SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) announces the 2022 men's basketball top individual awards and All-Conference teams as nominated and voted on by the conference coaches.
Player of the Year - Austin Grunder, Cortland
In the 2021-22 season Grunder averaged 22.3 points (No. 1 in the conference) and 11.1 rebounds per contest in 26 games and had a season high 39 points. He scored more than 30 points six times, he had 15 double-doubles with one triple-double and he also eclipsed the 1,000-point career mark this season. Grunder was named the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Division III Men's Basketball National Player of the Week during for the week ending Feb. 20. He was also named the SUNYAC Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week three times this season. Cortland fell to New Paltz in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament, 84-81, ending the season 14-12 overall.
Defensive Player of the Year - Devante Hagins, Brockport
Hagins ended the season ranked 14th nationally and first in the SUNYAC in total steals with 73 steals. He averaged 2.87 steals per game as well as 4.8 rebounds. In blocks, Hagins ranked third in the SUNYAC with a total of 37 blocks.
Rookie of the Year- Mekhi Beckett, Brockport
In his rookie season, Beckett ranked first in the SUNYAC in free throw percentages with 81.1%. He also ranked ninth in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game. In the SUNYAC Beckett was shy of ranking first with a 3 point percentage of 43.1%. Beckett ended his rookie season averaging 1.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals.
Coaching Staff of the Year - Oswego - Jason Leone, Derrick Cahill, Bill Farden and Jake Pritchard
The Lakers won the 2022 SUNYAC men's basketball championship after defeating Oneonta, 81-60, Saturday night at Oswego. Four Lakers were named to the All-SUNYAC team. This is Oswego's ninth title overall and with the win they earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament. The Lakers are currently 25-2 overall and will face Hood College on Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
2022 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams (PDF)
| First Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown/High School |
| Jahidi Wallace | Brockport | Jr. | Troy, NY/ Lansingburgh |
| Austin Grunder | Cortland | Jr. | Trumansburg, NY/Charles O. Dickerson |
| Rylan Blondo | New Paltz | So. | Brooklyn, NY/ Lynbrook |
| Jeremiah Sparks | Oswego | So. | Jordan, NY/ Jordan-Elbridge |
| Tyrese Baptiste | Potsdam | Jr. | Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy II |
| Second Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| Mekhi Beckett | Brockport | Fr. | Westbury, NY/ Mepham |
| Michael Gannon | Geneseo | Sr. | Smithtown, NY/ Smithtown West |
| Michael Ortale | Oneonta | Jr. | Bethlehem, NY/ Bethlehem Central |
| Dylan Trombley | Oneonta | Jr. | Moriah, NY/ Moriah |
| Devin Green | Oswego | Jr. | Rochester, NY/ Bishop Kearney |
| Third Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| Devante Hagins | Brockport | Sr. | Rochester, NY/ Leadership Academy for Young Men |
| Philbert Weekes | Buffalo State | Jr. | Brooklyn, NY/ Lafayette |
| Daniel Derice | Oneonta | Sr. | Tampa, FL/ Wesley Chapel |
| Frankie Williams | Oneonta | So. | Bronx, NY/ Fannie Lou |
| Julien Crittendon | Oswego | Sr. | Mellville, NY/ Half Hollow Hills East |
| Brendan Mulson | Oswego | Sr. | Colonie, NY/ Colonie |
