SUNYAC Announces 2024 Men's Basketball Annual Award
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC announces its 2024 men's basketball top individual awards and All-Conference teams as nominated and voted on by the conference coaches.
Player of the Year - Jeremiah Sparks, Oswego
Sparks led the league with 302 points in conference play and 500 overall this season averaging 17.8 points in SUNYAC play and 19.2 overall. So far this season he has 162 rebounds, 82 assists, 41 steals and 14 blocks. The Lakers were the top seed after regualar season play and earned the right to host the final four, but was upset by No. 2 New Paltz in the championship game, 85-80. Sparks was named first team All-Conference and was also selected to the All-Tournament team after scoring 22 points in the final game. Sparks and the Lakers will advance to the NCAA tournament after receiving an at-large bid.
Tom Spanbauer Defensive Player of the Year - Danny Ashley, Brockport
Ashley was second in the conference with 34 steals in league play, 42 overall. He also added 55 assists, 54 rebounds and 75 points in 23 games for the Golden Eagles. Brockport was the No. 3 seed , but was upset by No. 6 Oneonta in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament, 75-68. The team finished the season 16-9 overall.
Rookie of the Year - Caquan Wester, Brockport
Wester stared 20 of 23 games for Brockport. He was first in the league with 128 defensive rebounds in conference play and was third with 187 overall rebounds. Wester tallied 256 points, 29 assists, 20 steals and 13 blocks for the Golden Eagles.
Coaching Staff of the Year - Oswego
This is the third straight year the Oswego coaching staff has been honored as the SUNYAC Men's Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year. Head coach, Jason Leone and assistant coaches Brendan Fitzpatrick, Jake Pritchard and Bill Farden led their team to the No. 1 seed after regular season conference play. The team lost to New Paltz, 85-80, in the championship game, but earned an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament. Oswego will host the first round and will face Babson, Friday at 6 p.m. Four Lakers were named All-SUNYAC, including the Player of the Year, Sparks.
2024 SUNYAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams (PDF)
| First Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown/High School |
| Kendall Arcuri | Cortland | So. | Staten Island/ St. Joseph by the sea |
| Aaron Coston | Cortland | So. | Kerhonkson/ Roundout Valley |
| A.J. Knight | New Paltz | Jr. | Lakeview/ Holy Trinity Diocesan |
| Xavier Hill | Oneonta | Jr. | Johnson City/ Johncon City |
| Ahkee Anderson | Oswego | Jr. | Greenport/ Center Moriches |
| Jeremiah Sparks | Oswego | Sr. | Jordan/ Jordan-Elbridge |
| Second Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| Cole Kattan | Geneseo | Sr. | Scarsdale/ Scarsdale |
| Elijah Castillo | Oneonta | So. | Bronx/ St. Raymonds |
| Cartier Bowman | Oswego | Sr. | Trenton, NJ/ The Patrick School |
| Kevin Tabb | Plattsburgh | Jr. | Brooklyn/ Thomas Jefferson |
| Third Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| Tony Arnold | Brockport | Jr. | Rochester/ Eastridge |
| Caquan Wester | Brockport | Fr. | Rochester/ Eastridge |
| Rylan Blondo | New Paltz | Gr. | Brooklyn/ Lynbrook |
| Jamal Achille | Oswego | Gr. | Staten Island/ St.Peter's |
| Colton Huestis | Potsdam | Sr. | Ticonderoga/ Ticonderoga |
