MAYNOR NAMED CAA’S BEST; SANDERS GRABS DEFENSIVE HONOR
3-5-09

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University senior Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C.) was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Player of the Year for the second time Thursday at the league’s annual awards banquet at the Richmond Downtown Marriott.

Additionally, sophomore Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla.) became the first Ram to earn the CAA’s Defensive Player of the Year award, while freshman Bradford Burgess (Midlothian, Va.) was tabbed for the All-Rookie Team.

For Maynor, the award is the culmination of what has been a brilliant final act at VCU. The 6-3 guard is averaging CAA-bests 22.4 points and 6.2 assists per game. Maynor is one of just three players in the country averaging 22 points and six assists this year.

Maynor, who was also selected First Team All-CAA for the third consecutive year, became VCU’s all-time leading scorer Feb. 28 in the Rams’ victory over Georgia State. He set the school’s assist record earlier this season.

An All-America Honorable Mention pick in 2008, Maynor is a two-time Bob Cousy Award finalist, given annually to the nation’s top point guard. He was also one of 30 players named to the Wooden Award Midseason Candidates list.

With Maynor at the helm, VCU prepares to enter the CAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed for the third straight year.

Meanwhile, Sanders, the Rams’ 6-10 forward, was named the league’s top defender after averaging a league-best 2.6 blocks, as well as 8.0 rebounds. Sanders also scored 11.2 points per game and shot .515 during the regular season. His efforts earned him a spot on the All-CAA Second Team.

Burgess was the first VCU freshman to start in his collegiate debut since Maynor in 2005. The 6-5 product of Benedictine High School would go on to start all 30 games for the Rams. Burgess averaged 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds. He shot .403 (29-of-72) from 3-point range, including clutch treys in VCU wins over Richmond and James Madison this season.

Drexel’s Bruiser Flint was selected CAA Coach of the Year, while James Madison freshman Julius Wells garnered the league’s Rookie of the Year trophy.

VCU will have a first round bye and meet the winner of Friday’s Georgia State/Delaware contest in Saturday’s quarterfinals at 12 p.m. at the Richmond Coliseum.

 2008-09 CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL AWARD WINNERS

First Team All-CAA                           Cl.       Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      Hometown/High School
Marc Egerson, Delaware                      Sr.        G         6-6       235      Wilmington, Del./Glasgow
Matt Janning, Northeastern                   Jr.        G         6-4       195      Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer
Charles Jenkins, Hofstra                       So.       G         6-3       220      Queens, N.Y./Springfield Gardens
Gerald Lee, Old Dominion                    Jr.        C/F      6-10     250      Uusikaupunki, Finland/Korihait
Eric Maynor, VCU                               Sr.        G         6-3       175      Raeford, N.C./Westover

Second Team All-CAA                      Cl.       Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      Hometown/High School
Juwann James, James Madison Sr.        F          6-6       225      Jacksonville, Fla./Raines
Darryl Monroe, George Mason Sr.        F          6-7       260      Virginia Beach, Va./Osbourn Park
Scott Rodgers, Drexel                          Sr.        G         6-3       215      Philadelphia, Pa./Central
Larry Sanders, VCU                            So.       F          6-10     220      Fort Pierce, Fla./Port St. Lucie
John Vaughan, George Mason  Sr.        G         6-3       185      Laurel, Md./Laurel

Third Team All-CAA             Cl.       Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      Hometown/High School
Manny Adako, Northeastern                Jr.        F          6-8       235      Decatur, Ga./Towers
Joe Dukes, Georgia State                     Jr.        G         6-1       184      Cuthbert, Ga./Randolph Clay
Junior Hairston, Towson                       Sr.        F          6-8       205      Salisbury, N.C./West Rowan
Cam Long, George Mason                   So.       G         6-4       177      Palm Bay, Fla./Freedom
David Schneider, William & Mary         Jr.        G         6-3       187      Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Prep
Chad Tomko, UNC Wilmington           So.       G         5-11     165      Charlotte, N.C./Independence

2009 CAA Player of the Year – Eric Maynor, VCU
2009 CAA Coach of the Year – Bruiser Flint, Drexel
2009 CAA Rookie of the Year – Julius Wells, James Madison
2009 CAA Defensive Player of the Year – Larry Sanders, VCU
2009 Dean Ehlers Leadership Award – Darion Jeralds, UNC Wilmington

CAA All-Rookie Team                      Cl.       Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      Hometown/High School
Bradford Burgess, VCU                       Fr.        F          6-5       207      Midlothian, Va./Benedictine
Samme Givens, Drexel              Fr.        F          6-5       200      Philadelphia, Pa./Acad. of the New Church
Quinn McDowell, William & Mary        Fr.        G/F      6-5       195      Mason, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller
Devon Moore, James Madison Fr.        G         6-4       165      Columbus, Ohio/Northland
Ryan Pearson, George Mason  Fr.        F          6-6       220      Far Rockaway, N.Y./Christ the King
Julius Wells, James Madison                 Fr.        F          6-5       190      Toledo, Ohio/Libbey

CAA All-Defensive Team                 Cl.       Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      Hometown/High School
Chaisson Allen, Northeastern                So.       G         6-4       190      Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland
Scott Rodgers, Drexel                          Sr.        G         6-3       215      Philadelphia, Pa./Central
Larry Sanders, VCU                            So.       F          6-10     220      Fort Pierce, Fla./Port St. Lucie
John Vaughan, George Mason  Sr.        G         6-3       185      Laurel, Md./Laurel
Greg Washington, Hofstra                     So.       F          6-10     210      Centereach, N.Y./Winchendon Prep

CAA All-Academic First Team         Cl.       Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      Hometown/High School
Baptiste Bataille, Northeastern  Jr.        G         5-10     182      Ferin, France/Community Christian
Darion Jeralds, UNC Wilmington          Jr.        G         6-1       165      Winston-Salem, N.C./West Forsyth
Brian Morris, Towson                           So.       G         6-6       185      Camp Hill, Pa./Trinity
Nkem Ojougboh, Northeastern Jr.        C         6-9       222      Scottsdale, Ariz./Christian Academy
David Schneider, William & Mary         Jr.        G         6-3       187      Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Prep

CAA All-Academic Second Team     Cl.       Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      Hometown/High School
Jonathan Adams, Old Dominion            Sr.        F          6-6       215      Ringgold, Ga./Baylor (Tenn.)
Matt Janning, Northeastern                   Jr.        G         6-4       195      Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer
Daniel Mercer, UNC Wilmington          Jr.        F          6-6       200      Raleigh, N.C./Broughton
Zygis Sestokas, Hofstra                        Sr.        G/F      6-5       200      Vilnius, Lithuania/Statesville Christian
Leon Spencer, Drexel                           Jr.        F          6-8       200      Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell
Arminas Urbutis, Hofstra                      Sr.        F          6-9       225      Kaunas, Lithuania/Montverde Acad.