SUNYAC Releases 2025 Men's Basketball Top Honors
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC announces its 2025 men's basketball All-Conference teams and top individual awards including Player of the Year, Tom Spanbauer Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coaching Staff of the Year. These awards are nominated and voted on by the 10 conference coaches.
Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year - Deacon Judd, Oswego
Judd was voted both the Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year after he helped lead the Lakers to a 13-5 regular season conference record to take the No. 2 seed going into postseason play. In his first season, he totaled 242 points, 127 rebounds 24 assists and 14 steals in 18 league games. Overall he tallied 337 points, 173 rebounds, 38 assists, 24 steals and 7 blocks over 26 games. Judd had a season high 27 points against Oneonta on January 21. The team finished the season in the SUNYAC semifinals with an overall record of 17-9.
Tom Spanbauer Defensive Player of the Year - Dakoda Smith, New Paltz
Smith was ranked second in the league with 35 steals, third with 138 rebounds and fifth with 21 blocks in conference competition. Overall he totaled 268 points, 193 rebounds, 63 assists, 50 steals and 27 blocks in 25 games. His season highs included 22 points, 14 rebounds, six steals and five blocks. The Hawks ended the 2025 season 19-8 overall.
Coaching Staff of the Year - New Paltz
The head coach of the Hawks, in his 22 season, is Keith Kenney and he is assisted by Mike Duffy and Mike Jagacki. The staff led their team to a 14-4 regular season conference record to take the top seed and the right to host the SUNYAC men's basketball final four. Three Hawks were named to the 2025 All-Conference teams including the Defensive Player of the Year, Dakoda Smith. New Paltz lost in the SUNYAC final to end its season 19-8 overall.
2025 SUNYAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams (PDF)
| First Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown/High School |
| Kendall Arcuri | Cortland | Jr. | Staten Island/St. Joseph by-the-Sea |
| Aaron Coston | Cortland | Jr. | Kerhonkson/Rondout Valley |
| Kareem Sanders | Morrisville | Sr. | Schenectady/Schenectady |
| A.J. Knight | New Paltz | Sr. | Lakeview/Holy Trinity Diocesan |
| Deacon Judd | Oswego | Fr. | Mohawk/Central Valley Academy |
| Second Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| Dakoda Smith | New Paltz | Sr. | Shinnecock Indian Reservation/Southampton |
| Sean St. lucia | New Paltz | Gr. | Niskayuna/Niskayuna |
| Kobe Long | Oneonta | So. | Rochester/McQuaid |
| Kevin Tabb | Plattsburgh | Sr. | Brooklyn/Thomas Jefferson |
| Kareem Welch | Plattsburgh | Jr. | Brooklyn/Thomas Jefferson |
| Third Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| Joel Davis | Cortland | So. | Watertown/Watertown |
| Brandon Kulakowski | Fredonia | Sr. | Brewerton/Paul V. Moore |
| Xavier Allen | Oswego | Sr. | Mattituck/Mattituck |
| Ahkee Anderson | Oswego | Sr. | Greenport/Center Moriches |
| Franklin Infante | Plattsburgh | Sr. | East Rockaway/East Rockaway |
