Miller, Samuels Headline GNAC Men's Basketball Year-End Awards
WINTHROP, Mass. - For the second consecutive season, University of Saint Joseph (USJ) head men's basketball coach Glen Miller was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Coach of the Year and senior forward Jalen Samuels (Franklin, Mass.) was tabbed the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, as the conference unveiled its year-end awards Monday afternoon. In addition to the major awards, graduate student guard Ryan O'Neill (Litchfield, Conn.) and senior guard Jaecee Martin (Hartford, Conn.) were named to the All-GNAC First Team for the Blue Jays, who recorded the first-ever undefeated regular-season (25-0) in GNAC men's basketball history, among many other impressive streaks. Samuels was also named to the All-GNAC Third Team and freshman Lence Altenor (Everett, Mass.) was selected to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team. The awards are voted upon by the league's 13 head coaches.
Samuels continued to dominate defensively, picking up his second-straight GNAC Defensive Player of the Year accolade in 2023. The Franklin, Mass. native anchored the defense for the nationally-ranked Blue Jays who finished the regular-season the No. 1 ranked team in the country in field-goal percentage defense and three-point field-goal percentage defense. The forwarded averaged 1.6 steals per game and 1.7 steals per GNAC contest to rank sixth in the conference. He also averaged 0.8 blocks per game to rank 12th, including 1.0 blocks per GNAC contest, to finish ninth in the conference. Samuels was just as stellar offensively and on the glass, averaging 7.2 points per game overall and in GNAC play, while grabbing 5.7 rebounds per game overall, and 5.6 rebounds per GNAC contest en route to his first All-Conference team nod.
O'Neill earned his first spot on a GNAC All-Conference Team after leading the Blue Jays in scoring at 15.3 ppg, including 15.8 ppg over 18 GNAC games. Both of those marks ranked 8th-best in the league. The totals average out to 25.0 points per 40 minutes and 26.3 points per 40 minutes in GNAC contests, ranking second in the league to only Lasell's EJ Day, who took home GNAC Player of the Year. O'Neill shot 42.4% from three overall and 43.4% in GNAC games as USJ's primary deep threat all season. Those marks rank third and fifth amongst his conference counterparts. The guard was just as efficient at the charity stripe, shooting 83.5% overall from the line, including 83.0% in GNAC games. Those marks ranked him third and fifth amongst GNAC competition. O'Neill was a double-digit scoring machine this season, tallying 20+ points in seven games, including one 30+ point outing.
Martin repeated as an All-GNAC First Team selection for the third consecutive season. He served as the Blue Jays' primary playmaker, averaging 11.8 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game overall. In conference play, he dropped 12.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. Martin finished the year eighth in assists per game overall (3.2 apg) and ninth in assists per game in GNAC contests (2.9 apg). Martin also caused numerous problems for opposing offenses, ranking seventh in steals per game overall (1.8 spg) and 15th in steals per GNAC game (1.4 spg). The Hartford, Conn. native was an efficient shooter all season, placing inside the Top-15 in FG% at 50.2% overall (13th) and 53.6% in GNAC games (8th), and in the Top-10 in FT% at 77.4% overall (9th) and 81.7% in GNAC games (6th).
Miller repeated as GNAC Coach of the Year after leading the Blue Jays to the No. 1 ranking in the nation, according to D3hoops.com. The ranking was the highest-ever for USJ in program history, as well as the highest ranking for a team from the GNAC. The Blue Jays finished the regular season a perfect 25-0 overall and 18-0 in league games.
For the complete list of all-conference honorees, major award winners, and all-sportsmanship selections, please see below.
FIRST TEAM
Terry Dawkins, Albertus Magnus
Aireus Raspberry, Johnson & Wales (RI)
EJ Day, Lasell
Ryan O'Neill, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Jaecee Martin, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
SECOND TEAM
Justice Washington, Albertus Magnus
AJ Weston, Dean
Donte Pope, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Josh Zangerle, Johnson & Wales (RI)
Russell Rau, Regis (Mass.)
THIRD TEAM
Omar Boone, Colby-Sawyer
Scott Lampron, Colby-Sawyer
Donovan Lewis Jr., Norwich
Jalen Samuels, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Griffin Foley, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Zaire Baines, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Quinton Partee Jr., Lasell
Joe Joe DuBrul, Norwich
Jamir Harvey, Regis (Mass.)
John Paul Frazier, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
MAJOR AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - EJ Day, Lasell
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Jalen Samuels, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - John Paul Frazier, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
COACH OF THE YEAR - Glen Miller, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD - Norwich University
All-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Taufick Aziz, Albertus Magnus
Drew Paulhus, Anna Maria
Michael Joanou, Colby-Sawyer
Mark Blair, Dean
Tahquell Cadle, Elms
Ricky Martin, Emmanuel
Bryan Davis , Johnson & Wales
Demerrick Warren, Lasell
Owen Liss, Norwich
Zakaria Latifi, Regis
Pharaoh Davis, Rivier
Lence Altenor, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Bryton Early, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
About The GNAC
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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