LA GRANDE, Ore. – For just the second time in league history, a player captured Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors, as College of Idaho forward
Aziz Leeks earned the lofty accolades from the Cascade Conference as the All-CCC awards were announced by the league office.
The senior, from Las Vegas, Nev., shared CCC Player of the Year honors with Oregon Tech guard Mitchell Fink, while also grabbing the Yotes third Defensive Player of the Year award in the last five seasons.
Leeks averaged 12.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game through the conference tournament, making 56-percent of his field goals attempts – leading the CCC with 13 double-doubles. On the defensive end, he anchored the top scoring defensive team in the NAIA, recording 36 blocked shots and helping the squad allow just 65 points a night.
He becomes the Yotes fifth all-time Defensive Player of the Year – joining
Emanuel Morgan (2017), Sydney Donaldson (2014), Bryan Champ (2007, 2008) and Joe Green (2005) – while becoming C of I's six CCC Player of the Year (Josh Wilson – 2015, Tom Perkes – 2004, Shermon Ewell – 2000, Jimmy Kolyzsko – 1996, Kade Wilson – 1995).
Leeks joins Southern Oregon's Shea Washington (2006) as the only player in league history to earn both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
C of I head coach
Scott Garson was named CCC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career – having earned the award in 2014. Garson led the Yotes to the CCC regular-season and conference tournament title, winning 27 games for the third time in five seasons heading into the NAIA Tournament.
Joining Leeks on the All-CCC Team is fellow senior
Roosevelt Adams. The Hemet, Calif., is averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, converting 52-percent of his field goals and 45-percent of his 3-pointers – leading the Yotes in scoring and in 3-pointers made (76).
Two others were named to the honorable mention list – sophomores
Talon Pinckney and
Nate Bruneel. Pinckney, from Boise, is averaging 12.1 points per game, ranking second in the CCC in assists (185) and steals (64). Bruneel, from Meridian, is averaging 11.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, making 44-percent of his 3-point attempts.
Eastern Oregon freshman Jordan May was named CCC Newcomer of the Year.
C of I will learn their first-round opponent, game date and time for the NAIA National Championships later this afternoon.
All-Cascade Collegiate Conference
| Name |
Pos. |
YR |
Institution |
Hometown |
| Aziz Leeks |
F |
SR |
College of Idaho |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Mitchell Fink |
G |
SO |
Oregon Tech |
Clackamas, Ore. |
| Max McCullough |
G |
SO |
Eastern Oregon |
Post Falls, Idaho |
| Xavier Cannefax |
G |
SR |
Warner Pacific |
Salem, Ore. |
| Michael Loomis |
G/F |
SR |
Northwest Christian |
West Linn, Ore. |
| Roosevelt Adams |
G |
SR |
College of Idaho |
Hemet, Calif. |
| Collin Malcolm |
F |
JR |
Warner Pacific |
Ashland, Ore. |
| Ben DeSaulnier |
G |
SR |
Southern Oregon |
Philomath, Ore. |
| Joel Johnson |
C |
JR |
Corban |
Tigard, Ore. |
| De'Jon Bowman |
F |
SR |
Warner Pacific |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Jordan May |
G |
FR |
Eastern Oregon |
Troutdale, Ore. |
| AJ Monterossi |
G |
SR |
Corban |
Beaverton, Ore. |
Honorable Mention – Talon Pinckney, CI; Kenny Meyer, SOU;
Nate Bruneel, CI; Tre Benton, NU; Jordan Hunt, SOU; Tyler Hieb, OIT; Wesley Burke, Walla Walla; Ryan Quigley, TESC; Andrew Weber, OIT; Pat Ling, TESC; Brett Blackstock, MU; Justice Martion, NU
