All-MIAA Men’s Basketball Team Announced

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Central Missouri forward Sanijay Watts was chosen as MIAA Player of the Year, while Kim Anderson (Central Missouri) and Mark Johnson (Fort Hays State) shared MIAA Coach of the Year honors to headline the 2009-10 all-conference men's basketball team released by the league office Wednesday. The selections were made by the league's 11 head coaches, and coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
 
Watts was selected as player of the year after leading the MIAA in scoring with 21.5 points per game and rebounding with 9.7 boards per game. The senior from St. Louis, Mo., was also a unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection. It is his second consecutive year to be named to the first team. Central Missouri teammate Alex Moosmann was the only other unanimous first team choice.
 
Anderson earned his second coach of the year award after leading Central Missouri to the MIAA regular season championship, the Mules' third title in six years and first outright since 1984.
 
Johnson was named coach of the year for the first time after guiding Fort Hays State to a 16-4 record in league play and the No. 2 seed in the MIAA Championship Tournament.
 
Missouri Southern junior guard Skyler Bowlin earned 2009-10 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Paragould, Ark., native was the leader of a Southern defense that allowed just 73.3 points per game. Bowlin was also named All-MIAA Second Team after finishing second in the league in assists (5.5 apg) and 13th in scoring (13.5 ppg).
 
Northwest Missouri guard Deshaun Cooper is the 2009-10 MIAA Freshman of the Year after finishing sixth in the conference in assists (4.0 apg) and ninth in steals (1.4 spg). The St. Louis, Mo., product started eight games for Northwest and saw action in 27 contests.

Central Missouri led the league with three All-MIAA selections, followed by Fort Hays State, Missouri Southern, Missouri Western, Nebraska-Omaha, Pittsburg State and Southwest Baptist with two each.

The 2010 MIAA Basketball Championships begin Thursday at Municipal Auditorium in Downtown Kansas City, with the men taking the floor on Friday.

2009-10 ALL-MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sanijay Watts, Sr., F, Central Missouri
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Skyler Bowlin, Jr., G, Missouri Southern
 
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Deshaun Cooper, G, Northwest Missouri

COACHES OF THE YEAR
Kim Anderson, Central Missouri
Mark Johnson, Fort Hays State
 
FIRST TEAM
Sanijay Watts, F, Sr., Central Missouri**[r1]
Alex Moosmann, G, Sr., Central Missouri**
Matt Rogers, F/C, Sr., Southwest Baptist [r1][r1]
Dominique Jones, G, Jr., Fort Hays State
Tyler Bullock, G, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha

**Unanimous Selection
[r1] - Repeat first team selection from last season
[r1][r1] - Repeat first team selection from the last two seasons
 
SECOND TEAM
Corbin Kuntzsch, G, Jr., Fort Hays State
Marcus Rhodes, G, Sr., Missouri Western
Jason Adams, G/F, So., Missouri Southern
Skyler Bowlin, G, Jr., Missouri Southern
Andrew Bridger, G, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Tremaine Luellen, F, Sr., Central Missouri
Lamar Wilbern, G, Sr., Emporia State
James Bush, F, Sr., Missouri Western
Elijah Allen, F, Jr., Northwest Missouri
Rodney Grace, F, Sr., Pittsburg State
Spencer Magana, G, Sr., Pittsburg State
Tomas Brock, G, Jr., Southwest Baptist
De'Andre Washington, F, Jr., Washburn

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Skyler Bowlin, G, Jr., Missouri Southern [r1]
James Bush, F, Sr., Missouri Western
Tremaine Luellen, F, Sr., Central Missouri
Matt Rogers, F/C, Sr., Southwest Baptist [r1][r1][r1]
William McNeill, G, So., Washburn
 
[r1] - Repeat selection from last season
[r1][r1][r1] - Repeat selection from the last three seasons