George Papas leads New Jersey All-MAAC selections

Basketball, College, Featured, Monmouth University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University

March 7, 2022

On Monday, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced their All-MAAC Teams and All-MAAC Rookie Teams. This comes on the heels of the MAAC Player of the Year announcement on Wednesday.

Locally there was a lot to celebrate on both the men's and women's side as Monmouth, Saint Peter's, and Rider saw many players honored for their hard pay this season.

2021 All-MAAC Women's Teams

Both Monmouth and Saint Peter's saw a total of three players make the All-MAAC Second Team. For the Hawks, Stella Clark was announced as part of the team after averaging 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists this season. After four years at Northeastern, the graduate student came to West Long Branch and became just the third player in the last 20 years to pick up 100 assists in a season for the Hawks. Monmouth begins MAAC Tournament play on Tuesday when they face Canisius.

Saint Peter's put two players on the All-MAAC Second Team as Kassondra Brown and Kendrea Williams made the squad. Brown, a transfer from Rhode Island, averaged a double-double (14.9 points and ten rebounds) and tallied 13 double-doubles this season. The junior was a dominant player inside while Williams took care of the outside for the Peacocks. Williams scored 14.2 points per game and holds the program record for career three-pointers made. Saint Peter's open MAAC Tournament play on Tuesday morning against Marist.

Rider was represented as Lenaejha Evans made the All-MAAC Third Team. The senior guard averaged 14 points and shot 45 percent from the field and 74 percent from the foul line. She is the 31st Broncs player in program history to win All-MAAC honors.

2021 All-MAAC Men's Teams

To the surprise of many, Saint Peter's forward KC Ndefo was named to the All-MAAC Second Team on Monday. The preseason MAAC Player of the Year was the best all-around player in the conference and arguably the country. The forward and reigning conference Defensive Player of the Year posted 10 points, six rebounds, two assists, and nearly three blocks a game. Ndefo stepped up for the Peacocks at various critical moments throughout the season as he is hoping to lead Saint Peter's to a MAAC Tournament crown.

Daryl Banks III joined Ndefo on the All-MAAC teams making the third team. The leading scorer for Saint Peter's posted 11 points per game and was 12th in the MAAC in three-point shooting. Head coach Shaheen Holloway depended on Banks' late shooting in the final minutes of games over the last two years as he has become a significant cog in the gears for the Peacocks. Jaylen Murray, who made the All-MAAC Rookie Team, rounded out the honors for Saint Peters. The freshman guard played well as the team's backup point guard, averaging six points, two assists, and two rebounds in his first season in Jersey City.

Monmouth picked up three All-MAAC honors, led by George Papas' All-MAAC First Team honor. The graduate student dropped 15 points per game, led the MAAC with 97 three-pointers made, and is fifth in program history in three-pointers made. Papas is the fourth Hawk to make the Al-MAAC First Team in program history. Center Walker Miller made the All-MAAC Second Team after averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game. For a program where the center position was a detriment, the 6'11" graduate student solidified the middle and left a template of how to play the position for Monmouth.

Rounding out the Hawks' All-MAAC selections was former Seton Hall guard Shavar Reynolds making the All-MAAC Third Team. Reynolds was third on the team in scoring and scored over 20 points three times this season. Monmouth opens MAAC Tournament play against Niagara on Thursday in Atlantic City.

Dimencio Vaughn rounds out the All-MAAC selections as the graduate forward ends the season with an All-MAAC Third Team bid. Vaughn averaged 12.5 points and eight rebounds per game for the Broncs. Vaughn scored a season-high 28 points against Marist in December, where he knocked down five treys. Rider begins their MAAC Tournament journey against Manhattan on Tuesday evening.