Jackson Jr. Named GNAC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year
WINTHROP, Mass. – Freshman point guard Delshawn Jackson Jr. (Hartford, Conn.) of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team has been named the 2018-19 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Rookie of the Year, as the conference announced its All-Conference Teams on Monday morning. The league's 12 head coaches vote to decide all major awards and all-league honors.
Jackson Jr. becomes the fifth student-athlete in USJ history to earn GNAC Rookie of the Year honors and makes history as the first-ever male student-athlete to earn the award as USJ is in its first year as a co-educational undergraduate institution. Jackson Jr. is the first student-athlete to earn the award since Patti Sciglimpaglia (Softball) received the accolade in 2013.
USJ'S GNAC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Delshawn Jackson Jr. – Men's Basketball (2018-19)
Patti Sciglimpaglia – Softball (2013)
Sara Barnick – Women's Soccer (2012)
Devon Diliberto – Women's Basketball (2010-11)
Cait Witham – Women's Soccer (2006)
Jackson Jr., who was also tabbed to the All-GNAC Third Team, was one of two players to start in all 28 games on the year for USJ and finished the Blue Jays' inaugural season averaging 16.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. His 16.5 points per game ranked 12th best in the GNAC while 4.1 assists per game were fifth-best.
The Hartford product shot 45.5% (151-332) overall from the floor, 40.9% (47-115) from three, and 77.4% (113-146) from the free-throw line. All three of those marks were in the top-25 amongst GNAC competitors, while his three-point field goal percentage and free-throw percentage both ranked 11th. He led the league in free-throws attempted with 113.
The 5-10 floor general amassed the second most assists in the league with 116 against just 60 turnovers to post a 1.9 assist to turnover ratio, good for the ninth best mark in the GNAC. He also finished third in the league in steals with 42.
Jackson Jr. was a three-time GNAC Rookie of the Week selection, tying him with teammate freshman Chris Childs (Bronx, N.Y.) as the only two players to earn that recognition three times this season. He logged 10 20-plus point games on the year including a pair of 30-plus efforts, scoring a career-high 34 on the road at Saint Joseph's College of Maine on January 12. He also posted two double-doubles over the 2018-19 campaign.
In addition to Jackson Jr. picking up GNAC Rookie of the Year and All-GNAC Third Team honors, classmate and co-captain Jake Sullivan (Branford, Conn.) was named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team. For the complete All-Conference results, major award winners, and All-Sportsmanship team, please see below.
FIRST TEAM
Dana Bean, Colby-Sawyer (Jr., Franklin, N.H.)
Brian Hogan-Gary, Johnson & Wales (Jr., Staten Island, N.Y.)
Stefan Masciarelli, Lasell (Jr., Northbridge, Mass.)
Jack Casale, Saint Joseph's of Maine (So., Portland, Maine)
Thomas Duffy, Suffolk (Jr., Fairfield, Conn.)
SECOND TEAM
Tyreek Perkins, Albertus Magnus (So., New Haven, Conn.)
Mike Rapoza, Anna Maria (Jr., Charlton, Mass.)
Emmett Riddick, Emmanuel (Jr., Middletown, Conn.)
Ademola Afonja, Regis (Sr., Staten Island, N.Y.)
Darian Berry, Saint Joseph's of Maine (Sr., Rochester, N.H. )
THIRD TEAM
Patrick Coffey, Colby-Sawyer (Jr., Westford, Mass.)
Joe Tamburro, Emmanuel (Sr., South Windsor, Conn.)
Delshawn Jackson Jr., Saint Joseph (Conn.) (Fr., Hartford, Conn.)
Ian Mileikis, Saint Joseph's of Maine (Sr., Auburn, Maine )
Steven DiPrizio, Suffolk (Jr., Medford, Mass.)
MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Brian Hogan-Gary, Johnson & Wales
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Brian Hogan-Gary, Johnson & Wales
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Delshawn Jackson Jr., Saint Joseph (Conn.)
COACH OF THE YEAR – Jeff Juron, Suffolk
INSTITUTIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – Norwich University
ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Marquise Owens, Albertus Magnus (So., Thorafare, N.J.)
Joseph Holmes, Anna Maria (Jr., Shirley, Mass.)
Nate Trevino, Colby-Sawyer (So., Boerne, Texas)
Zachary Crisafulli, Emmanuel (So., Easthampton, Mass.)
Matt Madoian, Johnson & Wales (Sr., North Kingstown, R.I.)
Joe O'Brien, Lasell (Sr., Saugus, Mass.)
Daniel Haimes, Norwich (Sr., San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Milik Wallace, Regis (Sr., Hinesville, Ga.)
Tarik Rivers, Rivier (So., Stamford, Conn.)
Jake Sullivan, Saint Joseph (Conn.) (Fr., Branford, Conn.)
Tatsuaki Sakai, Saint Joseph's of Maine (So., Ishikawa, Japan)
Kevin Querusio, Suffolk (Sr., Millis, Mass.)
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