Raleigh, N.C. – Two Hampton University men’s basketball players were honored on Monday at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Tip-Off Banquet at the RBC Center. Mike Freeman was named the MEAC Rookie of the Year and Rashad West was honored as a First Team All-MEAC selection.
A freshman from Alexandria, Va., Freeman left little doubt with the voters, earning seven MEAC Rookie of the Week awards. In addition to ranking 11th in the league in scoring (14.4 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (6.4 rpg), he is also second in the country in field goal percentage at .676 which is on pace to set the all-time NCAA Division I record for a freshman. Freeman led all first-year players in scoring and rebounding, behind six 20-point games and three double-doubles. He is the fourth Pirate to garner Rookie of the Year accolades in the MEAC, joining Tarvis Williams (97-98), Tommy Adams (98-99) and Devin Green (01-02).
West, a junior guard from Raleigh, N.C., has matured into one of Hampton’s top offensive weapons under first-year Pirate coach Kevin Nickelberry. He led the league in scoring at 17.6 points per game and also ranked third in steals, sixth in free throw percentage, seventh in three-point shooting and eighth in assists. His 15 20-point games were also a league-high, one coming with a career-high 33 point effort in Hampton’s win at Florida A&M.
Freeman was also named to the All-Rookie Team along with fellow HU freshman Matt Pilgrim who averaged 10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds while winning the MEAC Rookie of the Week award four times.
The seventh seeded Pirates take on 10th seeded Howard tomorrow, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. in an opening round game with the winner set to meet No. 2 Florida A&M on Wednesday at 10 p.m.
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2007 Men’s Basketball All-Conference Teams
Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson, Delaware State University
Player of the Year: Jahsha Bluntt, Delaware State University
Rookie of the Year: Michael Freeman, Hampton University
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Fleetwood, Delaware State University
FIRST TEAM
Jahsha Bluntt, Delaware State, G
Rome Sanders, Florida A&M, C
Steven Rush, North Carolina A&T, G
Rashad West, Hampton, G
Tywain McKee, Coppin State, G
SECOND TEAM
Roy Bright, Delaware State, G/F
Ron Timus, Morgan State, F
Darrin Shine, Delaware State, G
Tony Murphy, Norfolk State, G
Jason Wills, North Carolina A&T, F
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Michael Freeman, Hampton, F
Matthew Pilgrim, Hampton, F
Reggie Holmes, Morgan State, G
Jason Flagler, S. C. State, G/F
Joshua Cummings, Bethune-Cookman, G
