FORT MYERS, Fla.- After completing their third straight undefeated Suncoast Conference season, the league's All-Conference teams were expectedly loaded with Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers when released on Thursday. Eight Bucs were named All-Conference including FSW's third straight conference Player of the Year, Keon Ellis, while Head Coach Eric Murphy was named the conference's Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
Ellis was named the Suncoast Conference Player of the Year after averaging 20.6 points per game and shooting 54% from the field and 42% from three point land in conference play. Ellis scored in double figures in all 12 Suncoast Conference games for the Bucs, putting up four 25+ point efforts. He kicked off conference play with a bang, putting up a school record 41 points on St. Petersburg in the Bucs first conference tilt of the season and backed that up two weeks later with a 34 point performance against State College of Florida. Ellis didn't get his points by shooting a high volume though as the sophomore from Eustis, Fla. Shot north of 50% from the field in each of FSW's first eight games of conference play.
Jermaine Marshall received more votes than any other freshman in the league and earned his way onto the First Team by being the only player in the league to average a double-double during conference play, putting up 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in league action. His 15.1 points per game in conference play ranked 6th while his 10.7 rebounds per night were more than any other player in the Suncoast. He had an incredible 10 double-doubles in 12 conference games, including six straight from January 25th to February 19th as the Bucs secured their third straight conference championship.
Point guard Jalen Finch was also a First Team selection after quarterbacking the Bucs to a perfect 12-0 mark in conference play. Finch led all players averaging 5.3 assists per game in conference play while leading the state in assist to turnover ratio (5.3/1.0) in conference contests. He wasn't just dishing out assists though as Finch scored in double figures seven different times in conference play including a 17 point effort against Polk State midway through league play.
The fourth Buc named to the First Team was big man De'Lazarus Keys. Keys upped his game in conference play, averaging 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game after putting up just 5.3 and 4.9 in non-conference action. He had 8 or more points in 8 of 12 contests and recorded his first career double-double early in conference play against Hillsborough when he had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a Bucs win.
Berrick JeanLouis led four Bucs on the Second Team. JeanLouis averaged 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in conference action after missing the first two games with a minor injury. A walking highlight reel anytime he is on the court, JeanLouis had six 10+ point efforts in conference play including a 17 point game against St. Petersburg and 16 point efforts against Polk State and Hillsborough.
On the inside, Simeon Kirkland joined JeanLouis and two other Bucs on the Second Team. Kirkland averaged 6.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in 10 conference games for the Bucs this season as well as leading the team with just under a blocked shot per game. He had three double digit scoring efforts in conference play including a 14 point game against St. Petersburg and 13 late in the season against State College of Florida.
Central Michigan signee Ralph Bissainthe was the third FSW player on the Second team. Bissainthe averaged 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in conference play for the Bucs. A key role player for the Conference Champs, Bissainthe scoring in double figures in three FSW wins in conference action, putting up 14 in just 13 minutes of work in their regular season finale against Polk State and 12 and 11 in back to back games against Hillsborough and State College of Florida earlier in league play.
The eighth and final Buc honored was Terry Roberts who also drew a Second Team designation. Roberts averaged 7.8 points per game in conference play, but his biggest contributions came on the defensive end where he ranked 4th in the conference in steals per game with 2.3 per night in Suncoast Conference tilts. He scored 16 against Hillsborough early in the conference season and ripped off four or more steals four different times including 5 against both St. Petersburg and Polk State late in the year.
The Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year award had little drama again this season as FSW Head Coach Eric Murphy once again led the Bucs to an unblemished 12-0 conference mark for his second straight award as the league's top coach. Murphy and the Bucs closed the regular season 29-1 overall and ranked #1 in the NJCAA National Rankings for a second straight season.
Player of the Year- Keon Ellis- Florida SouthWestern
Coach of the Year- Eric Murphy- Florida SouthWestern
First Team All-Conference
Keon Ellis- Florida SouthWestern
Tekorian Smith- Polk State
D'Moi Hodge- State College of Florida
Jermaine Marshall- Florida SouthWestern
Michael Cole- Hillsborough
Clarence Jackson- Polk State
Jalen Finch- Florida SouthWestern
Kobie Johnson- St. Petersburg
Marshall Kearing- State College of Florida
Bryan Williams- St. Petersburg
De'Lazarus Keys- Florida SouthWestern
Isiah Dasher- State College of Florida
Second Team All-Conference
Berrick JeanLouis- Florida SouthWestern
Malcolm Stevenson- Polk State
Derrick White Jr.- Hillsborough
Tommie Lewis- Polk State
Teddy Bayi Ba Mandeng- St. Petersburg
Simeon Kirkland- Florida SouthWestern
Jordan Clark- State College of Florida
Kerry Richardson- Polk State
Ralph Bissainthe- Florida SouthWestern
Damon Davis- St. Petersburg
Terry Roberts- Florida SouthWestern
Bernat Vanaclocha Sanchez- Polk State