Blaylock Repeats as POY, Sandquist Named Top Assistant, Four Others Honored

Oskaloosa–Kevion Blaylock (Sr., Houston, Texas, Information Technology) was once selected as the best player in the league as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference teams were announced Wednesday.

For the second year in a row, Blaylock was named the Heart Player of the Year, becoming the seventh POY in program history and the first to ever claim the award on multiple occasions.

Blaylock was joined on the 10-person first team by Karmari Newman (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Digital Communication). Both individuals are now three-time first-team honorees.

Q Cager (Sr., Hopkinsville, Ky., Wellness and Recreation) was picked for the 11-player second squad, garnering that accolade for the second time in his career.

Josh Watkins (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Sports Management) and Chanze Cruesoe (So., St. Louis, Mo., Business Management) earned league honorable mentions as well (20 players total). For Watkins, it is his second nod, while Cruesoe is an all-Heart performer for the first time.

Blaylock and Cruesoe also garnered defensive recognition as the duo was named to the Heart’s first-ever all-defensive team (five players).

Associate Head Coach Blake Sandquist was chosen by the Heart’s coaches as the league’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Sandquist, in his 11th year on the Statesmen coaching staff, has led William Penn to a 27-1 record (18-1 Heart), which includes its third-straight Heart regular-season title. WPU is also currently #1 in the NAIA as it enters this week’s Heart Tournament.

Blaylock’s regular season saw him average a double-double of 20.7 points and 10.2 rebounds, while shooting 58.7% from the field (35.4% 3-PT) and 75.0% from the free-throw line. The senior has also tallied 60 assists, 24 steals, and 20 blocks.

The two-time Heart Player of the Week (one-time NAIA POW) has reached double digits in all 28 of his games and has 11 posted double-doubles. He scored a season-high 31 points against Clarke on January 12 and pulled down a season-best 18 rebounds versus Bethel (Ind.) on November 13.

Newman is currently averaging 18.8 points with 88 three-pointers (37.8%). Overall, Newman shoots 42.2% from the floor and 77.5% at the charity stripe, while also averaging 3.4 rebounds. He has managed 54 assists, 15 steals, and six blocks.

A one-time Heart POW, Newman tallied a season-best 39 points against Indiana South Bend on November 12, making 10 three-pointers in that contest. Of his 26 games played, he has made at least one trifecta in 24 of them.

Averaging 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, Cager is shooting 52.7% from the field and 58.9% from the line. Coming on strong down the stretch, the senior is averaging 16.8 points over his last five games, while shooting 62.5% overall and 75.0% at the stripe in that period.

Cager’s top outing came in the regular-season finale with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds versus Culver-Stockton last Saturday.

Blaylock, Newman, and Cager all reached the 1,000-point plateau this winter.

Watkins is averaging 9.8 points along with 3.0 rebounds per matchup this season. Shooting 43.3% overall and 40.6% from behind the arc, the senior has also recorded 17 steals, 14 assists, and 14 blocks.

Watkins produced a season-best 24 points in the year’s first game against Dordt on October 22; he made six three-pointers in the win.

WPU’s best threat for a triple-double on any given night, Cruesoe is averaging 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists entering postseason play. He owns a 46.5% field-goal mark, is 32.1% from deep, and 83.6% from the line. The sophomore has also posted 20 steals and five blocks.

Cruesoe managed a triple-double against Grand View on December 1 with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. His season high in points came against Briar Cliff came on November 20, while he has hit double figures in assists on three occasions.

Tim Cameron of Central Methodist was named Heart Defensive Player of the Year, while Jacob Fierst of Clarke earned Newcomer of the Year laurels. Ryan Bartley of Mount Mercy was selected as Freshman of the Year, and Rocky Lamar of MidAmerica Nazarene was tabbed as Coach of the Year by his peers.