Roundtree is NOY, Four Others Also Honored
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–A school-record five members of the co-champion Statesmen men’s basketball team were picked for postseason accolades as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams were announced by the league office Sunday.
Steven Roundtree (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla., Physical Education) and Brady Burford (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) earned first-team recognition, while Dondre Alexander (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Physical Education) was a second-team recipient. Honorable mentions were given to both Jessie Pernell (Sr., North Augusta, S.C., Physical Education) and Jarvis Haywood (Jr., Charlotte, N.C., Business Management) as well.
The previous program high for all-conference honors was four, accomplished in the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. The accolades are the first for all five individuals. A total of 31 student-athletes received awards, including 10 on the first and second squads and 11 on the honorable-mention list.
Roundtree collected Heart Newcomer of the Year laurels as well. The five honorees have thus far guided #11 William Penn to a 24-6 overall record, including a 17-5 league record that netted the program a share of the Heart regular season crown in its first season in the conference.
Roundtree, the fourth league NOY in school history (third straight), is nearly averaging a double-double with 16.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, which are both team highs for the navy and gold. The senior is also averaging 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals (team high) in addition to 12 blocks. He is shooting a squad-best 56.7% from the field and also hitting 71.5% of his free throws and 41.7% of his three-pointers.
Within the league ranks, Roundtree is currently fifth in scoring and second in rebounding. He is also second in double-doubles (13), third in both field-goal percentage and steals per game, and eighth in free-throw percentage.
Burford has been a double-double machine as well, posting nine this season (seventh in the conference). For the season, the senior is averaging 14.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in addition to 34 assists, 23 steals, and 23 blocks (team high). He is making 55.3% of his field-goal tries (68.3% FT).
Fourth in the league in field-goal percentage, Burford also ranks eighth in rebound average and blocked shots average (0.9) and ninth in scoring.
Alexander is also high on the team’s scoring list with 15.8 points alongside 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists; he also has 31 steals and 17 blocks. The junior has the following for shooting clips: 42.2% FG, 76.8% FT, 35.7% 3-PT. His scoring is seventh in the conference, while his 3.0 three-pointers per outing average is second in the Heart.
Pernell is averaging 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists and has also stolen the ball 34 times. He is converting on 41.2% of his field goals, 81.3% of his free throws, and 38.5% of his trifectas.
The senior is fourth in the Heart in assists, seventh in three-pointers per game (2.2), and 10th in the following: three-point percentage, steals per game (1.3), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9-to-1).
Playing in only 14 games during the second half of the year, Haywood obviously made quite the impression on the league’s coaches. He has scored 14.2 points per matchup and also has 40 rebounds, 15 assists, and 12 steals. The junior, who cannot rank in any stat categories due to his lack of games played, is shooting 51.4% from the floor (81.8% FT, 45.2% 3-PT).
Peru State’s Corday Sims claimed Heart Player of the Year honors, while Rocky Lamar of MidAmerica Nazarene was chosen as the league’s Coach of the Year. Sedrick Johnson of Avila (Defensive) and Clay Martin of Baker (Freshman) also earned top awards.
For the complete 2015-2016 all-Heart men’s basketball teams, go to http://www.heartofamericaconference.com/d/2015-16/2016%20MBB%20All%20Conference.pdf
