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Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2010s All-Decade Team

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is one of two HBCU conferences in Division I college basketball. The league has produced some explosive scorers and rebounders over the past decade. Furthermore, Norfolk State pulled off a 15-2 upset over Missouri in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Schools in the MEAC have a proud history and often play most of their non-conference schedule on the road.

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2010s All-Decade Team

Starters

Guard – Jeremy Ingram, North Carolina Central

Jeremy Ingram was part of North Carolina Central’s last year as an independent before joining the MEAC. At the end of his senior season, he was the league’s player of the year and conference tournament most outstanding player. In three years in the conference, he made the first-team twice.

Ingram averaged 15.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game during his three-year stint in the league. During his award-winning season in 2013-14, he led the MEAC in eight statistical categories. Ingram is ninth on the conference’s all-time list in true shooting percentage. He helped the Eagles win one title and make the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014.

Guard – RJ Cole, Howard

RJ Cole played two seasons for Howard before transferring to Connecticut after the 2018-19 season. His two seasons in the conference were fantastic. He was the freshman of the year in 2018 and the player of the year in 2019. He led the MEAC in scoring average, total points, points produced, and offensive win shares in both seasons.

During his time in the league, Cole averaged 22.5 points, four rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. In conference history, Cole owns the second-best career scoring average and is also third in points produced. If he had stayed at Howard, there is a good chance he would have vaulted to the top of the school and league record books.

Guard – James Daniel III, Howard

James Daniel III played for the Bison from 2013-17. He won the player of the year award during his junior season in 2015-16. He was also the rookie of the year in 2014. Daniel was another prolific scorer for Howard, having 14 career games scoring at least 30 points. His 27.1 points per game led all of Division I for the 2015-16 season. He finished his career as the school’s leading scorer.

Daniel averaged 21.5 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for his Howard career. In Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference history, he ranks first all-time in made free throws. He is also second in points produced and third in scoring average. Daniel missed most of his final year at Howard with an injury. He was granted an extra year of eligibility and decided to use it at Tennessee.

Forward – Cletrell Pope, Bethune-Cookman

Cletrell Pope is one of two players that just completed their careers to make the team. He came to Bethune-Cookman from the JUCO ranks. Pope made an immediate impact, being named the MEAC’s defensive player of the year during both of his seasons for the Wildcats. He also made the first-team both years. His 21 double-doubles during the 2018-19 season set a new single-season record for the conference.

For his career, Pope averaged 14.1 points, 12 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He was fifth in the NCAA in rebounds as a junior. In MEAC history, he is first in career offensive and total rebounding percentage. Pope is also fifth in player efficiency rating.

Center – Kyle O’Quinn, Norfolk State

Kyle O’Quinn is arguably the best player in the decade and is certainly a trendsetter. He won defensive player of the year in both seasons of play in the 2010s and was the player of the year in 2012. He became the first player in league history to be named the player and defensive player of the year in the same season. O’Quinn capped off his senior season by taking home the mid-major player of the year award as well.

He averaged 16.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game during his two seasons in the decade. O’Quinn is in the top three of all three rebounding categories in MEAC history, including first in defensive rebounds. He helped Norfolk State make their first-ever NCAA appearance in 2012 and was the catalyst in their upset of Missouri. O’Quinn had 26 points and 14 rebounds in that game and had the go-ahead three-point play in the game’s final seconds.

Bench

Guard – Jeff Short, Norfolk State

Jeff Short played for the Spartans for two seasons after transferring from Fordham. He made the first-team in both years. He was in the top ten in field goals, made threes, and made free throws in both of those seasons in the league.

Short averaged 17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game as a Spartan. He led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in offensive win shares for the 2014-15 season. On conference all-time lists he ranks 15th in player efficiency rating. Short was a member of two CIT teams while at Norfolk State.

Guard – Pendarvis Williams, Norfolk State

Pendarvis Williams played for Norfolk State from 2010-14 and was part of that historic 2012 NCAA win with O’Quinn. He won player of the year as a junior in 2013 and was an AP All-American honorable mention as a senior in 2014. He finished his career as the Spartans’ career leader in games played and second in made threes.

For his career, Williams averaged 12.5 points, four rebounds, and two assists per game. He is the MEAC’s career leader in offensive win shares and offensive rating. He is also third in true shooting percentage and fourth in points produced and effective field goal percentage. Williams also helped the Spartans make a CIT and an NIT appearance along with the NCAA Tournament appearance. He had 20 points in the upset win over Missouri.

Forward – Charles Williams, Howard

Charles Williams joins Pope as the other recent player to make the team. He was the MEAC’s rookie of the year in 2017. He also made the first-team twice as a sophomore and junior. Williams finished his career as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s all-time leading scorer with 2,404 career points.

He averaged 18.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for his career. He is also the conference’s career leader in points produced. Williams sits second on the league’s career list in made field goals and two-point field goals. He helped the Bison make one appearance in the CBI.

Forward – Phillip Carr, Morgan State

Phillip Carr played three seasons at Morgan State from 2015-18 after transferring from the community college ranks. He was the league’s defensive player of the year in 2017. He also made the first-team in two of three seasons.

Carr averaged 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for his career. His 9.6 rebound per game as a senior led the MEAC. He is sixth on the league’s career defensive rebounds list and 13th on the offensive rebound list.

Center – Kendall Gray, Delaware State

Kendall Gray stayed home and played for Delaware State from 2011-15. He became the second player in MEAC history after O’Quinn to be named player and defensive player of the year in 2015. He was the third player of the year award-winner in school history. In a game against Coppin State as a senior, he scored 33 points and had 30 rebounds, becoming the first player in conference history to have a 30 point, 30 rebound game.

For his career, Gray averaged 9.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. He was the country’s leading defensive rebounder for the 2014-15 season. All-time, he is fourth in conference history in defensive rebounds. Gray also sits third in blocks and block percentage. He helped the Hornets play in one CBI.

 

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