JustinYoung

EDINBORO, PA – University of North Dakota forward Jerome Beasley has been named the 2002-03 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. In tight balloting, Beasley was the choice over Kentucky Wesleyan’s Marlon Parmer and Ron Christy of Teikyo Post. Voting was conducted among Division II sports information directors.

The remainder of the first team includes Barton guard Tim Black and West Chester forward Ramzee Stanton. Christy is the only junior on the five-man unit, and one of only two non-seniors among the three All-America teams. The first team also showcases four of the top five leading scorers in Division II.

Beasley, a 6’10", 241 lb. senior, led the Fighting Sioux to a 20-9 record and a berth in the North Central Regional. A second team Daktronics All-American a year ago, he was named the North Central Conference Most Valuable Player for the second straight year after transferring from Midland(TX) Junior College. He led the NCC in scoring for the second straight year and also paced the conference in rebounding. Beasley scored 772 points, nearly three times as many as any other player on the North Dakota roster, averaging 26.6 ppg. and 8.9 rpg. He led the Fighting Sioux in scoring 25 times, including the final 19 games, and was the top rebounder 20 times. He shot 51.3 percent from the floor (293 of 571), including 33 of 72 on three-pointers, and was 153 of 208 from the line (73.6 percent). He ranks third in Division II in scoring.

Beasley concluded his two-year career with 1,402 points, including 772 this past year, the second-highest season total. With 37 points in the playoff loss to St. Cloud State, he tied Phil Jackson’s school record for 30-point games with his 12th of the year. He was named the 2001-02 NCC Newcomer of the Year in addition to capturing MVP honors.

Parmer played just one season at Kentucky Wesleyan, but what a season it has been. A 6’3", 190 lb. guard who previously played at the University of New Mexico, Parmer has led the Panthers to a 29-3 record and a berth in the Elite Eight after winning the Great Lakes Regional. He was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year while leading the Panthers in scoring (19.9 ppg.), assists (263) and steals (44), in addition to ranking third in rebounding (5.6 rpg.), and leads the GLVC in both scoring and assists. His 8.2 assists per game ranks second in Division II. Parmer is shooting 46.8 percent from the floor (199 of 425), with 53 of 148 three-pointers, and has made 185 of 229 free throws (90.8 percent). He was named the GLVC Player of the Week six times, and was recognized as the Most Outstanding Player in the Great Lakes Regional. The senior has led Kentucky Wesleyan in scoring 18 times and in rebounding seven times. His season included back-to-back triple doubles against St. Joseph’s and Wisconsin-Parkside.

Christy paced Teikyo Post to a 19-10 record while being named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. The 6’0", 195 lb. guard not only led the CCAC in scoring for the second straight year, averaging 27.2 ppg., but he is the top scorer in Division II. In addition, he pulls down 7.1 rpg. He shot 50.0 percent from the floor (292 of 592), including 64 of 183 three-pointers, and was 134 of 171 from the line (78.4 percent). Christy led the Eagles in scoring in 27 of 29 games, with 25 games of 20-or-more points. That included a Division II high 50 points vs. Nyack.

Black is a 5’11", 162 lb. guard who paced Barton to a 22-6 record. The Bulldogs lost in the semifinals of the East Regional. The Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Player of the Year averaged 25.5 ppg., good for fourth in Division II, and also led the CVAC in steals (2.4 per game), while ranking fourth in free throw percentage (83.1 percent), making an incredible 221 of 266 free throws, and ninth in assists (3.6 per game). He even snuck inside to grab 5.8 rpg. The senior scored in double figures in all 28 games and led the team in scoring 23 times, along with finishing as the leading rebounder on eight occasions. An All-CVAC selection the last two years, Black was the CVAC Freshman of the Year in 2000. He concludes his career as the school’s second all-time leading scorer (1,836 points), while setting school records for free throws made and attempted this year.

Stanton, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Player of the Year for the second straight year, rounds out the first team. The 6’4", 200 lb. forward led West Chester to the East Regional, with the Golden Rams finishing 21-9. Stanton was a four-time first team All-PSAC East choice, and departs West Chester as one of its top players ever. He ranks third in career scoring (1,957 points) and second in career rebounds (1,142 rebounds). This past year, he averaged 21.3 ppg. and 10.9 rpg., leading the PSAC in both scoring and rebounding and ranking 29th and eighth, respectively, in Division II. Stanton set a school record for points in a season with 640, and his 326 rebounds is the third-highest season total. He made 254 of 402 field goals (63.2 percent) and 131 of 176 free throws (74.4 percent). The Golden Rams were 83-32 during his four seasons, winning the PSAC East championship twice and playing in the NCAA Tournament twice.

The second team is comprised of BYU-Hawaii’s Alexus Foyle, Tim Washington of Bowie State, Nick Svehla of Nebraska-Kearney, Humboldt State’s Fred Hooks, and Wykeen Kelly of Salem International. All five players participated in the NCAA Playoffs, with Washington and Svehla guiding their squads to the Elite Eight. In addition, Jones was a Daktronics second team selection a year ago, as well, while Hooks moves up from the third team.

Foyle is a 6’6", 212 lb. forward who led BYU-Hawaii to a 19-4 record. The Seasiders lost in the first round of the West Regional. One could have never predicted Foyle’s success in high school, since he did not play basketball until going to College of the Desert for two years. He ranks second in Division II in scoring at 26.7 ppg., along with pulling down 5.7 rpg. Named the Pacific West Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year, he made 261 of 489 field goals (53.4 percent), including 11 of 43 three-pointers, and was 81 of 141 from the line (57.4 percent). He led the Seasiders in scoring 20 times.

Washington is a major component in Bowie State’s best season ever, with the Bulldogs heading into the Elite Eight with a 29-4 record. A 6’9", 235 lb. forward who was named the CAA Rookie of the Year while playing at American University as a freshman, Washington was named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament MVP after leading Bowie State to its first-ever CIAA crown. He then went on to earn South Atlantic Regional MVP honors with 17 points and 15 rebounds in the title win over Presbyterian. Washington is averaging 20.1 ppg. and 9.4 rpg., along with 90 assists and 33 blocks. He is shooting 54.3 percent from the floor (238 of 438) and has been to the line an incredible 277 times, making 187 (67.5 percent). He has led the Bulldogs in scoring 21 times and in rebounding 15 times. A two-time All-CIAA selection, Washington stands second in career scoring at Bowie State with 1,348 points in three seasons.

Svehla has spearheaded Nebraska-Kearney’s run to the Elite Eight, as the Lopers boast a 30-2 ledger. A 6’6", 220 lb. forward, Svehla was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year after earning Co-Player of the Year accolades as a junior. He is averaging 20.5 points and 8.1 rebounds, leading the team in both categories for the third straight year. He also has 75 assists and 51 steals, while making 56.0 percent of his field goal attempts (242 of 432), including 14 of 28 three-pointers, and is 158 of 207 from the line (76.3 percent). Svehla was named the MVP of the North Central Regional after tying his career high with 36 points and pulling down a career-best 17 rebounds in a 94-87 double overtime win over Metro State in the Regional final. He led the Lopers in scoring 25 times and in rebounding 17 times. Svelha has accumulated 1,963 career points and 881 career rebounds, ranking in Nebraska-Kearney's top five in both categories.

Hooks was named the Great Northwest Player of the Year for the second straight season after leading the conference in rebounding for the second straight year. The 6’6", 205 lb. forward averaged 17.2 ppg. and 12.2 rpg., the latter figure third in Division II, in addition to handing out 89 assists and blocking 42 shots. He led the Jacks in scoring eight times and in rebounding 25 times, as Humboldt State lost in the semifinals of the West Regional and finished at 23-6. Hooks shot 52.8 percent from the floor (200 of 379) and 62.2 percent from the line (97 of 156).

Kelly is a 6’0" senior guard who was named the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a junior and senior. The Tigers finished with a 25-6 record, losing in the semifinals of the East Regional. Kelly dropped in a season-high 41 games in that contest, a 100-87 loss to Queens(NC), one of 26 games in which he led the team in scoring. Kelly had five games of 30-or-more points, ending the year averaging 23.0 ppg. the top figure in the WVIAC and ninth in Division II. He added 4.8 rpg., with 119 assists and 66 steals. He made 216 of 424 field goals (50.9 percent), including 91 of 188 three-pointers, while making 168 of 212 free throws (79.2 percent).

The third team is highlighted by the Michigan Tech duo of Matt Cameron and J.T. Luginski. Michigan Tech advanced to the semifinals of the Great Lakes Regional, finishing with a 29-3 ledger. Cameron was a second team Daktronics All-American a year ago and was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year the last two years. A four-time All-GLIAC North Division first team selection, Cameron averaged 16.8 ppg. and a team-leading 6.5 rpg., adding 55 assists and 32 blocks. The 6’7", 200 lb. forward shot 53.5 percent from the floor (169 of 315), including 53 of 117 from beyond the three-point arc (45.3 percent), and was 146 of 176 from the line (84.4 percent). He was the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 1999-2000. Cameron concluded his career ranking third in scoring (1,953 points) and first in rebounds (795).

Luginski led the Huskies in scoring at 18.2 ppg., and was second in rebounding (6.4 rpg.). A 6’7", 228 lb. center, he was named to the All-GLIAC North first team for the second time while finishing his career ranked fifth in scoring (1,685 points) and tied for fourth in rebounding (747). He also holds the school record for career field goal percentage at 58.6 percent. Luginski shot 60.6 percent this past year (241 of 398), with 17 of 48 three-pointers, and was 83 of 120 from the line (69.2 percent), adding 64 assists and 41 blocks. Luginski was recently named the Verizon College Division Academic All-American of the Year with a 3.91 GPA as a Mechanical Engineering major.

Pope stands fifth in Division II in scoring at 25.4 ppg. for the Falcons, who finished the year at 19-8. The 6’1" guard was named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and departs as the school’s career scoring leader with 1,945 points, a figure which ranks 29th all-time in the CIAA. In addition, he stands second in the CIAA in career steals with 237. A three-time All-CIAA selection, and named to the CIAA All-Tournament team for the fourth straight year, Pope also averaged 4.5 rpg. and 2.9 steals. He made 204 of 504 field goals (40.4 percent), with 65 of 175 three-pointers, and ranks 27th in Division II in free throw percentage at 87.2 percent (212 of 243). He concluded his career with a career-best 46 points in a CIAA semifinal loss to Virginia Union.

Karapostolou is a native of Greece, helping the Penmen to a berth in the Northeast Regional and a final record of 22-8. A 6’4", 210 lb. guard, he was named the Northeast-10 Player of the Year after finishing second in the conference in scoring (20.1 ppg.) and setting a school record with 112 three-pointers, good for fourth in Division II in three-pointers made per game. Karapostolou scored 20-or-more points 17 times, also ranking among the NE-10 leaders in assists and steals. A four-year starter and three-time all-conference selection, he finished his career with 1,609 points and 590 assists, ranking tenth in scoring and sixth in assists. He also ranks third in career steals with 241. He is one of only two players in school history to register 1,500 points, 500 assists and 200 steals.

Jones is a 6’7", 215 lb. senior who helped Tarleton State to the championship game of the North Central Regional, where the Texans lost to Northeastern State to finish 29-4. The forward averaged 14.0 ppg. and 11.0 rpg., leading the Lone Star Conference in rebounding and ranking sixth nationally. He shot 52.2 percent from the floor (175 of 335), was 24 of 61 on three-pointers, and made 88 of 127 free throws (69.3 percent). He was named the Lone Star Conference North Division Player of the Year after earning the same honor a year ago, but for the South Division. He led the Texans in scoring 15 times and in rebounding 26 times, and led the LSC with 16 double-doubles.

2002-03 DAKTRONICS NCAA DIVISION II

MEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS

First Team

Name School Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown
Jerome Beasley North Dakota F 6-10 Sr. Moreno Valley, CA
Marlon Parmer Kentucky Wesleyan G 6-3 Sr. Inglewood, CA
Ron Christy Teikyo Post G 6-0 Jr. Stratford, CT
Tim Black Barton G 5-11 Sr. Richmond, VA
Ramzee Stanton West Chester F 6-4 Sr. Coatesville, PA
Second Team
Alexus Foyle BYU-Hawaii F 6-6 Sr. Canouan, St. Vincent
Tim Washington Bowie State F 6-9 Sr. Washington, DC
Nick Svehla Nebraska-Kearney F 6-6 Sr. Omaha, NE
Fred Hooks Humboldt State F 6-6 Jr. San Diego, CA
Wykeen Kelly Salem International G 6-0 Sr. Philadelphia, PA
Third Team
Patrick Pope St. Augustine’s G 6-1 Sr. Clinton, MD
Matt Cameron Michigan Tech F 6-7 Sr. Alpena, MI
Sotirios Karapostolou Southern New Hampshire G 6-4 Sr. Larissa, Greece
J.T. Luginski Michigan Tech C 6-7 Sr. Chesterfield, MI
Danny Jones Tarleton State F 6-7 Sr. Birmingham, AL