Three Earn All-Heart Laurels, Sherman Named Newcomer of the Year
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–A trio of Statesmen men’s basketball players collected postseason recognition as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference teams were announced Monday.
Omar Sherman (Sr., Duncanville, Texas, Sociology) and Abrian Edwards (Sr., Austin, Texas, Wellness and Recreation) were named to the 10-person first team, while Marlon Alcindor (Sr., Queens, N.Y., Sociology) was one of 22 individuals to earn spot on the honorable-mention squad. Ten additional student-athletes were chosen for the second team.
The award is the first for all three individuals. Sherman was also named the Heart Newcomer of the Year. It marks the sixth-consecutive season in which a WPU player has claimed the NOY award.
The trio guided William Penn to a 20-10 regular-season record (14-10 Heart) and the #3 seed in this week’s Heart Tournament.
Sherman is currently averaging 16.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game (both team highs). He also has a squad-best 52 blocks, while posting 46 assists and 20 steals. The senior is shooting 60.5% from the field (28.6% 3-PT) and 62.1% from the free-throw line.
The Heart NOY leads the conference in field-goal shooting and is third in both rebounding average and blocks per outing (1.9). He is also fourth in double-doubles with 10 and is sixth in scoring average.
Edwards enters the Heart Tournament with 13.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per matchup. He is dishing out 7.6 assists per outing (219 total) and has 35 steals and four blocks to his credit as well. The senior is shooting at a 47.0% clip (45.5% 3-PT) and has made 79.0% of his free throws.
Currently, Edwards is first in the conference in assist average, while also being fifth in free-throw percentage and seventh in double-doubles (5).
Alcindor’s sharp-shooting (84 three-pointers) has allowed him to average 14.8 points per game. He also averages 3.0 rebounds in addition to 19 assists, seven steals, and three blocks. The senior is shooting 47.5% from the floor (45.4% 3-PT) and is WPU’s best free-throw shooter at 84.7%.
Alcindor tops the conference in three-pointers made per game (3.2) and is fourth in trifecta percentage; he is also ninth in the conference in scoring average.
Lyle Hexom of Peru State claimed Heart Player of the Year honors, while Freshman of the Year accolades went to Eric Krus of Benedictine. MidAmerica Nazarene’s Dakota Quinn was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Ryan Moody was chosen as Coach of the Year after leading Benedictine to a perfect record in Heart play.
