By: Jamal Smith Sports Editor
Senior forward Andy Avgi can add another accomplishment to his collegiate career: the 2015-16 GNAC Player of the Year award.
On Tuesday, the conference passed out their honors for the season, and Avgi wasn’t the only Wolf to take home an award.
In his first year at the helm, head coach Jim Shaw was named the GNAC Coach of the Year. Senior Julian Nichols (G) and sophomore Tanner Omlid (G/F) also earned the All-GNAC second team honors and senior Jordan Wiley was named as an honorable mention.
The GNAC Player of the Year honor, voted on by the coaches in the conference, is Avgi’s second honor in as many years. This season, Avgi averaged 20.6 points per game, second best in the conference, and tallied 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in each outing.
“[Avgi] is our best player,” said Shaw. “He’s a hard worker and he’s got a great attitude, so he’s the definition of what you want out of your best player.”
What makes Avgi so dangerous to his opponents is his ability to hit shots from anywhere on the court. This season, the 6’5” forward hit 41 shots from distance, placing him 16th in the conference in three-pointers made and 16th in three-point percentage.
“I appreciate the honor, but it really comes down to my team,” said Avgi. “They honestly make me better. A lot of the stuff I can’t do by myself, and I know it’s an individual award, but to me it’s a team award.”
Speaking of team ball, Shaw’s Coach of the Year honor provides a testament to how he got his team to buy into his system in his first year as the Wolves’ head coach. Under Shaw’s leadership, the Wolves have remained in the top 25 rankings of Division II basketball for the entire season, peaking at No. 1 in the latter part of the season for the first time in school history.
To be recognized for their achievements is great for the players, but the Wolves want more: a shot at the Division II Championship.
