Nelson Warriors Celebrate Historic National Champions Season with Multiple West Region Honors
The Nelson Warriors Men's Basketball team who cemented its place in history by capturing the NCCAA National Championship just two weeks ago, can now add to their collective and individual trophy cases with the accumulation of multiple additional postseason awards.
The West All-Region teams were announced highlighted by several Warriors players. Selections were chosen by the coaches of all nine Region head coaches.
Senior Harley Upton, who won NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player, secured Player of the Year honors as well as an All-Region First Team selection alongside his teammate, junior Rob Jenkins. Upton averaged career-highs in a number of statistical categories, averages that also finished op in the conference and the nation, including 21.0 points per game (1st in the nation) on an astounding 45.7% from 3 (3rd in the nation with at least 100 attempts) and 53,8% from the field. In the season-finale, Upton scored 47 points while nailing 13 3's, also setting a number of personal, school, conference, and national records. Jenkins was the team's second-highest scorer at 19.7 points per game (4th in the nation) on 52.5% from the field and 42.5 from 3, all career-highs, while also averaging 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game.
Joining them is sophomore Zaveion Bineyard who earned a spot on the Region's Second Team after averaging 15.9 points per game on 59.6% shooting (8th in the nation), and 5.6 rebounds per game, followed by junior Orlando Gonzales who was awarded an all Third Team honors after averaging 6.1 points and 3.0 assists per game. A supreme ball-handler, he averaged just 2.1 turnovers per 40 minutes (6th in the nation).
The Warriors' incredible run was led by first-year head coach Nicklaus "Kole" Ebert who had the distinguished honor of being recognized by peers as Regional Coach of the Year. Taking over just two-games into the season, coach Ebert led his squad to the program's first-ever 20-win season before Nelson's first-ever championship run. Breaking the 100-point scoring barrier with regularity in the regular season, Nelson averaged 93.5 points per game, third in the nation, and with a strong defense, led the nation in win-margin at 14.6 points per game.
Moving beyond the West Region, Harley Upton's spectacular season and playoff run was further recognized nationally when he awarded the prestigious First Team All-American selection, another first for the University, an accolade decided by the NCCAA National Office's committee.
With the season officially over, the Nelson Warriors can look back with pride on their championship journey, individual accolades, and a year that will forever be remembered in program history!