The Northeast Conference (NEC) Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an annual college basketball award given to the Northeast Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1982–83 season, when the league was known as the ECAC Metro Conference.[a 1]
The most well-recognized NEC Player of the Year is Marist's Rik Smits, who won the award in 1987 and 1988. Smits went on to have a successful National Basketball Association (NBA) career for 12 seasons (1988–2000), all with the Indiana Pacers.[1] In 1998, Smits was named an Eastern Conference All-Star.[1]
Long Island has the most all-time winners with seven; Central Connecticut State and Robert Morris are tied for second with five winners apiece. All charter members of the Northeast Conference that are still members have had at least one winner. Of current NEC members, only Bryant and Sacred Heart have had zero players of the year.
Winners [edit]
| Season |
Player |
School |
Position |
Class |
| 1982–83 |
Smith, SteveSteve Smith |
Marist |
Shooting guard |
4 !Senior |
| 1983–84† |
Harris, ChipperChipper Harris |
Robert Morris |
Shooting guard |
4 !Senior |
| 1983–84† |
Jackson, RobertRobert Jackson |
St. Francis (NY) |
|
4 !Senior |
| 1983–84† |
Scurry, CareyCarey Scurry |
Long Island |
Power forward |
3 !Junior |
| 1984–85 |
Scurry, CareyCarey Scurry (2) |
Long Island |
Power forward |
4 !Senior |
| 1985–86 |
Bailey, TerranceTerrance Bailey |
Wagner |
Shooting guard |
3 !Junior |
| 1986–87 |
Smits, RikRik Smits |
Marist |
Center |
3 !Junior |
| 1987–88 |
Smits, RikRik Smits (2) |
Marist |
Center |
4 !Senior |
| 1988–89 |
Luton, VaughnVaughn Luton |
Robert Morris |
Guard |
4 !Senior |
| 1989–90 |
Wilson, DesiDesi Wilson |
Fairleigh Dickinson |
Forward |
3 !Junior |
| 1990–91 |
Iuzzolino, MikeMike Iuzzolino |
Saint Francis (PA) |
Point guard |
4 !Senior |
| 1991–92 |
Walker, MyronMyron Walker |
Robert Morris |
Shooting guard |
2 !Sophomore |
| 1992–93 |
Suber, DarrickDarrick Suber |
Rider |
Point guard |
4 !Senior |
| 1993–94 |
Buchanan, IzettIzett Buchanan |
Marist |
Small forward |
4 !Senior |
| 1994–95 |
Griffin, JoeJoe Griffin |
Long Island |
Power forward |
4 !Senior |
| 1995–96 |
McGuthrie, ChrisChris McGuthrie |
Mount St. Mary's |
Point guard |
4 !Senior |
| 1996–97 |
Jones, CharlesCharles Jones |
Long Island |
Point guard / Shooting guard |
3 !Junior |
| 1997–98 |
Jones, CharlesCharles Jones (2) |
Long Island |
Point guard / Shooting guard |
4 !Senior |
| 1998–99 |
Minlend, RayRay Minlend |
St. Francis (NY) |
Point guard |
4 !Senior |
| 1999–00 |
Mickens, RickRick Mickens |
Central Connecticut State |
Shooting guard |
4 !Senior |
| 2000–01 |
Johnson, RahsaanRahsaan Johnson |
Monmouth |
Point guard |
2 !Sophomore |
| 2001–02 |
Edwards, CorsleyCorsley Edwards |
Central Connecticut State |
Forward |
4 !Senior |
| 2002–03 |
Hall, JermaineJermaine Hall |
Wagner |
Small forward |
4 !Senior |
| 2003–04 |
Robinson, RonRon Robinson |
Central Connecticut State |
Forward |
4 !Senior |
| 2004–05 |
Hamilton, BlakeBlake Hamilton |
Monmouth |
Power forward |
4 !Senior |
| 2005–06 |
Timberlake, ChadChad Timberlake |
Fairleigh Dickinson |
Shooting guard |
4 !Senior |
| 2006–07 |
Mojica, JavierJavier Mojica |
Central Connecticut State |
Shooting guard / Point guard |
4 !Senior |
| 2007–08 |
Lee, TonyTony Lee |
Robert Morris |
Point guard |
4 !Senior |
| 2008–09 |
Chappell, JeremyJeremy Chappell |
Robert Morris |
Shooting guard |
4 !Senior |
| 2009–10 |
Rutty, JustinJustin Rutty |
Quinnipiac |
Power forward |
3 !Junior |
| 2010–11 |
Horton, KenKen Horton[2] |
Central Connecticut State |
Small forward |
3 !Junior |
| 2011–12 |
Boyd, JulianJulian Boyd[3] |
Long Island |
Power forward |
3 !Junior |
| 2012–13 |
Olasewere, JamalJamal Olasewere[4] |
Long Island |
Power forward |
4 !Senior |
Winners by school [edit]
| School (year joined) |
Winners |
Years |
| Long Island (1981) |
7 |
1984†, 1985, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2012, 2013 |
| Central Connecticut State (1997) |
5 |
2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2011 |
| Robert Morris (1981) |
5 |
1984†, 1989, 1992, 2008, 2009 |
| Marist (1981)[a 2] |
4 |
1983, 1987, 1988, 1994 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson (1981) |
2 |
1990, 2006 |
| Monmouth (1985)[a 3] |
2 |
2001, 2005 |
| St. Francis (NY) (1981) |
2 |
1984†, 1999 |
| Wagner (1981) |
2 |
1986, 2003 |
| Mount St. Mary's (1989) |
1 |
1996 |
| Quinnipiac (1998)[a 3] |
1 |
2010 |
| Rider (1992)[a 4] |
1 |
1993 |
| Saint Francis (PA) (1981) |
1 |
1991 |
| Bryant (2008) |
0 |
— |
| Loyola (MD) (1981)[a 5] |
0 |
— |
| Sacred Heart (1999) |
0 |
— |
| Siena (1981)[a 6] |
0 |
— |
| UMBC (1998)[a 7] |
0 |
— |
References [edit]
- General
- Specific
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Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
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Men's college basketball awards (United States)
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| National players of the year |
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| Individual awards |
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| Conference players of the year |
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| Head coach awards |
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| Conference coaches of the year |
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| Division awards |
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