MCLA Seniors Honored at Athletic Banquet
MCLA Men's Basketball seniors were honored last Tuesday evening as the MCLA Athletics department held their annual awards banquet in the Amsler Campus Center Gym.
The team announced Co-MVPs as seniors Jamal Brown (Springfield, MA/Commerce) and Chris Harris (Dorchester, MA/John D. O'Bryant) were honored. It's the first time in Coach Jamie Morrison's tenure he has awarded two MVP awards. "It's not something I like to do, especially in a season where we didn't achieve as much as we aspired too. However, Jamal was outstanding this season particularly in conference play and Chris will go down as one of the most prolific players in school history. A history dating back to the 1946-47 season. They both seemed very deserving."
Brown was named to the MASCAC All-Conference team after averaging 12.8ppg and 7.1rpg; he also shot 53.1% from the field. He was even better in conference averaging 15.9ppg and 8.7rpg while shooting over 55% from the floor.
Jamal was a 2-year contributor for the Trailblazers transferring in from Springfield Technical Community College.
Harris averaged 10.6ppg this season along with 4.5 rpg, 2.7apg and 2spg and was the Trailblazers leading defender as well.
Harris ends his career tied for first in career games played (with Hall of Famer Phil Bledsoe and Bernard Alexander; stars of the great North Adams State teams of the late 1980's). Harris is also 12th on the career scoring list with 1,224 points, 10th in rebounding, 9th in assists, 9th in blocked shots and 3rd in steals.
Harris, a 4-year starter and two-time All-Conference player was also announced as one of the Athletic Director's Award winners. The award is presented annually to the student athletes who represent the mission of the department: Excellence, Opportunity, and Leadership. Harris is the 2nd men's basketball player in a row to receive the award. Kris McLaughlin also won the award in 2011.
The department also honored Harris and fellow senior Connell Brown (Boston, MA/New Mission) as 4-year members of the Men's Basketball Program. "Connell deserves a lot of credit. He played quite a bit as a freshman on a team that was in year one of rebuilding. He then suffered two serious knee injuries and essentially missed almost two full seasons. He put the work and rehab in and wanted to contribute as a senior. I was happy to see him come back and finish on his terms." Coach Morrison noted.
Harris and Brown were given their game jerseys framed as a gift. Harris was named the teams' Defensive Player of the Year and Connell was given the Scholar-Athlete Award at the MCLA basketball banquet last month.
All three players will take part in graduation exercises this coming Saturday.