by Michael P. Hall

HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce its West major award winners and all-stars for men's basketball.

Keenan Jeppesen (Stoney Creek, Ont.) of the McMaster Marauders is the West player of the year. The fifth-year forward formerly of the Western Mustangs scored 375 points this season, averaging 19.7 in 19 games, the second-best average in the division. Jeppesen led all OUA players in steals per game, averaging 2.42 for a total of 46. He was also second among West players with an average of 8.63 rebounds per game for a total of 164. Jeppesen was a 50 percent shooter from the field going 125-of-250, and contributed 62 assists and 20 blocks. Jeppesen is a West first-team all-star.

Brock Badgers guard Clinton Springer-Williams (London, Ont.) is the West rookie of the year and for good reason. Springer-Williams was one of four OUA players to average more than 20 points per game this season. His 21.2 points per game for a total of 424 led all West players. He also contributed a team-high 123 rebounds and 28 steals to go along with 25 assists and three blocks. Not only is Springer-Williams a member of the West all-rookie team, he is also a first-team all-star.

Three Lakehead Thunderwolves are also awarded for excellence in 2009-10. Second-year point guard Greg Carter (Ottawa) is the West defensive player of the year. Carter tied Jeppesen for the division lead in steals with 46. He also grabbed 68 rebounds, 44 of which were on the defensive end of the floor, and had eight blocks. Offensively, Carter contributed 145 points and 86 assists.

Fourth-year guard Jamie Searle (Belleville, Ont.) is the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Ken Shields Award nominee, given to the student-athlete who best exhibits outstanding achievements in basketball, academics, and community involvement. Searle is heavily involved in the community, including preparing meals on multiple occasions for 150 people at Shelter House in Thunder Bay, Ont., volunteering as head coach with the Thunder Bay Blaze under-17 basketball team, as well as taking part in reading and coaching programs at local schools. Searle also participated in Varsity Buzz, as Lakehead athletes shaved their heads for cancer research. He is a first-team all-star.

The West coach of the year is Scott Morrison of the Thunderwolves. Lakehead had a tremendous regular season in 2009-10, going 17-5 for a share of top spot in the West standings, an 11-game turnaround from a year ago. Lakehead's 76-73 victory over the No. 1 nationally-ranked and undefeated Carleton Ravens on Nov. 27 served notice that the Thunderwolves were for real as they went from worst to first in one short season. This is Morrison's fifth season as Lakehead head coach, and his first OUA West coach of the year award.

Joining Jeppesen, Springer-Williams and Searle as first-team all-stars from the West are forwards Isaac Kuon (Mississauga, Ont.) of the Windsor Lancers and Andrew Wedemire (Sarnia, Ont.) of the Western Mustangs.

West second-team all-stars for 2010 include Western guard Ryan Barbeau (Belleville, Ont.), Windsor forward Nigel Johnson-Tyghter (Brampton, Ont.), guard Jesse MacDonald (Brantford, Ont.) of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, guard Cam McIntyre (Kitchener, Ont.) of the Waterloo Warriors, guard Jay Mott (Burlington, Ont.) of the Guelph Gryphons and Lakehead point guard Yoosrie Salhia (Toronto).

Joining Springer-Williams on the West all-rookie team are Laurier wing Maxwell Allin (Chatham, Ont.), Windsor guard Josh Collins (Thornhill, Ont.), McMaster guard Victor Raso (Hamilton, Ont.) and Lakehead post Ryan Thompson (Oakville, Ont.).

OUA East award winners and all-stars in men's basketball will be announced on Thursday.

2010 OUA WEST MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARD WINNERS

West Player of the Year: Keenan Jeppesen (McMaster)
West Rookie of the Year: Clinton Springer-Williams (Brock)
West Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Carter (Lakehead)
West Ken Shields Award: Jamie Searle (Lakehead)
West Coach of the Year: Scott Morrison (Lakehead)

WEST FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS
Keenan Jeppesen (Stoney Creek, Ont.) - McMaster
Isaac Kuon (Mississauga, Ont.) - Windsor 
Jamie Searle (Belleville, Ont.) - Lakehead
Clinton Springer-Williams (London, Ont.) - Brock
Andrew Wedemire (Sarnia, Ont.) - Western

WEST SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS
Ryan Barbeau (Belleville, Ont.) - Western
Nigel Johnson-Tyghter (Brampton, Ont.) - Windsor
Jesse MacDonald (Brantford, Ont.) - Laurier
Cam McIntyre (Kitchener, Ont.) - Waterloo*
Jay Mott (Burlington, Ont.) - Guelph
Yoosrie Salhia (Toronto) - Lakehead*
*denotes tie

WEST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Maxwell Allin (Chatham, Ont.) - Laurier
Josh Collins (Thornhill, Ont.) - Windsor
Victor Raso (Hamilton, Ont.) - McMaster
Clinton Springer-Williams (London, Ont.) - Brock
Ryan Thompson (Oakville, Ont.) - Lakehead
 

– OUA –

ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.