FEBRUARY 21, 2005
BOB ZIADIE
HORGAN NAMED MAC FREEDOM PLAYER OF THE YEAR,
ANDREJKO COACH OF THE YEAR
(O'Hora Named To Second-Team)
ANNVILLE -- King's College men's basketball standout
Brian Horgan was named the Freedom Conference "Player of the
Year", the Middle Atlantic Conference office announced Monday.
Additionally, teammate Marty O'Hora was a second-team All-Freedom
Conference selection while King's mentor J.P. Andrejko was named the
conference "Coach of the Year."
Horgan, who was a repeat first-team all-conference
selection, stands as one of the top all-around players in King's history
with his ability to play several positions while excelling at both ends of
the floor. A 6-4 guard-forward, Horgan led King's with team-high per-game
averages of 19.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 1.0 blocked shots, and
72 three pointers, while standing third on the squad with 50 assists.
Despite facing defense designed to slow him down,
Horgan shot 47.9 (161-336) percent from the field and 41.4 (72-174)
percent from three-point-range. He also converted 74.6 (91-122) percent of
his foul shots. Horgan, who missed the 2002-03 with a back injury but was
awarded an NCAA medical redshirt year, stands fifth on King's all-time
scoring list with 1,525-points.
"I am happy for Brian because after his back
injury, just being able to play again, let alone to compete at the level
he has, is a testament to how hard he has worked and how much he loves the
game," Andrejko stated. "The thing that has impressed me about
him this year is that he has accepted and embraced the leadership role.
Brian has always been a great player but he has shown our younger players
how to prepare for and play the game."
O'Hora, a 6-5 senior, also enjoyed a solid year for
the Monarchs. O'Hora started all 25 games at center for King's and was
second on the team with 13.8 points and 5.8 rebounds while contributing 48
assists. He made 50.2 (121-241) percent of his shots while chipping in
with 19 three-pointers and 19 steals. O'Hora has totaled 1,057 points
during his collegiate career.
"Marty has developed into a better
player every year and has accepted more and more responsibility. Coming
into this year he took on more scoring and leadership roles and handled
both very well. Marty is a natural power forward and undersized playing
the center position, but he did it because he knew it was in the best
interest of the team. That type of unselfishness is a big reason for our
success."
Andrejko was named the top coach in the Freedom
Conference after leading the Monarchs to a 20-5 regular-season record and
a first-place tie with DeSales in the conference standings with identical
11-3 marks. King's had been picked to finish in fifth-place in the Freedom
Conference pre-season coaches poll.
Andrejko piloted a King's squad that graduated six key players
and returned just two starters from last season's 20-6 squad. The Monarch mentor successfully blended together a
small crop of returning players with a large freshmen class to reach the
20-win plateau for the third time in his four-year tenure at King's. Of
the Monarchs' top-nine players in its rotation, five are freshmen.
"Any time a coach wins an award it is due to the
players and their willingness to buy into the system. We are fortunate
enough to have a group of players who are all committed to playing as a
team and working together and that enabled us to gel quickly, despite our
youth. It's nice to be recognized by the coaches around the league because
I feel there are lot of quality people doing this job. Anytime you are
honored by your peers it means a lot."
King's stands as the second-seed in the Freedom
Conference playoffs which begin Wednesday. The Monarchs will host
third-seeded Scranton at 8:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.
First Team All-Freedom Conference
Brian Horgan, King's
Jonathan Pribble, Lycoming
Brian O'Donnell, Scranton
Michael Venafra, DeSales
Chris Hendershot, FDU-Florham
Second Team All-Freedom Conference
John Yanniello, Wilkes
Kyle Koch, DeSales
Isaiah Pinckney, Delaware Valley
Marty O'Hora, King's
Darren Cannon, Scranton
Player of the Year: Brian Horgan, King's
Rookie of the Year: Chris Shovlin, Wilkes
Coach of the Year: J.P. Andrejko, King's
.
