Cincinnati State's Battle Wins POTY, Cuyahoga's Duncan Wins COTY As OCCAC Announces MBB Postseason Awards

By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

Springfield, Ohio---Cincinnati State's Dante Battle was named the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Player of the Year as the conference announced its 2016-17 postseason awards this evening.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Battle, a sophomore guard, averaged 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game in conference play while leading Cincinnati State to a 23-7 record overall, a 14-2 record in OCCAC play and a share of the OCCAC championship with Cuyahoga. He had a season-high 46 points on Feb. 25 in a win over Lakeland, and he also had 38 against Clark State on Feb. 1, 37 against Cuyahoga on Jan. 14 and 34 apiece against Clark State and Lorain County on Dec. 14 and Dec. 17.

Battle becomes the first player of the year from Cincinnati State's men's basketball program since Winston Grays in 2013-14.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Cincinnati State's Desmond Crosby, a freshman guard, was named the OCCAC's Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game in conference play.

OCCAC ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Aside from Crosby, this year's OCCAC All-Defensive team is comprised of Devon Robinson of Cuyahoga Community College, Johnnie Robinson of Columbus State Community College, Rico Stafford of Owens Community College, Jaquan Harrison of Sinclair Community College and Chris Landrum of Edison Community College.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Cuyahoga Community College's Devon Robinson, a freshman guard/forward, was named the OCCAC's freshman of the year. He averaged 11.6 points, 10 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.2 assists per game in conference play while leading his team to a 27-2 overall record, a 14-2 record in OCCAC play and a share of the OCCAC championship with Cincinnati State.

OCCAC ALL-FRESHMEN TEAM

Outside of Robinson, this year's OCCAC All-Freshmen team consists of Quintin Dove of Cuyahoga Community College, Mario Young of Columbus State Community College, Trey Granger of Lakeland Community College, Desmond Crosby of Cincinnati State and Matthew Gierhart of Columbus State Community College.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Cuyahoga's Michael Duncan, who is in his third year as head coach, won this year's OCCAC Coach of the Year award after leading his team to a 27-2 record in this year's regular season, including a 14-2 record in conference play and a share of the OCCAC championship with Cincinnati State. In his nearly three complete seasons with the program, he has led Cuyahoga to a 64-26 record, including a 30-14 record in OCCAC play.

Duncan's selection as coach of the year marks the first time Cuyahoga has won the award since Randy White in 2010-11.

FIRST TEAM ALL-OCCAC

Outside of Battle, the other First Team All-OCCAC selections this year include Akiean Frederick of Sinclair Community College, Derrik Jamerson Jr. of Owens Community College, TJ Steele of Lorain County Community College, Rodney Willis of Columbus State Community College and Devon Robinson of Cuyahoga Community College.

SECOND TEAM ALL-OCCAC

This year's Second Team All-OCCAC is comprised of Quintin Dove of Cuyahoga Community College, Anthony Coleman of Cincinnati State, Mario Young of Columbus State Community College, Trey Granger of Lakeland Community College and Dwayne Chastain Jr. of Sinclair Community College.

HONORABLE MENTION ALL-OCCAC

This year's Honorable Mention All-OCCAC selections were: Dae'Shawn Jackson of Edison Community College, Desmond Crosby of Cincinnati State, Matthew Gierhart of Columbus State Community College, Roy Hatchett Jr. of Owens Community College, Jarred Schultz of Lorain County Community College, Hadith Tiggs of Edison Community College, Jeramie Burge of Lakeland Community College, Marquevious Wilson of Owens Community College, Wade Lowman of Cuyahoga Community College and LiDonta Hicks-Gentry of Sinclair Community College.

DISTRICT AWARDS

Due to receiving the top number of votes among National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II players within the OCCAC, Battle also wins the Region XII District 11 Player of the Year award.

Coming in just behind Battle, in order of votes received, were Akiean Frederick of Sinclair Community College, Derrik Jamerson Jr. of Owens Community College, Devon Robinson of Cuyahoga Community College, Anthony Coleman of Cincinnati State and Quintin Dove of Cuyahoga Community College.

Those six players comprise the All-NJCAA Division II Region XII District 11 team.

Lorain County Community College's TJ Steele earned the Region XII District II Player of the Year award. He edged out Columbus State Community College's Rodney Willis (2nd), Mario Young (3rd) and Matthew Gierhart (4th) for the award. Jarred Schultz of Lorain County Community College and Johnnie Robinson of Columbus State Community College finished fifth and sixth.

All six of those players comprise the All-NJCAA Division III Region XII District II team.