TicketsCINCINNATI – With a program undergoing transition to a new head coach, the University of Cincinnati honored student-athletes from the 2018-19 men's basketball team Monday evening at the annual awards banquet at the Original Montgomery Inn.
Junior Jarron Cumberland was recognized with four awards while teammates senior Justin Jenifer, redshirt-junior Trevon Scott, junior Nysier Brooks and sophomore Keith Williams received two awards each.
Cumberland earned the assists award, free throw shooting award and team's most valuable player award. The 2018-19 AAC Player of the Year, AAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, Cumberland averaged 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 77 percent from the free throw line in 2018-19. He became the 53rd member of Cincinnati's 1,000-point club and finished the season scoring 657 points, 10th most in a season in school history. Cumberland has helped the Bearcats to an 88-18 record in games he has played during his UC career.
Jenifer took home the three-point shooting award and shared the most improved player award with Brooks, Scott and Williams. Jenifer finished the season as the AAC leader from long range, shooting 44 percent (60 of 135) from beyond the arc. His 38.9 percent career three-point shooting percentage (117 of 294) ranks second in UC history. Jenifer also took great control of the ball as point guard, completing the season with a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (98 assists and only 25 turnovers). He played in 107 wins at Cincinnati, second most in school history (Steve Logan 111).
Scott claimed the rebounding award, ranking seventh in the AAC with 6.9 boards per game. He was named to the AAC All-Tournament Team averaging 13.7 points and 9.3 rebounds. He started all 35 games this season while more than tripling his point total from a year ago.
Williams claimed the team's high deflection award with 150 during the 2018-19 campaign. He averaged one deflection every five minutes played and registered a single-game high of 13 deflections against Western Michigan. He finished AAC play ranked among the league leaders in free throw shooting, steals, blocks and points. He scored in double figures 19 times.
Brooks garnered the team's defensive player of the year award. The big man finished league play ranked in the Top 10 in blocks, rebounds and offensive rebounds. He recorded three double-doubles and grabbed 10 or more rebounds six times. He started 35 games, increasing his offensive output by almost six points a game from the 2017-18 season.
Other award winners Monday included senior Cane Broome receiving the teammate of the year award and sophomore Eliel Nsoseme gaining the character and leadership honor.
The 2018-19 Bearcats posted a 28-7 overall record, claimed the American Athletic Conference Tournament for the second straight season (first back-to-back league tournament champions since 1995 and 1996) and appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive year. The Bearcats were ranked in the AP Top 25 poll for five weeks during the season and posted an 11-2 record in games decided by five points or less.
Cincinnati's 89 wins since the start of 2016-17 are tied for the most in the nation behind only Gonzaga (102) and Villanova (94).
// 2018-19 CINCINNATI MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS BANQUET
Assists Award – Jarron Cumberland
Three-Point Shooting Award – Justin Jenifer
Free Throw Shooting Award – Jaron Cumberland
Rebounding Award – Trevon Scott
Most Improved Players Award – Keith Williams, Trevon Scott, Nysier Brooks, Justin Jenifer
Character and Leadership Award – Eliel Nsoseme
Defensive Player of the Year – Nysier Brooks
High Deflections Award – Keith Williams
1,000-Point Club – Jarron Cumberland
Most Valuable Player – Jarron Cumberland
Teammate of the Year Award – Cane Broome
Junior Jarron Cumberland was recognized with four awards while teammates senior Justin Jenifer, redshirt-junior Trevon Scott, junior Nysier Brooks and sophomore Keith Williams received two awards each.
Cumberland earned the assists award, free throw shooting award and team's most valuable player award. The 2018-19 AAC Player of the Year, AAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, Cumberland averaged 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 77 percent from the free throw line in 2018-19. He became the 53rd member of Cincinnati's 1,000-point club and finished the season scoring 657 points, 10th most in a season in school history. Cumberland has helped the Bearcats to an 88-18 record in games he has played during his UC career.
Jenifer took home the three-point shooting award and shared the most improved player award with Brooks, Scott and Williams. Jenifer finished the season as the AAC leader from long range, shooting 44 percent (60 of 135) from beyond the arc. His 38.9 percent career three-point shooting percentage (117 of 294) ranks second in UC history. Jenifer also took great control of the ball as point guard, completing the season with a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (98 assists and only 25 turnovers). He played in 107 wins at Cincinnati, second most in school history (Steve Logan 111).
Scott claimed the rebounding award, ranking seventh in the AAC with 6.9 boards per game. He was named to the AAC All-Tournament Team averaging 13.7 points and 9.3 rebounds. He started all 35 games this season while more than tripling his point total from a year ago.
Williams claimed the team's high deflection award with 150 during the 2018-19 campaign. He averaged one deflection every five minutes played and registered a single-game high of 13 deflections against Western Michigan. He finished AAC play ranked among the league leaders in free throw shooting, steals, blocks and points. He scored in double figures 19 times.
Brooks garnered the team's defensive player of the year award. The big man finished league play ranked in the Top 10 in blocks, rebounds and offensive rebounds. He recorded three double-doubles and grabbed 10 or more rebounds six times. He started 35 games, increasing his offensive output by almost six points a game from the 2017-18 season.
Other award winners Monday included senior Cane Broome receiving the teammate of the year award and sophomore Eliel Nsoseme gaining the character and leadership honor.
The 2018-19 Bearcats posted a 28-7 overall record, claimed the American Athletic Conference Tournament for the second straight season (first back-to-back league tournament champions since 1995 and 1996) and appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive year. The Bearcats were ranked in the AP Top 25 poll for five weeks during the season and posted an 11-2 record in games decided by five points or less.
Cincinnati's 89 wins since the start of 2016-17 are tied for the most in the nation behind only Gonzaga (102) and Villanova (94).
// 2018-19 CINCINNATI MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS BANQUET
Assists Award – Jarron Cumberland
Three-Point Shooting Award – Justin Jenifer
Free Throw Shooting Award – Jaron Cumberland
Rebounding Award – Trevon Scott
Most Improved Players Award – Keith Williams, Trevon Scott, Nysier Brooks, Justin Jenifer
Character and Leadership Award – Eliel Nsoseme
Defensive Player of the Year – Nysier Brooks
High Deflections Award – Keith Williams
1,000-Point Club – Jarron Cumberland
Most Valuable Player – Jarron Cumberland
Teammate of the Year Award – Cane Broome