Full Release
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - LIU Brooklyn men's basketball senior Joel Hernandez was named to the All-Met Men's Basketball Division I First Team, it was announced by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers' Association Monday.
The honor, voted on by basketball writers in the New York City metropolitan area, is the latest of a long list for the Teaneck, N.J. native. Hernandez was named first team All-Northeast Conference, NEC Tournament MVP, to the NEC All-Tournament team, and to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I District 18 First Team.
Tim Cluess of Iona was named Coach of the Year, while Geo Baker of Rutgers was named Rookie of the Year. The winner of the 85th Lt. Frank J. Haggerty Award as All-Met Men's Player of the Year will be announced by the MBWA at the annual awards dinner on Wednesday.
Hernandez spent the season as one of the league leaders in scoring. The Teaneck, N.J. native averaged 20.2 points per game during the regular season, the second-highest total in the NEC. He also averaged 6.0 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game. He was also named the Lou Henson National Player of the Week by College Insider, Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, and College Sports Madness National Mid-Major Player of the Week this season. He finished his LIU career with over 1,400 career points scored.
2017-18 All-Met Division I Men's College Basketball Teams
First Team
Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, 6-10, Sr., C, Dominican Republic
Joel Hernandez, LIU Brooklyn, 6-3, Sr., G, Teaneck, NJ
Tyler Nelson, Fairfield, 6-3, Jr., G, Bradford, MA
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's, 6-1, So., G, Brooklyn, NY
Desi Rodriguez, Seton Hall, 6-6, Sr., G/F, Bronx, NY
Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra, 6-1, Jr., G, Queens, NY
Second Team
Khadeen Carrington, Seton Hall, 6-4, Sr., G, Brooklyn, NY
Myles Powell, Seton Hall, 6-2, So., G, Trenton, NJ
Corey Sanders, Rutgers, 6-2, Jr., G, Lakeland, FL
Rickey McGill, Iona, 6-1, Jr., G, Spring Valley, NY
JoJo Cooper, Wagner, 6-0, Sr., G, Wilmington, DE
Dimencio Vaughn, Rider, 6-5, Fr., G, New York, NY
Justin Simon, St. John's, 6-5, So., G, Temecula, CA
Third Team
Rokas Gustys, Hofstra , 6-9, Sr., C, Lithuania
Anthony Tarke, NJIT, 6-6, So., G/F, Gaithersburg, MD
Mike Smith, Columbia, 5-11, So., G, Burr Ridge, IL
Joseph Chartouny, Fordham, 6-3, Jr., G, Montreal, Quebec
Rich Williams, Manhattan, 6-6, Sr., G, Brooklyn, NY
Blake Francis, Wagner, 6-0, So., G, Herndon, VA
Rookie of the Year: Geo Baker, Rutgers
Peter A. Carlesimo Coach of the Year: Tim Cluess, Iona