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2023 All-MAC basketball: Xavier Castaneda, Enrique Freeman, Sincere Carry earn honors

akron beacon journal
·3 min read

Akron and Kent State are well represented on the All-Mid-American Conference men's basketball team, which is voted on by the league's 12 coaches.

The five-man All-MAC first team features Akron senior guard Xavier Castaneda, Akron junior forward Enrique Freeman and Kent State senior guard Sincere Carry.

Castaneda led the MAC in scoring this season. Freeman is the lone MAC player averaging a double-double. Carry excels on both ends of the floor as the leading scorer for the second-place Golden Flashes.

Akron's Xavier Castaneda shoots a 3-pointer against Ball State, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at Rhodes Arena.
Akron's Xavier Castaneda shoots a 3-pointer against Ball State, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at Rhodes Arena.

They are joined on the first team by a pair of players from regular-season champion Toledo, junior guard RayJ Dennis and senior forward JT Shumate (who began his college career at Walsh University).

Dennis was a unanimous selection for MAC Player of the Year, while Rockets coach Tod Kowalczyk is coach of the year for the second time in the past three seasons. Dennis ranked among the league's top scorers and led the MAC in assists. Under Kowalczyk's direction, the Rockets have won 15 straight games to take the No. 1 seed into the conference tournament.

Two Kent State players earned special awards. Malique Jacobs is the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and teammate Jalen Sullinger is MAC Sixth Man of the Year.

Kent State guard Malique Jacobs celebrates at the end of the game as the Golden Flashes defeat the University of Toledo Rockets 75-63, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 at the Kent State M.A.C. Center.
Kent State guard Malique Jacobs celebrates at the end of the game as the Golden Flashes defeat the University of Toledo Rockets 75-63, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 at the Kent State M.A.C. Center.

Eighty percent of the All-MAC Defensive Team is from Kent State or Akron. Jacobs is joined on it by Carry, Freeman and Akron's Greg Tribble.

MAC Tournament Viewing Guide:2023 MAC men's basketball tournament schedule, bracket, TV, livestream info

The full All-MAC teams follow below:

Who made All-MAC in men's basketball?

First team 

  • Xavier Castaneda, Sr., G, Akron

  • Enrique Freeman, Jr., F, Akron

  • Sincere Carry, R-Sr., G, Kent State

  • RayJ Dennis, Jr., G, Toledo

  • JT Shumate, Sr., F, Toledo

Kent State guard Sincere Carry looks to drive past Western Michigan guard Lamar Norman Jr. during the first half, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at the Kent State M.A.C. Center.
Kent State guard Sincere Carry looks to drive past Western Michigan guard Lamar Norman Jr. during the first half, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at the Kent State M.A.C. Center.

Second team 

  • Payton Sparks, So., C, Ball State

  • Jarron Coleman, R-Jr., G, Ball State

  • Malique Jacobs, R-Sr., G, Kent State

  • Setric Millner Jr., Sr., F, Toledo

  • Dwight Wilson III, Grad., F, Ohio

Third team  

  • Jaylin Sellers, So., G, Ball State

  • Curtis Jones, So., G, Buffalo

  • Emoni Bates, So., F, Eastern Michigan

  • Mekhi Lairy, 5th, G, Miami

  • David Coit, So., G, Northern Illinois

Ball State men's basketball's Jaylin Sellers scored a team-high 20 points in the team's game against Kent State at Worthen Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.
Ball State men's basketball's Jaylin Sellers scored a team-high 20 points in the team's game against Kent State at Worthen Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.

Honorable mention

  • Leon Ayers III, Sr., G, Bowling Green

  • Anderson Mirambeaux, Sr., F, Miami

  • Kaleb Thornton, Sr., G, Northern Illinois

  • Jaylin Hunter, Jr., G, Ohio

  • Lamar Norman Jr., Sr., G, Western Michigan

All-Freshman team

  • Reggie Bass, Central Michigan, G

  • Ryan Mabrey, Miami, G

  • AJ Brown, Ohio, G

  • Elmore James, Ohio, G

  • Seth Hubbard, Western Michigan, G

Central Michigan forward Ola Ajiboye, left, and guard Reggie Bass celebrate after U-M's 63-61 loss to CMU on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, at Crisler Center.
Central Michigan forward Ola Ajiboye, left, and guard Reggie Bass celebrate after U-M's 63-61 loss to CMU on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, at Crisler Center.

All-Defensive team

  • Enrique Freeman, Jr., F, Akron

  • Greg Tribble, Jr., G, Akron

  • Demarius Jacobs, Sr., G, Ball State

  • Malique Jacobs, R-Sr., G, Kent State

  • Sincere Carry, R-Sr., G, Kent State

Akron's Enrique Freeman drives to the basket against Ball State, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at Rhodes Arena.
Akron's Enrique Freeman drives to the basket against Ball State, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at Rhodes Arena.

2022-23 MAC men’s basketball coach, player of the year

  • Coach of the Year: Tod Kowalczyk, Toledo

  • Player of the Year: RayJ Dennis, Toledo

  • Freshman of the Year: Reggie Bass, Central Michigan

  • Defensive Player of the Year: Malique Jacobs, Kent State

  • Sixth Man of the Year: Jalen Sullinger, Kent State

Kent State's Jalen Sullinger attempts to dunk as Akron's Sammy Hunter defends during their game at the MAC Center in Kent on Friday. The flashes beat the Zips 89-84 in overtime.
Kent State's Jalen Sullinger attempts to dunk as Akron's Sammy Hunter defends during their game at the MAC Center in Kent on Friday. The flashes beat the Zips 89-84 in overtime.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2022-23 All-MAC men's basketball awards for Akron, Kent State players