McGee named Jayhawk East Player of the Year
March 4, 2011
Putting together one of the top scoring seasons in the history of the Cowley College basketball program, sophomore guard Tyrus McGee was named the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player.
McGee, who has helped Cowley to a 24-7 record and the No. 2-seed in the Region VI Tournament, leads the Tigers in scoring (20.4 points) and steals per game (2.3), while ranking second on the team in rebounding (5.9) and assists (3.4). He leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.487) and was second in the conference in three-pointers made (109), free throw percentage (.865), and steals per game (2.3).
His 633 points scored rank as the eighth best scoring season in the history of the Tiger basketball program, while his 1,165 career points is only three points behind Louie Graves' (1978-80) 1,168 points for third place on the all-time scoring list.
Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme was proud of McGee, who was named Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year in his first season at the school, especially considering the number of talented players in the conference.
"There is a pretty special group of players in the (Jayhawk) East, so it is nice to know what other coaches in the conference think of Tyrus," DeSalme said. "This award is also a product of the team he is on because you don't see players on losing teams win this award."
Fellow sophomore Dominick Cornelius was named an honorable mention selection for the second straight year as he is averaging 10.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and a team-leading 4.0 assists per game. He is also second on the team in steals (1.8) per game, as well as three-point field goal percentage (.396) and free throw percentage (.778).
"Dominick and Tyrus are two special sophomores and have been a part of so many wins," DeSalme said. "They both do so much on and off the court for Cowley and love this place. There is no way Tyrus is MVP without "Domo", that is how much he means to the team and to Tyrus."
Cowley will continue its season Saturday at 3 p.m. when they take on Allen County (8-22) in the second-round of the Region VI Tournament played at Wichita State University's Charles Koch Arena.
Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division All-Conference Teams:
McGee, who has helped Cowley to a 24-7 record and the No. 2-seed in the Region VI Tournament, leads the Tigers in scoring (20.4 points) and steals per game (2.3), while ranking second on the team in rebounding (5.9) and assists (3.4). He leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.487) and was second in the conference in three-pointers made (109), free throw percentage (.865), and steals per game (2.3).
His 633 points scored rank as the eighth best scoring season in the history of the Tiger basketball program, while his 1,165 career points is only three points behind Louie Graves' (1978-80) 1,168 points for third place on the all-time scoring list.
Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme was proud of McGee, who was named Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year in his first season at the school, especially considering the number of talented players in the conference.
"There is a pretty special group of players in the (Jayhawk) East, so it is nice to know what other coaches in the conference think of Tyrus," DeSalme said. "This award is also a product of the team he is on because you don't see players on losing teams win this award."
Fellow sophomore Dominick Cornelius was named an honorable mention selection for the second straight year as he is averaging 10.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and a team-leading 4.0 assists per game. He is also second on the team in steals (1.8) per game, as well as three-point field goal percentage (.396) and free throw percentage (.778).
"Dominick and Tyrus are two special sophomores and have been a part of so many wins," DeSalme said. "They both do so much on and off the court for Cowley and love this place. There is no way Tyrus is MVP without "Domo", that is how much he means to the team and to Tyrus."
Cowley will continue its season Saturday at 3 p.m. when they take on Allen County (8-22) in the second-round of the Region VI Tournament played at Wichita State University's Charles Koch Arena.
Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division All-Conference Teams:
- Coach of the Year: Jon Oler, Kansas City
- Most Valuable Player: Tyrus McGee, Cowley
- Freshman of the Year: Titus Rubles, Independence
- First-Team: Tyrus McGee, Cowley; Dennis Tinnon, Kansas City; Anthony Downing, Independence; Jarmar Gulley, Highland; Titus Rubles, Independence.
- Second-Team: Trey Anderson, Neosho County; DeAndre Upchurch, Highland; Ryan Magdziarz, Johnson County; Stacy Wilson, Coffeyville; Jason Smith, Allen County.
- Honorable Mention: Kevin Broussard, Coffeyville; Neil Watson, Coffeyville; Ritea Acosta, Labette; Eriq Harris, Coffeyville; Antonio Banks, Neosho County; Dominick Cornelius, Cowley.