March 7, 2008

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - The NAIA Division I Independent Region has released its 2007-08 All-Independent Region First- and Second-Teams, headlined by NAIA Independent Region Player of the Year James Spencer from Mountain State University.

Spencer, a senior from Los Angeles, has averaged 24 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season for the nationally ranked Cougars.

Following Spencer on the first team is Jon Meriweather, a Park University junior from Kansas City, Mo., who averages nearly 21 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Meriweather is 11th in the NAIA in double-doubles on the season with 11, including three 30-plus scoring outings on the year.

Meriweather was also named NAIA National Player of the Week twice during the regular season.

Brescia's Andrew Howard is the third 20-point scorer on the team, averaging 20 points and four boards per game for the Bearcats. Voorhees is represented on the first team by Antonio Bolton, while the next two selections came from MSU in the form of Adron Marshall (17 points, 5.8 rebounds per game) and point guard Jarvis Jackson, who averages only eight points but paces the back-court with a region-high 5.4 assists per game.

Cory Mikel from Voorhees also landed on the first team, followed by Park's second selection, Deron Cherry II, who came on late in the season to average 12 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Last week against Philander Smith, Cherry poured in 31 to help the Pirates close the regular season on a two-game win streak.

Chris Owens averaged 16 points and 2.8 rebounds for Morris on the first team, while Allen's Hiram Carolina rounds out the Independent First Team.

Mountain State's Jason McGriff heads the second team, followed by Park point guard Michael Zimmerman and Kenneth Nesmith from Morris.

Brescia back-court general Doug Denton also landed on the second team, followed by Everett Pace (Voorhees) and Demitrius Terrell (Allen).

The NAIA Independent All-Academic team was also announced earlier today and is listed below.

 

First Team

James Spencer, Mountain State*

Jon Meriweather, Park

Andrew Howard, Brescia

Antonio Bolton, Voorhees

Adron Marshall, Mountain State

Jarvis Jackson, Mountain State

Cory Mikel, Voorhees

Deron Cherry II, Park

Chris Owens, Morris

Hiram Carolina, Allen

Coach of the Year: Bob Bolen, Mountain State

* NAIA Independent Player of the Year

 

Second Team

Jason McGriff, Mountain State

Michael Zimmerman, Park

Kenneth Nesmith, Morris

Doug Denton, Brescia

Everett Pace, Voorhees

Demitrius Terrell, Allen

 

All-Academic

Admir Aljic, Park

Antonio Bolton, Voorhees

Deron Cherry II, Park

Albert Crumbley, Voorhees

Michael Koch, Park

Ermin Tarcin, Mountain State

Ben Wallis, Park

Donovan Williams, Park

Michael Zimmerman, Park