Pitt Johnstown senior forward Chris Gilliam (Baltimore, MD) was named the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Men's Basketball Player of the Year, while Head Coach Bob Rukavina was tabbed the Coach of the Year after guiding the Mountain Cats to the regular season league title in Pitt Johnstown's first season competing for conference championships. In addition, Marcus Tullis (Johnstown, Pa.) was a Second Team All-Conference choice. Quinton Davis (Pittsburgh, Pa.) earned Honorable Mention All-WVIAC recognition and Danny Branch (Washington, D.C.) was named to the All-Freshman Team. All awards were selected via a vote of the conference's 16 head coaches.
Shepherd (WV) University's rebounding machine Liki Turner earned Freshman of the Year accolades. All awards were selected via a vote of the conference's 16 head coaches.
Gilliam, a 2006-07 Second Team All-Conference selection, ranks seventh in the WVIAC in scoring at 19.7 points per game and eighth in rebounding at 8.7 rebounds per game. Gilliam set the stage for a big senior campaign with a 23-point exhibition contest versus Big East Conference power Pitt in November. Gilliam went on to lead the WVIAC in field goal percentage at 64.9% during the regular season. The two-time WVIAC Player of the Week went over the 20-point mark 15 times, including in all three contests versus fellow championship contenders Alderson-Broaddus, West Virginia State, and West Liberty State. He is currently ranked 13th in NCAA Division II in Field Goal Percentage, 30th in Scoring and 57th in Rebounding. Gilliam has scored in double figures in all but two games in 2007-08 and has led or tied for team lead in scoring 17 times and rebounding 15 times.
The 6'7" senior is on a pace to end his career as one of the top ten most accurate shooters in Division II history. Gilliam has connected on 652 of 987 (66.1%) field goals during his four-year Mountain Cat stint. Gilliam's 1,666 career points stands second on the All-Time Pitt Johnstown Scoring List, while his 645 career rebounds are third on the Mountain Cat All-Time Rebounding List.
Rukavina, in his 19th season at the helm of the Mountain Cat program, has guided his team to a 20-6 overall record, a 17-3 record in conference play and the #5 ranking in the East Region. He secured his sixth 20-win season, and third straight, with an 83-67 win at Salem International on Thursday. That same night, he recorded his 300th win at Pitt Johnstown. Rukavina, Pitt Johnstown's All-Time "Winningest" men's basketball coach, has a 300-210 career record.
Tullis, a junior forward, earned Second Team All-WVIAC honors after being the Mountain Cats' second leading scorer (14.1 ppg.) and third leading rebounder (5.3 rpg.). Tullis also ranks 20th in the nation in Field Goal Percentage. He is shooting 61.2% (159-260) from the field and 75.8% (47-62) from the free-throw line.
Davis, an Honorable mention All Conference selection, is averaging 13.7 points and is the Mountain Cats' second leading rebounder at 6.0 rebounds per game. Davis' also leads the team in Free-Throw Percentage (86.3%) and blocked shots (20) and is second in assists (109), steals (46) and three-point field goals-made (43).
Branch, a true freshman, averaged 9.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 26 games-played off of the bench on his way to being named to the All-Freshman Team. Branch leads the Mountain Cats in three-point field goals-made (52) and three-point field goal percentage at 46.8% (52-111).
The Mountain Cats enter the WVIAC Tournament as the top seed. Pitt Johnstown, which had a bye in Tuesday's opening round, will play the winner of the Concord/Davis & Elkins game in the Quarterfinals on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, WV.
Turner, the WVIAC's Freshman of the Year, started his Shepherd career with a 13-point effort versus defending Division II national champion Barton and the Richmond, VA native hasn't slowed down during his first collegiate season. He leads all Division II freshmen with 8.8 rebounds per game. The 6'6" forward has racked up 11 double-doubles, including a 20-point, 17-rebound effort in a victory against Bluefield State. Turner also leads Shepherd in scoring at 14.3 points per game.
2007-08 All-WVIAC Men's Basketball
First Team:
Chris Banal (West Liberty State, Sr., F, 6-4, Wheeling, WV, 21.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.0 spg, 56% FG)
Terrell Eargle (Alderson-Broaddus, Soph., G, 6-4, Youngstown, OH, 12.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.4 apg)
Chris Gilliam (Pitt Johnstown, Sr., F, 6-7, Baltimore, MD, 19.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 65% FG, 76% FT)
Stan Hall (Alderson-Broaddus, Jr., G, 6-3, Canton, OH, 18.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.9 apg)
James Helton (West Virginia State, Sr., F, 6-6, Columbus, OH, 17.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 53% FG, 83% FT)
Jelani Jackson (Davis & Elkins, Sr., F, 6-4, Harrisburg, PA, 21.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 51% FG)
Thad McFadden (Fairmont State, Jr., G, 6-2, Flint, MI, 20.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 97 3PT FG, 84% FT)
Dannie Parker (Concord, Sr., C, 6-4, South Bend, IN, 19.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 56% FG)
Robert Strickland (Charleston, Sr., F, 6-7, Chesapeake, VA, 19.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.2 bpg)
Second Team:
Dan Binggeli (West Liberty State, Sr., G, 6-2, Olmstead Falls, OH, 10.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.0 spg)
Marquis Brooks (Charleston, Sr., G, 6-3, Dayton, OH, 16.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 78% FT)
Ben Howlett (West Liberty State, Jr., G, 5-11, Marietta, OH, 20.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 56% FG)
Chris Leborious (Ohio Valley, Sr., C, 6-8, Falling Waters, WV, 20.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 50% FG)
Ronnie Means (Fairmont State, Sr., G, 6-0, South Charleston, WV, 5.5 ppg, 8.1 apg)
Wade Pidock (West Virginia State, Jr., F, 6-7, Licking Heights, OH, 13.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 92 3PT FG)
Jordan Thomas (Seton Hill, Jr., G, 6-1, Jeannette, PA, 15.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.1 apg, 50 3PT FG)
Marcus Tullis (Pitt Johnstown, Jr., F, 6-6, Johnstown, PA, 14.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 61% FG)
Honorable Mention:
Cody Boone (Seton Hill, Soph., F, 6-9, Howard, PA, 11.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.2 bpg, 54% FG)
Samario Clancy (Alderson-Broaddus, Sr., F, 6-3, Cleveland, OH, 7.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 52% FG)
Quinton Davis (Pitt Johnstown, Jr., G, 6-3, West Mifflin, PA, 13.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.2 apg, 86% FT)
Curtis Dorsey (Salem International, Jr., F, 6-5, Philadelphia, PA, 17.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Tryvan Leech (Glenville State, Jr., G/F, 6-5, Springfield, OH, 17.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 91 3PT FG)
Danny Manuel (Davis & Elkins, Soph., G, 5-9, Waynesboro, VA, 16.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.0 apg, 82% FT)
Brett Rector (Davis & Elkins, Sr., G, 6-2, Ravenswood, WV, 15.5 ppg, 2.0 apg, 106 3PT FG, 43% 3PT FG)
Jimmy Williams (Alderson-Broaddus, Sr., F, 6-4, Chicago, IL, 14.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 53% FG)
*---eight players on honorable mention list due to tie in voting
All-Freshman:
Danny Branch (Pitt Johnstown, G, 6-4, Washington, DC, 9.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Justin Caldwell (West Virginia Wesleyan, G, 6-2, Mullens, WV, 14.0 ppg, 1.6 apg, 82% FT)
Adam McFerran (Wheeling Jesuit, F, 6-4, Stow, OH, 10.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 51% FG)
Corey Pelle (West Liberty State, G, 5-11, Silver Grove, KY, 11.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.3 spg, 73% FT)
Liki Turner (Shepherd, F, 6-6, Richmond, VA, 14.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 50% FG, 77% FT)
WVIAC Player of the Year: Chris Gilliam (Pitt Johnstown)
WVIAC Coach of the Year: Bob Rukavina (Pitt Johnstown)
WVIAC Freshman of the Year: Liki Turner (Shepherd)
