Beasley, Thomas Earn Inaugural Booster Club Player of the Year Awards
Brandon Beasley launches for another of his signature dunks during the 2012-13 season.
Oskaloosa–The William Penn University Athletics Booster Club has announced the recipients of the first annual John Eberline Player of the Year Awards.
Senior men’s basketball player Brandon Beasley (Indianapolis, Ind., Physical Education) won the Male award, while senior women’s basketball player Orielle Thomas (Waynesville, Mo., Physical Education) collected the Female honor.
“In May, the world lost a great man in John Eberline,” William Penn University Director of University Relations and Booster Club Nik Rule said. “The impact that John had on William Penn University, its staff members, student-athletes, and alum will always be immeasurable. Without John, the William Penn Booster Club and Athletic Hall of Fame would not exist, and we hope to continue the success of both entities in a way that would make him proud. In honor of John and his amazing contributions to WPU, we have created this award.”
Beasley had one of the most impressive individual campaigns in school history, for any sport. The senior was a First-Team All-American and Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. He averaged 17.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per contest and also posted 120 assists, 83 steals, and 43 blocks. The NAIA Player of the Week on February 12, Beasley managed 15 double-doubles and scored a career-high 29 points versus Central on November 28. He was a seven-time MCC Player of the Week.
Beasley’s efforts helped the Statesmen to their best campaign ever, going 34-2 and reaching the NAIA Division II National Championship game.
Thomas was a tremendous leader for a Statesmen women’s cager squad that finished 19-10 and was second in the MCC. She was a first-team all-MCC pick who later became an Honorable-Mention All-American for the second time in her career.
Thomas averaged a double-double of 13.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game in addition to 48 assists, 41 steals, and 11 blocks. She posted 15 double-doubles and highlighted her year by scoring 22 points against McPherson (Kan.) on November 16.
