The Northeast Conference has seen seven different regular-season champions in the last decade. The league is competitive year in and year out. However, just four programs have represented the conference in the NCAA Tournament. Furthermore, the NEC welcomed Merrimack from Division II this past season, and the Warriors proceeded to win the league title in their first season.
Northeast Conference 2010s All-Decade Team
Starters
Guard – Keith Braxton, St. Francis (PA)
Keith Braxton is one current player who makes the team, just finishing his Red Flash career. He captured rookie of the year in 2017 and player of the year in 2019. He also made the first-team three times in four seasons. Braxton is the first player in conference history to finish his career with 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Furthermore, he produced St. Francis’ first triple-double in program history as a sophomore.
For his career, Braxton averaged 15.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He is first on the NEC’s career lists for defensive rebounds and points produced. He also sits in the top five in six other categories. In NCAA history, Braxton is fourth all-time in defensive rebounds. He helped the Red Flash win one title and play in three postseason tournaments, including one NIT.
Guard – Shane Gibson, Sacred Heart
Shane Gibson played for Sacred Heart from 2008-13, sitting out during the 2009-10 season. He made the first-team twice during his Pioneer career. He became the school’s all-time Division I era scorer as a junior. Gibson also was a finalist for the mid-major player of the year award in 2012.
He averaged 17.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game for his career. He also was a career 41.4 percent shooter from the three-point line. That percentage is good enough for second on the Northeast Conference’s all-time list. Gibson is also fifth in points, offensive win shares, offensive rating, and free throw percentage.
Forward – Julian Boyd, Long Island
Julian Boyd played for Long Island from 2008-12, fighting knee injuries throughout his career. He made the first-team two times and had a fantastic 2011-12 season. That year, he won player of the year, conference tournament most outstanding player, and was an AP All-American honorable mention.
Boyd averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game during his career. He is second all-time in NEC history in player efficiency rating and third in defensive rebounds and rebounding percentage. He led the conference in all three rebounding categories for the 2010-11 season. Boyd was part of two title teams and played in two NCAA Tournaments. He missed Long Island’s third trip during his time with the program due to an ACL tear that ultimately ended his college career. Without the knee injuries, Boyd may have rewritten plenty of record books.
Forward – Jalen Cannon, St. Francis (NY)
Jalen Cannon played for the Terriers from 2011-15. He was a two-time member of the league’s first-team and the player of the year as a senior in 2015. He is the second player in school history to have 1,000 career points and rebounds.
For his career, Cannon averaged 13.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. He is the Northeast Conference’s career leader in offensive rebounds, total rebounds, and offensive rating. He also sits in the top five of nine other statistical categories. Cannon spurred St. Francis to one title and one NIT appearance.
Forward – Ken Horton, Central Connecticut State
Ken Horton spent two years in the decade playing for the Blue Devils. He made the first-team in both seasons in the decade and was the player of the year as a junior in 2011. He also garnered an honorable mention on the AP All-American team that season.
In the decade, Horton averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. He leads the league’s career lists in player efficiency rating, offensive win shares, and total win shares. Horton also sits fifth in defensive win shares and seventh in blocks.
Bench
Guard – Cane Broome, Sacred Heart
Cane Broome played two seasons for Sacred Heart before transferring to Cincinnati after his sophomore season. Still, he made quite an impact in two years. Broome was the conference’s player of the year in 2016 and earned an honorable mention on the AP All-American team. He led the Northeast Conference in 12 categories during that season.
For his Pioneer career, he averaged 18.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. During his freshman campaign, he was rookie of the week an astounding five times and made the all-rookie team at the end of the season.
Guard – Isaiah Blackmon, St. Francis (PA)
Isaiah Blackmon joins teammate Keith Braxton as the other current player to make this list, also just ending his time with the Red Flash. He had a breakout season this past year, taking home the player of the year award for the 2019-20 season. He also was named to the Lou Henson Mid-Major All-American team. Blackmon led the league in offensive rating and offensive win shares as well.
For his career, he averaged 14 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He fought through a knee injury that caused him to miss one season and use his redshirt. Blackmon is second in NEC history in career offensive rating. He was part of the teams with Braxton that won one title and made two CITs and one NIT.
Guard – Junior Robinson, Mount St. Mary’s
Junior Robinson is another player who broke out during his senior year, though he was solid in the years before that as well. He won player of the year as a senior in 2017-18. He also tied a league record, being named player of the week five times during that season.
Robinson averaged 14.3 points and 3.5 assists per game for his career. He led the NEC’s leading scorer in 2017-18 as well as first in points produced, offensive win shares, and total win shares. Robinson is in the top five in Northeast Conference history in free throw percentage and points produced. He won one title with the Mountaineers and helped them win their First Four game in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Forward – Jerome Frink, Long Island
Jerome Frink played two seasons for the Blackbirds (now Sharks) after transferring from Florida International. He made the first-team in both seasons in the NEC and won player of the year as a senior in 2017. He was the eighth player in Long Island’s historic history to capture the honor.
Frink averaged 16.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game as a player in the conference. During his award-winning season, he was second in the league in rebounding average and double-doubles, and third in scoring average. Frink was able to score 1,000 points in just two seasons at Long Island.
Forward – Jamal Olasewere, Long Island
Jamal Olasewere is the third Long Island player on the team and is one of three player of the year award-winners for the program during the decade. He made the first-team twice and took home that player of the year award as a senior in 2013. Olasewere also made the AP All-American team as an honorable mention that season. Furthermore, he was a finalist for the mid-major player of the year award for the 2012-13 season.
For his career, Olasewere averaged 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He left as Long Island’s leading scorer and finished first in Northeast Conference history in free throw makes and attempts. He is also third in defensive rebounds and fifth in points produced. Olasewere helped Long Island win two titles and play in three NCAA Tournaments.
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