Max Jones Named to D2CCA All-Region Team
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – University of Tampa freshman guard Max Jones has earned a spot on the 2021-22 D2CCA All-South Region Team. The squad was selected by NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors from institutions and conference offices in the South Region, made up of the Gulf South Conference, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and Sunshine State Conference.
Jones, a native of Clearwater, Fla., was a mainstay in the lineup for the Spartans, who finished third in the Sunshine State Conference. He turned in a team-high 21.9 points per game, notching double figures in 19 games. He also netted 30-plus points in three games, including a career-best 38 points in a road victory at No. 18 Barry University. Overall, Jones was second among SSC leaders in scoring.
Nova Southeastern sophomore guard/forward Sekou Sylla (Brooklyn, N.J.) is the 2021-22 Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) South Region Men's Basketball Player of the Year, receiving top billing on the D2CCA All-South Region Team.
Sylla is joined on the first team by senior guard Tyree Boykin (Clarksville, Tenn.) of Union (Tenn.), senior guard Romeo Crouch (Titusville, Fla.) of Embry-Riddle, RJ Sunahara (Bay Village, Ohio) of Nova Southeastern, and Chaney Johnson (Alabaster, Ala.) of Alabama Huntsville. Boykin was a 2019-20 second-team All-South Region selection.
The Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year, Sylla is averaging 22.9 points and 10.4 rebounds, while shooting 59% from the field, for the top-ranked team in the nation. Sylla helped lead the Sharks to an undefeated season (28-0) to this point, as the Sharks have captured both the Sunshine State Conference regular-season and tournament championships. Sylla has scored in double-figures in all but one game this year, while reaching the 20-point plateau in 20 contests, and has scored 30-plus points in four games. Sylla has registered 19 double-doubles in his junior campaign.
Boykin, the only repeat awardee from the 2019-20 season (2020-21 did not feature any D2CCA All-Region teams), was named the GSC Player of the Year after averaging 19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for a Union team that is 23-8 overall and went 15-5 in GSC play this year. Boykin has connected on 95 three-pointers this season and has gone 97-for-112 at the free-throw line. Crouch is averaging 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game for Embry-Riddle. Crouch was a first-team All-SSC performer for the second time in his career, and is the fastest Eagle to score 1,000 points. Sunahara has been a dominant force inside for the top-ranked Sharks this season, averaging 19.5 points, 6.6 boards and 2.6 blocks per game. Sunahara, a first-team All-SSC performer, has scored in double-digits in all 26 of his games this season. Johnson is the lone freshman on the first team, and the first team All-GSC player led the Chargers to the GSC Tournament title. Johnson is averaging 16.9 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 59% from the field, and 46% from deep.
In addition to the first team, five other individuals have been recognized as second-team selections. The second-team All-South Region squad is comprised of Jones (Clearwater, Fla.), Rollins senior Hutton Yenor (Orlando, Fla.), Lee senior Quay Kennedy (Columbia, Tenn.), West Florida sophomore Daniel Sofield (Jackson, N.J.), and Nova Southeastern senior Nick Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
The 2021-22 D2CCA men's basketball All-America team will be announced on Friday, March 18. The five first-team members from each of the country's eight regions are placed on the national ballot with NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors selecting first, second and third-team All-America honorees. The Ron Lenz Player of the Year will also be chosen from a list comprised of the eight Regional Players of the Year.
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as
important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and
regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.
First Team
Sekou Sylla (Nova Southeastern) 6-5 Junior Guard/Forward Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tyree Boykin (Union)^ 6-1 Senior Guard Clarksville, Tenn.
Romeo Crouch (Embry-Riddle) 6-3 Senior Guard Titusville, Fla.
RJ Sunahara (Nova Southeastern) 6-8 Sophomore Forward Bay Village, Ohio
Chaney Johnson (Alabama Huntsville) 6-7 Freshman Guard Alabaster, Ala.
Second Team
Max Jones (Tampa) 6-5 Freshman Guard Clearwater, Fla.
Hutton Yenor (Rollins) 6-4 Senior Guard Orlando, Fla.
Quay Kennedy (Lee) 6-7 Senior Guard Columbia, Tenn.
Daniel Sofield (West Florida) 6-7 Sophomore Guard Jackson, N.J.
Nick Smith (Nova Southeastern) 6-1 Senior Guard Pittsburgh, Pa.
^-2019-20 second-team All-South Region Pick