Kalwanyi voted SAC Defensive Player of the Year

Samuel Kalwanyi has been named the Sooner Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-7 Ugandan center shared the honours with Oklahoma City Universiity’s Jon Ellis and Southwestern Christian University’s Shawn Scott.

Kalwanyi who joined the Pioneers last season was hampered by injuries and only began playing this season. He has featured in 18 games, averaging 11.2 points and a team-best 8.3 rebounds. The former City Oilers man has blocked 26 shots and is shooting 60 percent (78-of-130) from the field. He has recorded five double-doubles.

Kalwanyi and the rest of the Pioneers (22-8), who are ranked the equivalent of 26^th in the NAIA, won a SAC Tournament quarterfinal game 86-73 over USAO on Tuesday and will take on ninth-ranked Oklahoma City (23-7) in the semifinals on Friday. The final will be played on Saturday, with the winner automatically advancing to the NAIA National Championships in Kansas City.

All-Sooner Athletic Conference 

First Team
Branden Jenkins, Texas Wesleyan University
Ridell Camidge, Oklahoma City University
Brandon Scott, University of the Science & Arts of Oklahoma
Ryan Harris, Texas Wesleyan University
Jake Caudle, John Brown University

Second Team
Jordan Rhodes, Mid-America Christian University
Ruben Lopez, Wayland Baptist University
Cameron Hill, Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Terence Bonhomme, Oklahoma City University
Shawn Scott, Southwestern Christian University

Third Team
Julius Foster, University of the Science & Arts of Oklahoma
Jubril Osagie, Central Christian College of Kansas
Jace Kerr, Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Samuel Williams, Oklahoma City University
Keyshawn Perkins, Mid-America Christian University

Honorable Mention
Juwan Jones, Texas Wesleyan University
Curtiss Anderson, Texas Wesleyan University
Cameron Martin, Central Christian College of Kansas
Samuel Kalwanyi, Wayland Baptist University
Trevonta Robertson,Wayland Baptist University
Jaedon Whitfield, Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Therence Mayimba, Mid-America Christian University
Andre Horne, Mid-America Christian University
Josh Bowling, John Brown University
Ivan Saicic, Oklahoma City University
Joshua Swearingen, Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Kevin Pritchett, Bacone College
Jalen Petillo, Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Casey Cole, Southwestern Christian University

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Player of the Year
Branden Jenkins, Texas Wesleyan University

Freshman of the Year
Cameron Hill, Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Newcomer of the Year
Branden Jenkins, Texas Wesleyan University

Defensive Players of the Year
Samuel Kalwanyi (Wayland Baptist), Jon Ellis (Oklahoma City) and Shawn Scott, Southwestern Christian

Sportsmanship Award
Jake Caudle, John Brown University

John Hudson Coach of the Year
Vinay Patel, Oklahoma City University