NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced the 2017 College Division All-State Men's Basketball Teams on Friday afternoon, showcasing a depth of talent across the commonwealth with nine different programs represented. Virginia Union University's senior guard Ray Anderson and Lynchburg College senior guard Zack Burnett earned Co-Player of the Year honors, while University of Virginia-Wise freshman Michal Seals was named Rookie of the Year. Rounding out the major awards, Christopher Newport University head coach, John Krikorian, picked up his second straight coach of the year recognition.
Only one program had multiple players recognized on the 2016-17 All-State teams, as Christopher Newport collected a pair of second team All-State honors. Nine different programs were represented this season, with eight programs putting one player on the All-State team.
For the first time since at least 2004, the state Player of the Year award was shared between two players. Both deserving players capped tremendous senior campaigns with a bevy of accolades.
First, for the Division II Virginia Union Panthers, Anderson collected first team All-American honors and was named the BOXTOROW Division II Player of the Year. He helped lead the Panthers to the CIAA Northern Division title and a berth in the NCAA Regionals. Anderson, the CIAA Player of the Year, led the league in scoring (18.1 ppg), averaged 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. It was the second straight year Anderson was tabbed a first team All-American.
Burnett gives Lynchburg back-to-back VaSID State Players of the Year, as the senior guard follows former teammate Alex Graves who won the award in 2016. Burnett was a second team NABC All-American for the Hornets this season, earning first team All-District, D3hoops.com first team All-Region, and Conference Player of the Year honors. He set the program marks for three-pointers made in a game, season, and career while moving into the top five all-time scorers in LC history. Burnett averaged 21.5 points per game, ranking 35th nationally, while adding 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Earning rookie of the year honors for Virginia-Wise, Seals had an exceptional first year in the Mountain East Conference. Seals ranked 19th nationally in assists per game, with 5.7, and ranked second in the conference. He also ranked in the top three on the team in scoring, with 16.1 points per game, and rebounding, with 4.6 rebounds per game. The true freshman scored in double figures in all but five games, and reached the 20-point plateau on 10 different occasions.
One year after collecting his first VaSID Coach of the Year designation, CNU guide John Krikorian backed up that season with a repeat performance in 2016-17. In his seventh year with the Captains, Krikorian led CNU to a 27-3 overall record and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. He was named the CAC Coach of the Year and led the team to both regular season and postseason conference titles for the second year in a row.
Five different Commonwealth programs were represented on the first team this season. Joining Burnett and Anderson were Charles Bryant (Averett), Taiwo Badmus (UVA-Wise), and Khory Moore (Virginia Wesleyan). The second team featured four different programs, with CNU earning two spots; Marcus Carter (Christopher Newport), Tim Daly (Christopher Newport), Elijah Moore (Virginia State), Clayton Murtha (Washington & Lee), and Eric Shaw (Mary Washington) round out this years selections.
VaSID names 27 all-state teams in 15 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership to VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a University or conference in the state of Virginia.
Complete team:
Co-Players of the Year
Ray Anderson, Virginia Union University
Zack Burnett, Lynchburg College
Coach of the Year
John Krikorian, Christopher Newport University
Rookie of the Year
Michal Seals, University of Virginia – Wise
All-State First Team
Ray Anderson, Virginia Union University
Taiwo Badmus, University of Virginia – Wise
Charles Bryant, Averett University
Zack Burnett, Lynchburg College
Khory Moore, Virginia Wesleyan College
All-State Second Team
Marcus Carter, Christopher Newport University
Tim Daly, Christopher Newport University
Elijah Moore, Virginia State University
Clayton Murtha, Washington & Lee University
Eric Shaw, University of Mary Washington