Mar 10, 2010
C.J. Wilkerson was named Newcomer of the Year (Photo Courtesy: Steven Worthy/NCCU Athletics)
DURHAM — Junior guard of the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team, C.J. Wilkerson, used a solid, consistent effort in his first season to earn a spot on the 2010 All-Independent first team, while also being voted as the “Newcomer of the Year” by the independent sports information directors and head coaches.
Wilkerson averaged 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in the 2009-10 season helping lead the Eagles to its highest win total since moving to Division I. He scored 20-plus points 11 times, including a career-high of 30 points against the Apprentice School, which helped earned him MVP honors of the 2010 B.C. Powder Classic.
“As good as a basketball player that C.J. is he is a much better person and that says a lot because he is one heck of a basketball player.” said NCCU head men's basketball coach LeVelle Moton. His hard work and dedication to this program is infectious to us all. There can not be a player in the universe that is more of a joy to coach.”
Wilkerson started off his first year at NCCU red hot, scoring in double figures in 13 of his first 14 games at NCCU, including 16 points in his debut against defending national champion and then No. 4/6 North Carolina. In the Miami subregional of the 2009 2KSports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, Wilkerson scored 56 points in three games including his first career double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) against OVC Champion and 2010 NCAA Tournament qualifier Murray State, earning him a spot on the All-Region team.
This year's independent schools include CSU Bakersfield, Longwood University, Savannah State University, Seattle University, SIU Edwardsville, Winston-Salem State University, along with NCCU.
Seattle University forward Charles Garcia was selected as Player of the Year and the Redhawks head coach Cameron Dollar was voted as the Coach of the Year.
Garcia, a 6-10 junior from Los Angeles, California, averaged 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the field and 62 percent at the free throw line during his only season with the program. He led the Redhawks to a 17-14 record while posting season-highs of 41 points against Wofford, and 16 rebounds against Cal Poly, with 11 double-doubles as well. Garcia announced this week his intention to declare for the NBA Draft at the conclusion of the season as Seattle hopes to earn a berth in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), or the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT).
Dollar led Seattle to the 17-14 record, including road wins at Utah, Oregon State, Portland State, San Jose State, and UC Davis along with home wins past Fresno State, Weber State, Cal State Northridge, and UC Irvine. The Redhawks enjoyed their fifth-straight winning season overall, though the first winning record while playing a full Division I schedule for the first time. Dollar was in his first year as he took over the program last April (2009).
Garcia and Wilkerson were joined on the All-Independent First-Team by Longwood senior Dana Smith, SIU Edwardsville sophomore Mark Yelovich, and Longwood sophomore Antwan Carter. Smith averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for the Lancers (12-19). Yelovich averaged 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Cougars (5-23). Carter averaged 14.6 points and an Independent-best 8.5 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field for Longwood.
The All-Independent Second-Team includes Trent Blakley of CSU Bakersfield (15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds), Cervante Burrell of Seattle (11.4 points, 3.5 assists), Rashad Hassan of Savannah State (11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds), Paul Davis of Winston-Salem State (10.9 points, 7.8 rebounds), and Santwon Latunde of CSU Bakersfield (10.7 points, 7.8 rebounds).
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