Men's basketball: Orange's Aquino, Sullivan's Alvarez secure top honors, all-star berths
Romeo Aquino of SUNY Orange and Jay Alvarez of SUNY Sullivan were both named first-team All-Americans and will participate in a junior college all-star classic on May 20 in Las Vegas.
Aquino, the national Division II and Region XV player of the year and regional first-team member Alvarez were recognized by the National Junior College Athletic Association. They were two of the 24 players chosen to compete in the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association all-star game.
Aquino, of Newburgh, is a graduate of Washingtonville High School. Aquino helped lead the Colts (31-3) to a runner-up finish in the region and berth to Division II nationals – Orange won its first two games but dropped its final two, with Aquino missing the finale to injury.
The 6-foot-4 forward Aquino ranked fourth in the nation at 23.8 points per game, tops in the country in total field-goals (296-for-513), sixth in total rebounds (10.2 per contest) this season.
“Romeo is an outstanding player on both ends of the floor,’’ said Orange coach Tom Rickard. “He was a major reason for our team’s success this season, and exemplifies what a student-athlete is on and off the court. He was our statistical leader but also our emotional leader. Plain and simple, Romeo is a winner.’’
Alvarez, of Waynesboro, Pa., averaged 21.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and almost two assists and steals per game for regional champion Sullivan. He ranked fourth in the nation in total field goals (252-for-496, 53 percent) and shot 31 percent from 3-point range.
The 24 players selected hail from NJCAA Division I (12 players), Division II (seven) and Division III (five). The players will be selected by the coaches and separated into teams at a later date.
Sullivan’s Deivejon Harris was named a third-team All-American from Division II. A sophomore center, Harris averaged 16 points, 14.3 rebounds, shot 60 percent from the field in 26 starts for the Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV champion Lady Generals (19-10).
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: NJCAA college basketball All American all star game Aquino Alvarez
