Big South Conference history to win 15 or more games in each of his first four seasons as a head coach in the conference, McDevitt has already guided the Bulldogs to their second-most wins in program history in a season with 23.
Thomas finished the regular-season tied for second in the nation and first in the league with 94 steals. He collected three or more steals in 17 of Asheville's 31 regular-season games. Thomas collected a program-record 10 steals in a home win over Warren Wilson on Dec. 10, 2016.
With his six rebounds in the regular-season finale against Liberty, Thomas became the 56th player in Big South Conference history to score over 1,000 points and collect over 500 rebounds. Thomas enters the Big South Conference Tournament with 1,064 career points and 503 career rebounds.
The Hargrave Military Academy product with his two steals in the regular-season finale now also has 184 steals in his Bulldog career. The first-team all-league selection is nearing becoming just the sixth player in league history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals.
Overall, the Danville, Va. native and three-time Big South Player of the Week finished the regular-season in the top-10 in the Big South Conference in steals (tied first-94), field goal percentage (first-54.3 percent), scoring (third-18.0), rebounding (seventh-6.5) and minutes played (sixth-32.8).
"Ahmad Thomas has gotten better each year at UNC Asheville and has become an all-around player," McDevitt said. "He is tremendous on the defensive end of the floor as he uses his length, athleticism and anticipation to influence the game. But he can also score in a variety of ways and he is a very good passer, which makes him one of the best players in the Big South."
Teague concluded Asheville's regular-season in the top-10 in the Big South in free throw percentage (second-88 percent), scoring (seventh-15.5), field goal percentage (fifth-47.1), assists (eighth-2.8), three-point field goals made (seventh-2.1) and minutes played (fourth-34.2).
The Walnut Hills High School product scored a career-best 30 points with six three-pointers in a Bulldog road win at Longwood on Feb. 11, 2017. The Cincinnati, Ohio native just missed on a triple double with 15 points, 10 boards and seven assists in a win over Coastal Carolina on Dec. 3, 2016.
Teague made an impressive 29 straight free throws in league play during the latter part of the conference season.
In total, the first-team All-Conference, All-Freshman choice and conference Freshman of the Year received five weekly honors from the league office during the regular-season as he was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Week four times (Nov. 21, Jan. 2, Jan. 9 and Feb. 13) and the Big South Conference Player of the Week once (Dec. 27).
"MaCio Teague plays with a level of confidence, composure and poise that is very unusual for a true freshman," McDevitt said. "He is a very driven young man and he has a will to be great. From the moment he got on campus, he has been one of our hardest workers, which immediately endeared him to his teammates and allowed him to be one of our team leaders so early in his college career."
Zilli earns Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors for the second time in his career as he also received the award in the 2014-15 season. He is the only Bulldog men's basketball player to ever collect the prestigious award.
A double major in Management and Economics, Zilli boasts an impressive 3.966 grade point average.
A native of Udine, Italy, Zilli originally made his way to the UNC Asheville men's basketball program out of Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C. The first player ever from Italy in the program, Zilli has been a key four-year contributor who has put together many impressive games in his Bulldog career. This season, Zilli has made 13 starts for the Bulldogs and he is averaging 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
"Giacomo Zilli epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete," McDevitt said. "He's one of the hardest workers I've ever been around, both on and off the court, and he is very deserving of this great honor."
The Big South Conference regular-season co-champion UNC Asheville men's basketball team will next open the 2017 league tournament at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, in Rock Hill, S.C.
The second-seeded Bulldogs will take on the winner of the seventh-seeded Campbell-10th-seeded Presbyterian game that will be contested Tuesday, Feb. 28, in Buies Creek, N.C.
Big South Official Release (Click Link to Access)
2016-17 MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE
First-Team All-Conference
Keon Johnson, G, Sr., Winthrop
Xavier Cooks, F, Jr., Winthrop
Ahmad Thomas, G, Jr., UNC Asheville
Chris Clemons, G, Soph., Campbell
MaCio Teague, G, Fr., UNC Asheville
Second-Team All-Conference
LaQuincy Rideau, G, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Miles Bowman Jr., F, R-Sr., High Point
Tyrell Nelson, F, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Ryan Kemrite, G, R-Jr., Liberty
Khris Lane, F, R-Jr., Longwood
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Christian Keeling, G, Fr., Charleston Southern
Ed Polite Jr., F, Soph., Radford
Darrion Allen, G, Sr., Longwood
David Efianayi, G, R-Soph., Gardner-Webb
John Dawson, G, R-Sr., Liberty
All-Freshman Team
MaCio Teague, G, Fr., UNC Asheville
Christian Keeling, G, Fr., Charleston Southern
Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz, G, Fr., Liberty
Myo Baxter-Bell, F, R-Fr., Liberty
Jo'Vontae Millner, G, Fr., Presbyterian College
All-Academic Team
Chris Clemons, G, Soph., Campbell
Patrick Wallace, G, Sr., Charleston Southern
Tyrell Nelson, F, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Austin White, G, Jr., High Point
Ryan Kemrite, G, R-Jr., Liberty
Christian Lutete, F, Soph., Radford
Giacomo Zilli, F, Sr., UNC Asheville
Anders Broman, G, Jr., Winthrop
Player of the Year
Keon Johnson, G, Sr., Winthrop
Freshman of the Year
MaCio Teague, G, Fr., UNC Asheville
Defensive Player of the Year
Ahmad Thomas, G, Jr., UNC Asheville
Coach of the Year
Nick McDevitt, UNC Asheville
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Giacomo Zilli, F, Sr., UNC Asheville
Players Mentioned
Monday, March 18
Monday, March 18
Thursday, March 14
Monday, March 04