Eric Smith named OCAA Player of the Year & CCAA All-Canadian

SAULT STE MARIE, ON– Eric Smith capped off a tremendous third season with the green and gold of the Durham college Lords taking home OCAA Player of the year honors Wednesday night in Sault Ste Marie.

The 6’5′ power forward led the OCAA in both scoring and rebounding averaging 21.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Smith was the only student-athlete to average a double-double for the regular season. Smith also eclipsed the 1000 point plateau for his career during this season becoming the second player in Lords history to do so. (Anthony Bachelor 1,833 career points CCAA all time leader)

 Smith had 11 double-doubles this season, helping lead the Lords to a 15-5 conference record, finishing in second place in the east region and to earn a bye to the OCAA championship.

Smith was also named an OCAA East Region All-Star for the third consecutive year.

Other notable award winners on Wednesday night include Algonquin Thunder Head Coach Trevor Costello taking home East division Coach of the year, and Humber’s Shawn Collins taking home the honors for the West.  Njuguna Waiganjo and Eric Smith will represent the OCAA on the CCAA All-Canadian stating five both earning a spot.
 

2011 OCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS AND ALL-STARS

Men’s Basketball East Division Champions
Algonquin Thunder

Men’s Basketball West Division Champions
Humber Hawks

OCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Year
Eric Smith, Durham

CCAA Men’s Basketball All-Canadians
Eric Smith, Durham
Njuguna Waiganjo, Algonquin

OCAA Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year
Randy Frimpong, Sault

OCAA Men’s Basketball League Scoring Champion
Eric Smith, Durham

Men’s Basketball CCAA Coach of the Year Nominee
Trevor Costello, Algonquin

Men’s Basketball East Division Scoring Champion
Eric Smith, Durham

Men’s Basketball West Division Scoring Champion
Rob Pierce, Lambton

Men’s Basketball East Division Coach of the Year                          Photo Courtesy: Durham Athletics
Trevor Costello, Algonquin

Men’s Basketball West Division Coach of the Year
Shawn Collins, Humber

Men’s Basketball East Division Rookie of the Year
Derrek Mooney, Algonquin

Men’s Basketball West Division Rookie of the Year
Randy Frimpong, Sault

Men’s Basketball East Division Defensive Player of the Year
Landry Ndayitwyeko, Algonquin

Men’s Basketball West Division Defensive Player of the Year
Kern Lewis, Humber

Men’s Basketball East Division First-Team All-Stars
Njuguna Waiganjo, Algonquin
Eric Smith, Durham
Maxim Clarkson, Fleming P
Vadim Halimov, Seneca
Mathieu Riendeau, St. Lawrence

Men’s Basketball West Division First-Team All-Stars
Dele Oworu, Algoma
Michael Acheampong, Humber
Rob Pierce, Lambton
Aminu Bello, Mohawk
Khalid Abdel-Gabar, Sheridan

OCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2011: E. Smith (Durham)
2010: J. Wilson (Fleming)
2009: C. Spurr (Algonquin)
2008: A. Batchelor (Durham)
2007: P. Sewell (Fanshawe)
2006: BJ Charles (Algonquin)
2005: N. Philbert (George Brown)
2004: S. Dennie (Humber)
2003: J. Bell (Algonquin)