MAC announces top awards, All-MAC basketball teams
Nate Johnson named Player of the Year, Byers Freshman of the Year
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced the All-MAC Teams and Specialty Award selections for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season today. All awards were voted on by the league's 12 head coaches, with coaches unable to vote for their own student-athletes.
Bringing in nine new faces to the program, Coach Groce didn't miss a beat after winning the 2024 MAC Tournament title. Akron went 16-0 at home this season at home, becoming just the fourth Akron team to . . .
Bringing in nine new faces to the program, Coach Groce didn't miss a beat after winning the 2024 MAC Tournament title. Akron went 16-0 at home this season at home, becoming just the fourth Akron team to . . .
. . . go undefeated at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Blue and Gold also tied the program record for most conference victories to begin MAC play (13). Winning 14 consecutive games from Jan. 3 through Feb. 18, the Zips held the longest active winning streak in the nation before falling to Ohio on Feb. 22.
Nate Johnson becomes the first player in Akron history to be named both the MAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, and the first player in the MAC since Bonzi Wells (Ball State, 1998). Johnson led the Zips in the regular season with 13.5 points and 1.9 steals per game. He averaged 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.5 blocks per game while scoring in double-figures a team-leading 23 times and scoring 15 or more points in 11 games. Johnson led the team in assists nine times and recorded five games of five or more assists. He led the Zips in rebounding eight times and was also named to the All-MAC First Team and was named the MVP of the Akron Basketball Classic earlier in the season.
Appearing in 30 games and starting one, Shammah Scott was the go-to player for Akron off the bench. Scoring 9.1 points per game, Shammah was effective scoring at any range. Scott shot .455 from the field and .381 from beyond the arc and ranked fourth in made 3-pointers (43) in the regular season. He scored in double figures 14 times and recorded two games of 15 or more points. Scott also added 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.8 steals per game. Scott was also named to the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational All-Tournament Team earlier in the season.
In his freshman campaign, Brant Byers is averaging 8.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 steals, 0.5 assists and 0.3 blocks per game. In conference play, he finished second in the MAC in three-point field goal percentage (.456) and 11th in field goal percentage (.522). Byers scored in double figures 14 different times during the 2024-25 campaign and had a career-high 22 points versus Northern Illinois. In his first conference game of the season, Byers knocked down the most triples of his career, as he shot a perfect 6-of-6 from beyond the arc. He is the first Miami player to be recognized as the MAC Freshman of the Year since Nike Sibande in 2018.
Nate Johnson becomes the first player in Akron history to be named both the MAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, and the first player in the MAC since Bonzi Wells (Ball State, 1998). Johnson led the Zips in the regular season with 13.5 points and 1.9 steals per game. He averaged 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.5 blocks per game while scoring in double-figures a team-leading 23 times and scoring 15 or more points in 11 games. Johnson led the team in assists nine times and recorded five games of five or more assists. He led the Zips in rebounding eight times and was also named to the All-MAC First Team and was named the MVP of the Akron Basketball Classic earlier in the season.
Appearing in 30 games and starting one, Shammah Scott was the go-to player for Akron off the bench. Scoring 9.1 points per game, Shammah was effective scoring at any range. Scott shot .455 from the field and .381 from beyond the arc and ranked fourth in made 3-pointers (43) in the regular season. He scored in double figures 14 times and recorded two games of 15 or more points. Scott also added 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.8 steals per game. Scott was also named to the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational All-Tournament Team earlier in the season.
In his freshman campaign, Brant Byers is averaging 8.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 steals, 0.5 assists and 0.3 blocks per game. In conference play, he finished second in the MAC in three-point field goal percentage (.456) and 11th in field goal percentage (.522). Byers scored in double figures 14 different times during the 2024-25 campaign and had a career-high 22 points versus Northern Illinois. In his first conference game of the season, Byers knocked down the most triples of his career, as he shot a perfect 6-of-6 from beyond the arc. He is the first Miami player to be recognized as the MAC Freshman of the Year since Nike Sibande in 2018.
All-MAC First Team
Nate Johnson, Redshirt Junior, Guard, Akron
Tavari Johnson, Junior, Guard, Akron
Ugnius Jarusevicius, Junior, Forward, Central Michigan
VonCameron Davis, Redshirt Senior, Forward, Kent State
Peter Suder, Junior, Guard, Miami
Nate Johnson, Redshirt Junior, Guard, Akron
Tavari Johnson, Junior, Guard, Akron
Ugnius Jarusevicius, Junior, Forward, Central Michigan
VonCameron Davis, Redshirt Senior, Forward, Kent State
Peter Suder, Junior, Guard, Miami
All-MAC First Team
Nate Johnson, Redshirt Junior, Guard, Akron
Tavari Johnson, Junior, Guard, Akron
Ugnius Jarusevicius, Junior, Forward, Central Michigan
VonCameron Davis, Redshirt Senior, Forward, Kent State
Peter Suder, Junior, Guard, Miami
All-MAC Second Team
Da’Sean Nelson, Senior, Forward, Eastern Michigan
Jalen Terry, Senior, Guard, Eastern Michigan
Jalen Sullinger, Senior, Guard, Kent State
Sam Lewis, Sophomore, Guard, Toledo
Chansey Willis Jr., Junior, Guard, Western Michigan
All-MAC Third Team
Javontae Campbell, Junior, Guard, Bowling Green
Anthony Pritchard, Senior, Guard, Central Michigan
Kam Craft, Redshirt Sophomore, Guard, Miami
AJ Clayton, Senior, Forward, Ohio
Jackson Paveletzke, Junior, Guard, Ohio
Sonny Wilson, Sophomore, Guard, Toledo
All-MAC Honorable Mention
Isaiah Gray, Senior, Guard, Akron
Jermahri Hill, Junior, Guard, Ball State
Payton Sparks, Senior, Center, Ball State
Shereef Mitchell, Graduate Student, Guard, Ohio
Javan Simmons, Sophomore, Forward, Toledo
MAC All-Defensive Team
Nate Johnson, Redshirt Junior, Guard, Akron
Javontae Campbell, Junior, Guard, Bowling Green
Anthony Pritchard, Senior, Guard, Central Michigan
Cli’ron Hornbeak, Senior, Center, Kent State
Shereef Mitchell, Graduate Student, Guard, Ohio
MAC All-Freshman Team
Sharron Young, Guard, Akron
Jamai Felt, Forward, Bowling Green
Ben Michaels, Forward, Buffalo
Brant Byers, Forward, Miami
Elijah Elliot, Guard, Ohio
Nate Johnson, Redshirt Junior, Guard, Akron
Tavari Johnson, Junior, Guard, Akron
Ugnius Jarusevicius, Junior, Forward, Central Michigan
VonCameron Davis, Redshirt Senior, Forward, Kent State
Peter Suder, Junior, Guard, Miami
All-MAC Second Team
Da’Sean Nelson, Senior, Forward, Eastern Michigan
Jalen Terry, Senior, Guard, Eastern Michigan
Jalen Sullinger, Senior, Guard, Kent State
Sam Lewis, Sophomore, Guard, Toledo
Chansey Willis Jr., Junior, Guard, Western Michigan
All-MAC Third Team
Javontae Campbell, Junior, Guard, Bowling Green
Anthony Pritchard, Senior, Guard, Central Michigan
Kam Craft, Redshirt Sophomore, Guard, Miami
AJ Clayton, Senior, Forward, Ohio
Jackson Paveletzke, Junior, Guard, Ohio
Sonny Wilson, Sophomore, Guard, Toledo
All-MAC Honorable Mention
Isaiah Gray, Senior, Guard, Akron
Jermahri Hill, Junior, Guard, Ball State
Payton Sparks, Senior, Center, Ball State
Shereef Mitchell, Graduate Student, Guard, Ohio
Javan Simmons, Sophomore, Forward, Toledo
MAC All-Defensive Team
Nate Johnson, Redshirt Junior, Guard, Akron
Javontae Campbell, Junior, Guard, Bowling Green
Anthony Pritchard, Senior, Guard, Central Michigan
Cli’ron Hornbeak, Senior, Center, Kent State
Shereef Mitchell, Graduate Student, Guard, Ohio
MAC All-Freshman Team
Sharron Young, Guard, Akron
Jamai Felt, Forward, Bowling Green
Ben Michaels, Forward, Buffalo
Brant Byers, Forward, Miami
Elijah Elliot, Guard, Ohio
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