Shaw's Greenup and St. Aug's Peoples named Daktronics All-Americans

EDINBORO, PA – University of Nebraska Kearney forward Nick Branting has been named the 2003-04 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Branting received the most votes in balloting conducted among Division II sports information directors. The three Daktronics All-America teams were senior-laden, with 12 of the 15 honorees seniors.
A 6’6 forward, Branting helped Nebraska-Kearney finish with a 28-5 record, losing to Metro State in the finals of the North Central Regional. He averaged 22.3 ppg. and 7.4 rpg while shooting 52.4 percent from the floor (254 of 485) and 84.7 percent from the line (205 of 242). In addition, he averaged 2.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. Branting was named the Most Valuable Player of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and is a two-time All-RMAC selection. He led the RMAC in scoring and also finished in the top five in the league in rebounds, blocked shots and free throw percentage.

Branting concluded his career ranked seventh at Nebraska-Kearney in career scoring (1,765 points), 10th in career rebounds (752), third in career blocked shots (136) and seventh in steals (162).

Teikyo Post all-time leading scorer Ron Christy was edged out of the Player of the Year voting for the second straight year but is still one of two players to repeat as a Daktronics All-American. He was named to the first team a year ago, as well. A 6’0” guard, Christy concluded his career with 2,473 points and was named the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year. The senior ranks second in Division II in scoring at 27.1 ppg., adding 5.6 rpg. He made 69 of 240 three-pointers while shooting 44.2 percent from the floor (288 of 651) and 71.6 percent from the line (169 of 236), along with handing out 3.5 assists per game while averaging 1.9 steals per contest. Christy helped the Eagles finish with a 20-10 record.

Concord’s Lewis Muse is one of two juniors on the Daktronics’ first team and the only player in Division II ahead of Christy in scoring. He averaged a Division II-leading 28.5 ppg., adding 5.8 rpg., 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals. The 6’4” forward shot 62.1 percent from the floor, making 308 of 496 field goal attempts, and was 125 of 199 from the line (62.8 percent). His scoring average is the highest by any West Virginia collegiate player since 1989. He also averaged 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals. A first team All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection, he had 15 games of 30-or-more points helping the Mountain Lions finish with a 20-10 record.

The other junior on the first team is Josh Buettner of Michigan Tech. A 6’9” forward, he averaged 22.3 ppg. and 6.6 rpg. while helping the Huskies to a 22-8 record and a berth in the Great Lakes Regionals. The Huskies advanced to the regional semifinals. He shot 54.2 percent from the floor (249 of 459) and 77.4 percent from the line (137 of 177), adding 33 of 74 three-pointers, while averaging 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks. Buettner was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year while leading the conference in scoring and blocks. He is a two-time All-GLIAC North Division first team selection and ranks seventh in career scoring at MTU with 1,514 points.

The final member of the first team is Elad Inbar of UMass Lowell. A 6’7” senior, he has led the RiverHawks into this week’s Elite Eight with a 28-5 record. Inbar is averaging 19.4 ppg. and 7.0 rpg., while shooting 53.1 percent from the floor (233 of 439) and 83.7 percent from the line (154 of 184). In addition, he is averaging 1.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals. He was named the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year and was the NE-10 Tournament MVP for the second straight year.

The second team is comprised of five seniors, led by Drury’s Chris Mortellaro, who narrowly missed landing on the first team. The 6’10” center helped Drury to a 24-8 record, losing to Northwest Missouri State in the South Central Regional championship game. A senior, Mortellaro averaged 21.7 ppg. and 9.6 rpg. while shooting 54.7 percent from the floor (235 of 430). In addition, he averaged 2.8 assists. Mortellaro was named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year and ranks among the school’s all-time leading scorers with 1,582 career points.

Mike Taylor of West Virginia State gives the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference a pair of Daktronics All-Americans. The 6’2” senior was named to the second team after leading the Yellow Jackets to a 25-7 finish and a berth in the East Regional. He averaged 24.4 ppg while being named the WVIAC Player of the Year. The guard also averaged 3.6 rpg., made 140 of 368 three-pointers and shot 82.9 percent from the line (141 of 170). He concluded his career ranking among the top three in career scoring with 2,171 points.

Tarleton State’s Tim Burnette saw his season come to an end in the South Central Regional against Drury, but not before helping the Texans finish with a 28-4 record. The 6’2” senior was named a first team All-Lone Star Conference North Division selection and was the LSC North Division Newcomer of the Year. He averaged 18.4 ppg., 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals while making 82 of 218 three-pointers.

Shaw’s Anthony Greenup and Kelvin Parker of Northwest Missouri State complete the second team. Greenup, a 6’8” senior, has the distinction of being the only player from a team with a losing record to make the Daktronics team. While the Bears were finishing 12-16, Greenup was averaging a double-double at 20.9 ppg. and 10.2 rpg. While ranking among the Division II leaders in both categories, he leads the country in field goal percentage, hitting an incredible 70.9 percent from the floor (210 of 296). He also ranks eighth in blocked shots with 2.8 per game. Greenup was a first team All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association selection and was named the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year.

Parker is a 5’11” guard and one of three players on the Daktronics All-America teams heading to the Elite Eight. Northwest Missouri State owns a 29-4 record, thanks in no small part to Parker. The senior was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player and was MVP of the Sonic/MIAA Championship Tournament. He was also named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team. Parker is averaging 18.1 ppg. and 5.2 assists, along with 1.9 steals. He has made 52 of 132 three-pointers and is shooting 81.1 percent from the line (146 of 180). He will conclude his career as the fourth all-time leading scorer for the Bearcats.

The third team is led by Humboldt State of Fred Hooks, who joins Christy as the only repeaters from the 2002-03 Daktronics team. Hooks, a 6’6” senior, was a second team selection a year ago. He is also one of three players headed to Bakersfield for the Elite Eight. Humboldt State captured the West Regional championship and will make its first-ever appearance in the Elite Eight with a 27-5 record. Hooks is averaging 17.2 ppg. and 9.1 rpg. while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor (224 of 416). In addition, he averages 2.1 blocks per game. He is a three-time All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference first team selection and holds the game, season and career rebounding records at Humboldt State.

One of only three juniors on the Daktronics team, BYU-Hawaii’s Jake Chrisman is a 6’9” center who averaged 23.3 ppg. and 5.7 rpg. He shot 57.8 percent from the floor (270 of 467) while leading the Seasiders to a 23-6 record. Chrisman was named the Pacific West Conference Player of the Year.

Omari Pearson made it a memorable one season at Mansfield. A 6’9 senior, Pearson played his first three seasons at UNLV before heading back east. He averaged 19.7 ppg. and 11.3 rpg. while leading the Mountaineers to a 21-7 ledger. Pearson was a first team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference choice. He shot 54.7 percent from the floor (170 of 311) and 82.1 percent from the line (165 of 201). He led the PSAC in scoring and was second in rebounding.

2004 DAKTRONICS NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICA TEAM
First Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown
Nick Branting	Nebraska-Kearney	F	6-6	220	Sr.	North Platee, NE
Ron Christy	Teikyo Post	G	6-0	195	Sr.	Stratford, CT
Lewis Muse	Concord	F	6-4	210	Jr.	Rocky Mount, VA
Josh Buettner	Michigan Tech	F	6-9	230	Jr.	Shawano, WI
Elad Inbar	UMass Lowell	F	6-7	210	Sr.	Kiryat Haim, Israel

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nick Branting, Nebraska-Kearney

Second Team

Chris Mortellaro	Drury	C	6-10	220	Sr.	Houston, TX
Mike Taylor	West Virginia State	G	6-2	180	Sr.	Detroit, MI
Tim Burnette	Tarleton State	G	6-2	192	Sr.	San Antonio, TX
Anthony Greenup	Shaw	F	6-8	225	Sr.	Baton Rouge, LA
Kelvin Parker	Northwest Missouri St.	G	5-11	180	Sr.	Raytown, MO

Third Team

Fred Hooks	Humboldt State	F	6-6	205	Sr.	San Diego, CA
Jake Chrisman	BYU-Hawaii	C	6-9	230	Jr.	Provo, UT
Omari Pearson	Mansfield	F	6-9	212	Sr.	York, PA
Darnell Hinson	Northeastern State	G	6-0	180	Sr.	Muskogee, OK
Desmond Peoples	St. Augustine’s	F	6-7	190	Sr.	Clinton, MD