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Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | NEC Men's Basketball |
| Player of the Year | |
| image | NEC_nameless_logo.svg |
| imagesize | 200 |
| description | the most outstanding basketball player in the Northeast Conference |
| country | United States |
| year | 1983 |
| holder | Jordan Jones, Central Connecticut |
Player of the Year
The Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an annual award given to the Northeast Conference's (NEC) most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1982–83 season, when the league was known as the ECAC Metro Conference.
The most well-recognized NEC Player of the Year is Marist's Rik Smits, who won the award in both 1987 and 1988. Smits went on to have a successful National Basketball Association (NBA) career for 12 seasons (1988–2000), all with the Indiana Pacers. In 1998, Smits was named an Eastern Conference All-Star. In 2021–22, Alex Morales of Wagner became just the fourth NEC player to be named player of the year for two consecutive seasons, and the first since Charles Jones of Long Island University in 1997 and 1998.
LIU has the most winners with eight, all of whom represented Long Island University's Brooklyn campus before the school merged the athletic programs of its Brooklyn and Post campuses in July 2019. Robert Morris, which left the NEC for the Horizon League in 2020, is tied for second with current member Central Connecticut with six. All charter members of the Northeast Conference that are still members have had at least one winner.
Key
| Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the NEC Player of the Year award at that point |
|---|
Winners
| Season | Player | School | Position | Class | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [1982–83](1982-83-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Marist | SG | ||||||||||||
| [1983–84](1983-84-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)† | Robert Morris | SG | last =Straetz | first =Bob | title=ECAC Metro tourney wide open | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/114155811 | newspaper=Poughkeepsie Journal | location=Poughkeepsie, New York | date=March 8, 1984 | page= 25 | via =Newspapers.com | accessdate = January 8, 2024}} | ||
| St. Francis (NY) | F | |||||||||||||
| Long Island | PF | |||||||||||||
| [1984–85](1984-85-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | (2) | Long Island | PF | |||||||||||
| [1985–86](1985-86-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Wagner | SG | ||||||||||||
| [1986–87](1986-87-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Marist | C | last = | first = | title=College basketball | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/377962301 | newspaper=The Baltimore Sun | location=Baltimore, Maryland | date=March 10, 1988 | page= 49 | via =Newspapers.com | accessdate = January 8, 2024}} | ||
| [1987–88](1987-88-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | (2) | Marist | C | |||||||||||
| [1988–89](1988-89-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Robert Morris | G | ||||||||||||
| [1989–90](1989-90-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Fairleigh Dickinson | F | ||||||||||||
| [1990–91](1990-91-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Saint Francis (PA) | PG | ||||||||||||
| [1991–92](1991-92-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Robert Morris | SG | ||||||||||||
| [1992–93](1992-93-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Rider | SG | ||||||||||||
| [1993–94](1993-94-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Marist | SF | ||||||||||||
| [1994–95](1994-95-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Long Island | PF | ||||||||||||
| [1995–96](1995-96-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Mount St. Mary's | PG | ||||||||||||
| [1996–97](1996-97-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Long Island | PG / SG | author= | date=March 1, 2022 | title=Alex Morales Repeats As NEC Player of Year, Earns Defensive Player Of The Year Honors As Five Seahawks Earn Postseason Recognition | url=https://wagnerathletics.com/news/2022/3/1/mens-basketball-alex-morales-repeats-as-nec-player-of-year-earns-defensive-player-of-the-year-honors-as-five-seahawks-earn-postseason-recognition.aspx | work=WagnerAthletics.com | location=Staten Island, New York | quote=Morales joins LIU's Carey Scurry (1983–84 and 1984–85), Marist's Rik Smits (1986–87 and 1987–88) and LIU's Charles Jones (1996–97 and 1997–98) as the only players to win NEC Player of the Year twice while becoming the first Wagner player ever to achieve the feat. Last season, Morales became Wagner's third-ever player to win the award, joining NEC Hall of Famers Terrance Bailey (1985–86) and Jermaine Hall (2002–03). | access-date=January 8, 2024}} | ||||
| [1997–98](1997-98-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | (2) | Long Island | PG / SG | |||||||||||
| [1998–99](1998-99-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | St. Francis (NY) | PG | ||||||||||||
| [1999–00](1999-2000-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Central Connecticut | SG | ||||||||||||
| [2000–01](2000-01-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Monmouth | PG | ||||||||||||
| [2001–02](2001-02-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Central Connecticut | F | ||||||||||||
| [2002–03](2002-03-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Wagner | SF | ||||||||||||
| [2003–04](2003-04-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Central Connecticut | F | ||||||||||||
| [2004–05](2004-05-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Monmouth | PF | ||||||||||||
| [2005–06](2005-06-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Fairleigh Dickinson | SG | ||||||||||||
| [2006–07](2006-07-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Central Connecticut | SG / PG | ||||||||||||
| [2007–08](2007-08-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Robert Morris | PG | ||||||||||||
| [2008–09](2008-09-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Robert Morris | SG | ||||||||||||
| [2009–10](2009-10-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Quinnipiac | PF | ||||||||||||
| [2010–11](2010-11-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Central Connecticut | SF | ||||||||||||
| [2011–12](2011-12-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Long Island | PF | ||||||||||||
| [2012–13](2012-13-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Long Island | PF | ||||||||||||
| [2013–14](2013-14-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Robert Morris | SG | ||||||||||||
| [2014–15](2014-15-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | St. Francis Brooklyn | PF | ||||||||||||
| [2015–16](2015-16-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Sacred Heart | SG | ||||||||||||
| [2016–17](2016-17-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Long Island | SF | ||||||||||||
| [2017–18](2017-18-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Mount St. Mary's | PG | ||||||||||||
| [2018–19](2018-19-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Saint Francis (PA) | PG | ||||||||||||
| [2019–20](2019-20-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Saint Francis (PA) | PG | ||||||||||||
| [2020–21](2020-21-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Wagner | SG | ||||||||||||
| [2021–22](2021-22-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | (2) | Wagner | SG | |||||||||||
| [2022–23](2022-23-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Saint Francis (PA) | PF | author= | date=February 28, 2023 | title=Two Of A Kind: SFU's Josh Cohen & Merrimack's Jordan Minor Share #NECMBB Player of the Year Honors | url=https://northeastconference.org/news/2023/2/22/MBB_All_NEC_23_Release.aspx | work=Northeast Conference | location=Somerset, New Jersey | access-date=January 8, 2024}} | |||||
| Merrimack | PF | |||||||||||||
| [2023–24](2023-24-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Merrimack | G | ||||||||||||
| [2024–25](2024-25-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season) | Central Connecticut | G |
Winners by school
| School (year joined) | Winners | Years |
|---|---|---|
| LIU (1981) | 8 | 1984†, 1985, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2012, 2013, 2017 |
| Central Connecticut (1997) | 6 | 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2025 |
| Robert Morris (1981) | 6 | 1984†, 1989, 1992, 2008, 2009, 2014 |
| Marist (1981) | 4 | 1983, 1987, 1988, 1994 |
| Saint Francis (PA) (1981) | 4 | 1991, 2019, 2020, 2023† |
| Wagner (1981) | 4 | 1986, 2003, 2021, 2022 |
| St. Francis Brooklyn (1981) | 3 | 1984†, 1999, 2015 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson (1981) | 2 | 1990, 2006 |
| Merrimack (2019) | 2 | 2023†, 2024 |
| Monmouth (1985) | 2 | 2001, 2005 |
| Mount St. Mary's (1989) | 2 | 1996, 2018 |
| Quinnipiac (1998) | 1 | 2010 |
| Rider (1992) | 1 | 1993 |
| Sacred Heart (1999) | 1 | 2016 |
| Bryant (2008) | 0 | — |
| Chicago State (2024) | 0 | — |
| Le Moyne (2023) | 0 | — |
| Loyola (MD) (1981) | 0 | — |
| Mercyhurst (2024) | 0 | — |
| New Haven (2025) | 0 | — |
| Siena (1981) | 0 | — |
| Stonehill (2022) | 0 | — |
| UMBC (1998) | 0 | — |
Footnotes
In addition, one charter member, Towson University (then Towson State University), left after the conference's first season of 1981–82, before the player of the year award was created. The Tigers left for the East Coast Conference, and are now in the Coastal Athletic Association.
References
References
- "Rik Smits Bio". [[National Basketball Association]].
- Cassata, Donna. (March 9, 1983). "Smith ECAC Metro Player of the Year". [[Poughkeepsie Journal]].
- Straetz, Bob. (March 8, 1984). "ECAC Metro tourney wide open". Poughkeepsie Journal.
- Furjanic, Matt. (March 17, 1985). "17–12 finish was beyond expectations". Poughkeepsie Journal.
- . (2023). ["Men's Northeast Conference Player of the Year Winners"](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/men/northeast-poy.html). *Sports Reference LLC*.
- (March 10, 1988). "College basketball". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
- Rosen, Karen. (March 17, 1989). "Arizona Routs Robert Morris". [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]].
- Leonard, Tim. (March 9, 1990). "He Can Play: Glen Cove's gift to FDU weighs future in 2 sports". [[Newsday]].
- Rivera, Steve. (March 14, 1991). "Izzy ready? UA foe asks". [[Tucson Citizen]].
- Halvonik, Steve. (March 17, 1992). "Prince of the city". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
- Climer, David. (March 18, 1993). "Mom's U-turn left Suber with ticket to Rider". [[The Tennessean]].
- (March 1, 1994). "All-NEC Teams". The Baltimore Sun.
- Brown, Scott. (March 1, 1995). "'March Madness' takes center stage". [[The Gettysburg Times]].
- Blubaugh, Bob. (March 14, 1996). "Illinois State routs MSM". [[Carroll County Times]].
- . (March 1, 2022). ["Alex Morales Repeats As NEC Player of Year, Earns Defensive Player Of The Year Honors As Five Seahawks Earn Postseason Recognition"](https://wagnerathletics.com/news/2022/3/1/mens-basketball-alex-morales-repeats-as-nec-player-of-year-earns-defensive-player-of-the-year-honors-as-five-seahawks-earn-postseason-recognition.aspx). *WagnerAthletics.com*.
- (March 3, 1999). "All-Conference Teams: NEC Men's Basketball". [[Hartford Courant]].
- Yantz, Tom. (March 16, 2000). "A Good Call: Central's Climb Began With Mickens". Hartford Courant.
- Handleman, Bill. (March 7, 2001). "Let's Dance". [[Asbury Park Press]].
- Graham, Tony. (March 1, 2002). "A look at the NEC". Asbury Park Press.
- (March 5, 2004). "All-Conference Men's Teams: Northeast Conference". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Graham, Tomy. (March 3, 2005). "Hamilton takes home NEC honor". Asbury Park Press.
- (March 2, 2006). "NEC Men's Basketball Honors". Hartford Courant.
- Yantz, Tom. (March 1, 2007). "A Walk-On Home Run: Mojica Named NEC Player Of The Year". Hartford Courant.
- (March 6, 2008). "NEC Awards". Hartford Courant.
- Dunlap, Colin. (March 5, 2009). "Colonials better suited to avoid last year's crash". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Sanserino, Michael. (March 10, 2010). "Second chance vs. Quinnipiac". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Boyer, Zac. (March 2, 2011). "Horton NEC Player Of Year". Hartford Courant.
- Brennan, Sean. (March 8, 2012). "LIU wins for Dance encore". [[New York Daily News.
- Kussoy, Howie. (March 6, 2013). "LIU's Olasewere is NEC Player of Year". [[New York Post]].
- Meyer, Craig. (March 18, 2014). "Finding his way home". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- (March 11, 2015). "Robert Morris wins NE title". Greenwood Index-Journal.
- (March 30, 2016). "Valentine, Hield Unanimous All-Americans". Hartford Courant.
- Carino, Jerry. (March 29, 2017). "Three N.J. players earn All-America recognition". [[Courier-Post]].
- Sankofa II, Omari. (March 3, 2018). "Don't diss Burke". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Carino, Jerry. (March 13, 2019). "FDU wins NEC title; earns bid to NCAAs". [[The Record (North Jersey).
- Rucosky, John. (March 4, 2020). "St. Francis senior Blackmon named NEC player of the year". [[The Tribune-Democrat]].
- . (February 28, 2023). ["Two Of A Kind: SFU's Josh Cohen & Merrimack's Jordan Minor Share #NECMBB Player of the Year Honors"](https://northeastconference.org/news/2023/2/22/MBB_All_NEC_23_Release.aspx). *Northeast Conference*.
- Carino, Jerry. (April 18, 2024). "Rutgers adds Derkack, a native of Woodbridge". [[The Daily Journal (New Jersey).
- . (March 4, 2025). ["Crowned In Blue: CCSU's Jordan Jones is the NEC Men's Basketball Player of the Year"](https://northeastconference.org/news/2025/2/25/MBB_All_NEC_25_Release.aspx). *[[Northeast Conference]]*.
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