Biss, Miller Headline 2019-20 PSAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- Shippensburg junior Jake Biss and IUP senior Malik Miller has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Athletes of the Year, the league announced Thursday afternoon in conjunction with the release of the men’s basketball all-conference teams.
All-conference teams and major award winners are voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Biss was voted East Athlete of the Year and is the third Raider to claim the award while it marks the fourth time that Shippensburg has boasted the winner. Biss, the Raider point guard, leads the Raiders in scoring (16.5) and ranks fourth in the PSAC in averaging 4.5 assists per game. He is shooting 42.4 percent from three-point range – the second-best rate in the conference. He has posted double figures in scoring in 23 games this season, including 10 games of 20 or more points and a season-high 32 points in the season opener against Virginia Union. He has recorded four or more assists in 18 games, including eight games of six or more assists.
Miller was tabbed the West Athlete of the Year while IUP has boasted the recipient for six consecutive seasons. It marks the 13th time overall that the Crimson Hawks sported the award winner. Millers is IUP’s second-leading scorer at 18.8 points per game and assist man with 107. The senior averaged 20.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 16 divisional games. He posted 11 20-point games down the stretch, including four of the highest scoring games of his career – 32 vs. Seton Hill, 30 vs. Gannon, 28 vs. Slippery Rock and 27 vs. Clarion. Millers made history with just the third triple-double in program history, going for 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Edinboro. He went over 1,000 career points earlier in the year and is just shy of another milestone with 1,495 points. Miller will lead the Crimson Hawks in PSAC semifinal on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Shippensburg senior Lamar Talley claimed the East Defensive Athlete of the Year honor and is the first Raider to claim the award. Talley is handed Shippensburg’s top defensive assignment each game. He is the linchpin of the Eastern Division’s top defense – a unit that has held opponents under 70 points in 20-of-28 games. On numerous occasions this season, Talley has used his length, quickness and hustle to limit premier scorers from opposing teams. From a statistical standpoint, Talley averages 2.5 defensive rebounds per game and has totaled 12 blocks and six steals while committing just 23 turnovers in more than 725 minutes on the court this season.
Pitt-Johnstown sophomore John Paul Kromka was named West Defensive Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season. He is the second athlete in the sport to be a repeat winner in the award (Spencer Casson of Seton Hill – 2016 & 17). Kromka earned West Defensive Athlete of the Week honors on five occasions during the 2019-20 regular season while leading the PSAC in blocks (78). He is the only athlete with more than 50 in the category. His 78 blocks rank him third in NCAA DII. The sophomore currently sits second in the league in defensive rebounds (165).
West Chester’s Robbie Heath was voted East Freshman of the Year and is the fifth Golden Ram to receive the award. He is the first since current teammate Malik Jackson garnered the recognition (2016). Heath paces the league in points per game (24.6), points (712), field goals (222) and free throws (206). His 24.6 points per contest is ninth best in NCAA DII. Robbie turned in double figures in every contest this season, including a season-high 50 against Bloomsburg. He scored at least 20 points in all but six contests. A highlight contest came against Mercyhurst, who advanced to the NCAA DII Elite 8 last year, when he scored 28 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in December.
IUP’s Ethan Porterfield claimed the West Freshman of the Year award and is the fifth Crimson Hawk to be receive it. He is third on the team in scoring at 10.5 points and second in rebounding with 5.4 boards per game. Porterfield leads IUP with 56.6 field goal percentage and 40.0 3-point percentage. His 21 starts are the most by an IUP freshman since former All-American and player of the year Ashton Smith in 2008-09. His season-high of 19 points (twice) is the most by an IUP freshman since Jacobo Diaz had 20 points in 2016-17. Porterfield is second in the PSAC with 49 blocks.
Shippensburg’s Chris Fite was selected as the East Coach of the Year for the second time in his career (2017) and it marks the fourth time Shippensburg has boasted the winner in school history. Fite has directed Shippensburg to its first Eastern Division championship in school history and just its third overall in school history (SU won the PSAC Western Division in 2005-06 and 1988-89). Shippensburg has now recorded its fifth straight 20-win season under Fite after totaling just two 20-win seasons in its 62 previous seasons. The Raiders lead the PSAC in free-throw percentage and rebound margin. Shippensburg has consistently held the East’s top scoring defense this season and enters the postseason allowing on average 68.1 points per game. The Raiders will host the PSAC semis and final over the weekend.
Mercyhurst’s Gary Manchel was voted West Coach of the Year for the third time in his career and first since 2015. The Lakers enter the weekend on a 10-game win streak and will face Shippensburg in a semifinal Saturday. He has led the Lakers to a 20-win season after having to replace four starters from the NCAA DII Elite Eight team last season. Under his direction, Mercyhurst has appeared in 11 consecutive PSAC Championships. Manchel is the winningest coach in Laker history. He led two Lakers to all-conference recognition this season.
Slippery Rock senior Micah Till is a three-time first-team honoree while Shippensburg senior John Castello landed on an all-conference team for the third time in his career.
17 athletes appeared on an all-conference team for the first time in their respective careers.
A full list of honorees is below.
WESTERN DIVISION FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| G |
Armoni Foster |
IUP |
So. |
Meadville, Pa. / Meadville |
| F |
John Paul Kromka^ |
Pitt-Johnstown |
So. |
Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway |
| G |
MiyKah McIntosh |
Mercyhurst |
So. |
Pickering, Ont. / Southwest Christian Academy |
| G |
Malik Miller* |
IUP |
Sr. |
Farrell, Pa. / Farrell |
| G |
Brent Pegram^ |
Cal U |
Jr. |
Upper Marlboro, Md. / Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. |
| F |
Micah Till** |
Slippery Rock |
Sr. |
Upper Marlboro, Md. / Wise |
| G |
Josh Wise* |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Sr. |
Washington, Pa. / Washington |
WESTERN DIVISION SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| F |
DeAnte Cisero |
Gannon |
Sr. |
Chicago, Ill. / Montgomery County (Ky.) |
| G |
Zyan Collins |
Cal U |
So. |
South Riding, Va. / Freedom |
| G |
Nathan Davis^ |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Bellwood, Pa. / Bellwood-Antis |
| F |
Cameron Gross |
Mercyhurst |
Jr. |
Chicago, Ill. / Wabash Valley Community College |
| F |
Will Robinson Jr. |
Slippery Rock |
Sr. |
Baltimore, Md. / Digital Harbor |
| F |
Trey Staunch |
Edinboro |
Gr. |
West Middlesex, Pa. / West Middlesex |
| G |
Frank Webb Jr. |
Gannon |
Jr. |
Baltimore, Md. / Our Lady of Mount Carmel |
EASTERN DIVISION FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| G |
Jake Biss* |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe |
| F |
John Castello^^ |
Shippensburg |
Sr. |
Mars, Pa. / Mars Area |
| G |
Matt Cerruti* |
Lock Haven |
Jr. |
Huntingdon Valley, Pa. / Archbishop Wood |
| G |
Robbie Heath |
West Chester |
Fr. |
Whittlesea, Australia / Abington |
| G |
Malik Jackson^ |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Lansdowne, Pa. / Penn Wood |
| G |
Christian Kelly^ |
Lock Haven |
Sr. |
Phoenixville, Pa. / Phoenixville |
| G |
Thomas Lang |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
New Market, Md. / Linganore |
EASTERN DIVISION SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| G |
Tarojae Brake |
Kutztown |
Jr. |
Coatesville, Pa. / Octorara |
| G |
Wesley Butler |
Kutztown |
Fr. |
Reading, Pa. / Reading |
| G |
Ky Mauras |
Bloomsburg |
Sr. |
Reading, Pa. / Reading |
| F |
Caden Najdawi |
Millersville |
Jr. |
Chesterfield, Va. / Cosby |
| G |
James Sullivan |
Millersville |
Jr. |
Grottoes, Va. / Sportswood |
| G |
Kitt Najee Walls |
East Stroudsburg |
Gr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / La Salle College HS |
| G |
Khari Williams |
Millersville |
Jr. |
Norristown, Pa. / Archbishop Carroll |
*Indicates previous First Team All-PSAC selection
^Indicates previous Second Team All-PSAC selection
EASTERN DIVISION
Athlete of the Year: Jake Biss, Shippensburg
Defensive Athlete of the Year: Lamar Talley, Shippensburg
Freshman of the Year: Robbie Heath, West Chester
Coach of the Year: Chris Fite, Shippensburg
Honorary Member: Ryan Smith, East Stroudsburg
WESTERN DIVISION
Athlete of the Year: Malik Miller, IUP
Defensive Athlete of the Year: John Paul Kromka, Pitt-Johnstown
Freshman of the Year: Ethan Porterfield, IUP
Coach of the Year: Gary Manchel, Mercyhurst