A quintet of William and Mary men's basketball players was
honored at the CAA Awards Banquet on Thursday night highlighted by junior
forward Quinn McDowell. The Tribe tri-captain, who earned Third-Team All-CAA
honors for the second straight season, was named the Dean Ehlers Leadership
Award winner, marking the second straight season a Tribe player took home the
award. Freshman guard Brandon Britt was a CAA All-Rookie Team selection, while
McDowell, senior Marcus Kitts and sophomores Andrew Pavloff and Doug Howard garnered
CAA All-Academic Team honors.
McDowell became the second Tribe player in as many seasons
to win the Ehlers Leadership Award, joining 2010 graduate David Schneider. The
distinction, which has been presented to the deserving men's and women's
basketball player since 1995, is named after former James Madison athletic
director Dean Ehlers, who was a founding member of the conference, served as
its first President and was a recognized leader through his membership on
numerous NCAA Committees. The award is given to the student-athlete who
"embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship in
conjunction with his academic athletic achievement." McDowell is a member of
both the W&M Student-Athlete Advisory Council and the President's Council
for the entire Williamsburg campus. He is heavily involved with the
Williamsburg Community Chapel and organizes a Bible study for W&M students
and athletes. McDowell is also a leader in W&M's Fellowship of Christian
Athletes.
A preseason Second-Team All-CAA choice, McDowell became the
sixth Tribe player to earn multiple All-CAA honors during his career after
earning third-team distinction as a sophomore last season. He led the Tribe and
ranks seventh in the CAA in scoring at 15.2 points per game. Rated one of the
top shooters in the country by FoxSports.com, McDowell ranks second in the CAA
in free throw percentage (86.2) and 3-point field goal percentage (43.8). He
owns four double-doubles this season, including a 28-point, 12-rebound effort
at Hofstra on Feb. 15. McDowell scored a career-high 30 points earlier this
season at Longwood and has scored 20 or more points in seven contests this
season, which ranks seventh in the CAA.
Britt became the 18th Tribe player and the sixth
under head coach Tony Shaver to be named to the All-Rookie team. The
Chesapeake, Va., native ranked second among CAA rookies in scoring at 11 points
per game, which was 24th in the CAA overall. He scored a season-best
25 points in the Tribe's win over Drexel on Jan. 15 and earned CAA Rookie of
the Week honors in the process. A two-time Rookie of the Week honoree, Britt
upped that average to 12.1 in CAA contests, which ranked 21st in the
league. He ranks fifth among CAA rookies in assists per game (2.2), third in
3-pointers made (31) and 10th in rebounding (2.2). Earlier this
season, Britt had a streak of nine straight double-double games for the Tribe,
which was the second longest for a W&M freshman since freshmen became
eligible to compete in 1972.
McDowell was a CAA
All-Academic First Team choice after earning second-team honors last season.
For the second straight season, Kitts was an All-Academic Second Team honoree. They
are the sixth and seventh Tribe players to earn multiple CAA All-Academic Team
honors during their careers. Both student-athletes maintain stellar grade point
averages as McDowell majors in religious studies at W&M, while Kitts is
pursuing a degree in finance.
Howard and
Pavloff were named to the CAA All-Academic honorable mention. Howard is double
majoring in English and business, while Pavloff is majoring in business. The
four CAA All-Academic Team choices led the league and were the most ever for
the Tribe in a singles season. During head coach Tony Shaver's eight seasons at
the helm of Tribe basketball, his players have received 18 CAA All-Academic
team honors.
The Tribe will
open CAA Tournament play in the final opening round game on Friday, March 4,
when it face No. 6-seeded James Madison for the third time this season. Tip-off
is slated for 8:30 p.m. at the Richmond Coliseum. The winner of the opening
round game will advance to Saturday's quarterfinals where it will meet No. 3
seed Hofstra at 8:30 p.m.
The game will be
streamed over the Internet via CAASports.com at a cost a $4.95. Fans can
purchased the entire first day of the CAA Tournament over the Web for $14.95.
Tribe fans can catch the action on the Tribe Radio Network with Jay Colley,
Bill McDonald and Charlie Woollum on the call. The Tide 92.3 FM in Williamsburg
is the flagship station of the Tribe Radio Network and the broadcast will be
over the Web at TribeAthletics.com.
