Men's Basketball

Philadelphia's Christian Burns Name Daktronics NCAA Division II Player of the Year

by Bob Shreve, Daktronics Men's Basketball National Coordinator
EDINBORO, PA - In one of the closest votes in years, Christian Burns of Philadelphia University was named the 2007 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Player of the Year.  Voting was conducted among Division II sports information directors.

The 2007 Daktronics All-American Team was dominated by seniors, with just three juniors among the 15 players honored.  Only one player repeated from last year's team, Luke Anderson of Minnesota State Mankato.  He was named to the third team this year after being a second team selection a year ago.  The Daktronics honorees have one thing in common - winning.  Eleven of the fifteen members made it to the NCAA Playoffs, and four will be participating in this week's Elite Eight - John Smith and Jonte Flowers of Winona State, Sean Barnette of Wingate, and Montevallo's Marcus Kennedy.  In addition, ten of the players will participate in this year's NABC/NCAA Division II All-Star Game.  

That list includes Burns, a 6'9", 240 lb. senior from Hamilton, NJ.  He helped the Rams, coached by legendary head coach Herb Magee, to a 20-10 record and a berth in the Northeast Regional.  Bridgeport eliminated Philadelphia in the quarterfinals, 67-65.

Philadelphia's star center averaged a double-double with 21.7 ppg. and 11.2 rpg.  He ranks 15^th in Division II in scoring and second in the nation in rebounding.  Burns finished with 19 double-doubles and scored in double figures in all but one game.  He made 253 of 460 field goals (55.0 percent) and was 122 of 185 from the line (65.9 percent), adding 61 blocks.

A former transfer from Division I Quinnipiac, Burns played two seasons at Philadelphia.  He was named the 2007 Central Athletic Collegiate Conference Player of the Year and was previously recognized as the Daktronics Northeast Region Player of the Year.

Burns edged Winona State's John Smith and Ted Scott of West Virginia State.  Smith, a 6'8" senior forward, has helped lead the Warriors to a perfect 33-0 record and a berth in the Elite Eight.  Winona State, the defending Division II national champion and winners of 55 straight games, will meet Bentley on Wednesday, March 21 in the quarterfinals.

Smith is averaging 16.9 ppg. and 9.8 rpg., the latter figure good for 19^th in Division II.  He also ranks ninth in blocked shots with 94.  He is shooting a robust 58.5 percent from the floor (214 of 366) and has made 127 of 200 free throw attempts (63.5 percent).  Smith was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Year and is a two-time All-NSIC first team selection.  He was also the Daktronics North Central Region Player of the Year.  A year ago he was the named the Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player.  He has scored over 1,500 career points and is approaching 1,000 career rebounds.

Scott is one of the smallest members of the Daktronics team at 6'1", and is one of only four juniors to be recognized, and the only one on the first two teams.  He helped West Virginia State to a spot in the East Regional, with the Yellow Jackets advancing to the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Barton.  West Virginia State finished with a 26-7 record, with Scott earning West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year accolades, along with being chosen the Daktronics East Region Player of the Year.

Scott is currently the leading scorer in Division II at 27.0 ppg., and also ranks sixth in three-pointers made per game with 125 I 287 attempts.  He added 4.3 rpg. while making 315 of 596 field goals (52.9 percent) and 137 of 168 free throws (81.5 percent).  Scott scored 892 points, and had 30-or-more points on 11 occasions. 

Gil Goodrich of Bowie State is the smallest member of the first team at 5'10".  A former player at Lamar University, he paced the Bulldogs to a 19-10 record while being named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year.  He was also the Daktronics South Atlantic Region Player of the Year.

Like Scott, Goodrich is a prolific scorer, ranking fourth in scoring in Division II at 25.4 ppg. and

second in three-pointers made per game, making 115 of 288.  Goodrich shot 42.8 percent from the floor (210 of 490) and 83.1 percent from the free throw line (177 of 213).  He also is one of the top playmakers in the country with 207 assists, good for fourth in Division II.

The final member of the first team is Marcus Kennedy of Montevallo.  A 6'4" senior forward, he has guided the Falcons into the Elite Eight where they will meet Central Missouri on Wednesday.  Montevallo has a 28-5 record and won the South Regional.

            Kennedy was named the Gulf South Conference Eastern Division Player of the Year, and award which he also captured in the 2004-05 season.  He is averaging 19.6 ppg. and 7.5 rpg. and has 55 blocked shots.  In addition, he has made 248 of 473 field goals (52.4 percent), including 27 of 48 three-pointers (56.3 percent), and is 124 of 156 at the line (79.5 percent).

The second team starts with Eric Babers of Southeastern Oklahoma State.  A 6'8" senior forward, Babers led his team to the South Central Region championship game, where they lost to Central Missouri.  He was named the South Central Region Co-Player of the Year and was a two-time Lone Star Conference North Division Player of the Year.  The Savages finished with a 27-5 record.

            Babers averaged 19.8 ppg. and 10.3 rpg., which is third in Division II.  He also ranks 11^th in blocked shots with 79.  He shot 60.4 percent from the floor (209 of 346) and went to the line an incredible 288 times, making 217 (75.3 percent).  In addition, Babers handed out 132 assists.  He departs as the school's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,883 points, and is second in career rebounds (1,030), first in blocked shots (221), second in steals (140), and third in assists (314).  

            The second unit also features Kevin Johnson of Humboldt State, a 6'7" senior forward.  Johnson led the Jackrabbits to a 26-4 record and the West Regional championship game.  He was named the Daktronics West Region Player of the Year and was also recognized as the California Collegiate Athletic Association MVP.  Johnson averaged 16.4 ppg. and 10.0 rpg., ranking 14^th in the country in the latter category.  He shot 54.2 percent from the floor (187 of 347) and 72.7 percent from the line (80 of 110).

            Also on the second team was Dusty Jura of Nebraska-Kearney.  A 6'6" senior forward, Jura led the Lopers to a 24-6 finish and a berth in the North Central Regional.  He was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year and was named to the first team all-conference squad for the third straight year.  He finished as the second all-time leading scorer at Nebraska-Kearney with 2,144 points.  As a senior, he averaged 21.1 ppg. and 10.3 rpg., ranking 12^th in Division II in rebounding.  In addition, he shot 55.0 percent from the floor (220 of 400) and was at 71.1 percent from the line (170 of 239). 

            Damien Lolar of West Texas A&M and Chaminade's Zack Whiting complete the second unit. Lolar is a 6'4" senior swingman who averaged 23.2 ppg., good for tenth in Division II, and 7.2 rpg.  West Texas A&M finished with an 18-11 record, and Lolar was named the Lone Star Conference South Division Player of the Year.  He finished as the school's seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,175 points despite playing just two seasons.

            A 6'4" guard, Whiting is a multi-talented player who leads Division II in assists with 282, while averaging 20.7 ppg., good for 24^th.  The senior shot 56.3 percent from the floor (171 of 304) and was 171 of 235 from the line (72.8 percent).  He added 7.2 rpg.  Chaminade finished the year with a 15-11 record, and Whiting was a three-time All-PacWest first team member.

            The third team is comprised of three seniors and two juniors.  Luke Anderson of Minnesota State Mankato made it on the Daktronics All-America Team for the second straight year, landing on the third team this year after a second team selection a year ago.  A 6'6" swingman, the senior averaged 19.1 ppg. and 4.5 rpg. and was named the North Central Conference's MVP.  He also became the first player ever to be a four-time All-NCC first team member.  Anderson concluded his career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,328 points.  The mavericks were 28-5 this year, losing to Winona State in the North Central Regional final.

            The third team also featured another Anderson, Tyrone Anderson of Concord.  The 6'4" forward ranks second in the country in scoring at 26.1 ppg., along with pulling down 7.9 rpg.  While leading Concord to a 17-13 record, he finished as a two-time All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team selection.

            Jonte Flowers has helped Winona State to the Elite Eight, joining with first team member Smith to guide the Warriors to 55 straight wins.  Flowers is a 6'4" junior guard who averages 14.5 ppg. and 5.5 rpg.  However, he is best recognized for his defense.  He was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year.  He ranks fourth in Division II in steals with 98.

            Northern Michigan's Ricky Volcy and Sean Barnette of Wingate round out the Daktronics third team.  Volcy is a 6'8" senior forward who was named to the All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Northern Division first team for the third straight year.  In addition, he was named the GLIAC Player of the Year as Northern Michigan finished with an 18-11 record.  He averaged 22.5 ppg., 11^th in Division II, and 9.6 rpg.  He concluded his career with 2,032 points, good for third all-time at NMU, and 864 rebounds, which ranks fourth.

Barnette is a 6'4" forward who led Wingate to a 25-8 record and the South Atlantic Regional championship.  While averaging 21.6 ppg., 17^th in Division II, and 7.6 rpg., he was recognized as the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year.

2007 DAKTRONICS NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS

First Team
Name, School
Christian Burns, Philadelphia                    
Gil Goodrich, Bowie State                      
Kevin Johnson, Humboldt State    
Ted Scott, West Virginia State 
John Smith, Winona State                   
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Christian Burns, Philadelphia

Second Team
Eric Babers, Southeastern Okla. St.    
Dusty Jura, Nebraska-Kearney          
Marcus Kennedy, Montevallo                      
Damien Lolar, West Texas A&M                               
Zack Whiting, Chaminade                      

Third Team
Luke Anderson#, MSU- Mankato               
Tyrone Anderson, Concord                           
Sean Barnette, Wingate                          
Jonte Flowers, Winona State                   
Ricky Volcy, Northern Michigan         

# 2006 second team selection