BEST PLAYER
Ricky Taylor. Not sure who to pick here, because there was no one who was consistently good for the Mocs this year. Taylor was probably the most consistently good player on the team. Keegan Bell, Drazen Zlovaric, and Omar Wattad all could lay claim to this, and even Jahmal Burroughs did enough at times to make people think that he could get this. But I'm sticking with Taylor- a great student, citizen, and basketball player.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Dontay Hampton. Wow. Little Tay was not expected to be this good. Sure, he was adequate last year, but this year he more than proved his worth. He can certainly play the two guard, and maybe even play the point next year. Hampton has become one of the team's better shooters. In fact, JR said that Hampton is the best pure shooter on the team...and he said it consistently. Hampton also has been driving the ball more lately. Hampton is a really good player. He may not be the best player in the SoCon, but he has earned his scholarship.
BEST JUNIOR
Drazen Zlovaric. Big Z has proven that he can be an effective inside player and an effective rebounder. He did a great job several times this year. To be the dominant player that he can be, he'll have to be more consistent next year. If he learns to bring his game consistently, Zlovaric could be one of the best players in the whole SoCon next year.
BEST SOPHOMORE
Z Mason. Man, I love Z Mason. He is going to be a big part of next year's team too. Combine him and Zlovaric down low, and the post looks very solid next year for the Mocs. It may be one of the better post play combinations in the SoCon, in fact. Z is a big body, and it is going to be a solid contributor.
BEST FRESHMAN
Rico White. Here are the facts. If you watch a game, when Rico White and Dontay Hampton are in the game, the Mocs play a calmer, better game. White is a good shooter, and clearly has game. He is a very good player, and should be a major contributor to the Mocs for years to come.
BEST FINISH
Hampton for the win vs. Appalachian State, January 7. When Hampton corralled the rebound and went the length of the court agains the Mountaineers on January 7 for the 65-63 win, people thought the Mocs were on their way. That increased their streak to five wins in six games, got them back to 2-2 in SoCon play and seemed to indicate that bigger and better things were on the way for the Mocs. Unfortunately, this was the first game of Keegan Bell's shooting slump (that he has hopefully broken out of) and the first game that Ricky Taylor played with a hurt wrist (that he has hopefully fully recovered from). There were signs here of future trouble, but for this one night, there was nothing but positives.
BEST WIN
51-48 over Wofford, January 12. The Mocs win over the Terriers put the Mocs up to 3-2 in SoCon play. They won just two more games the rest of the year. But this was a quality win, that looks even better now that the Terriers are the two seed from the tough South Division, and have the second best league mark. The Mocs proved that day that they can beat some of the best teams in the SoCon. If they can re-harness that energy, they may be able to win in Asheville. This was a great win for the Mocs, that still rings true as a very solid performance.
GO MOCS!
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