2023 All-NCAC Men's Basketball Team Released

CLEVELAND, OH -- Ohio Wesleyan senior wing Jack Clement (Bellefontaine, OH/Bellefontaine) has been named the Player of the Year and Wittenberg senior forward Brice Hill (Cincinnati, OH/Seven Hills School) has been selected the league's Top Defensive Player to highlight the 2023 All-North Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball squad, as selected by the league's head coaches.

Clement is the Battling Bishops’ 12th NCAC Player of the Year, the program’s first since Nate Axelrod was selected three years in a row (2016-18). The senior earned his second-consecutive All-NCAC certificate after earning first-team honors this season and last winter. Clement had a dominant offensive season, leading the league in points (379), while averaging 23.7 per game in conference matchups. In games against NCAC opponents, the wing ranked in the top 10 in three-point field goals per game (2.3), three-point shooting percentage (.316) and assists (2.7 apg). He scored in double figures in all 16 conference games, while producing 20 or more points in 12 games against league foes, led by 35 points against Wabash on Feb.4. Clement handed out three or more assists in nine different NCAC games this season and gathered three or more rebounds in 15 of the 16 league matchups.

Hill is the fifth Tiger to earn the NCAC’s Top Defensive Player award since the honor was established in the 2017 season. The senior anchored a Wittenberg defensive unit that limited NCAC opponents to a league-low 64.3 points per game and .398 shooting percentage. In 16 conference games, Hill collected 29 rebounds (1.8 rpg), 23 of which came from the defensive end, 13 steals and six blocks. The senior recorded at least one steal in eight NCAC matchups. He also produced on offense for the Tigers, averaging 7.3 points and 1.3 assists per game in conference play.

Clement was the lone repeat selection to the All-NCAC first team this season. The senior was joined by DePauw senior guard Elijah Hales (Topeka, IN/Westview), who earned second-team honors a season ago, and Wooster sophomore guard Jamir Billings (Lorain, OH/Lorain), who claimed honorable mention accolades in 2022. Wabash sophomore guard Vinny Buccilla (Fishers, IN/Hamilton Southeastern) and junior forward Ahmoni Jones (Indianapolis, IN/Pike) both made their all-conference debut this season with first-team honors.

DePauw freshman forward Sam Jacobs (Fishers, IN/Hamilton Southeastern) is the first Tiger to earn the NCAC's Newcomer of the Year award as the league's top player in his first year of collegiate competition. Jacobs was one of the league’s most efficient shooters in NCAC play, knocking down 65-of-118 shots (.551) from the floor to finish top four in the conference. In 16 conference games, the rookie averaged 10.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He also tallied 10 steals and four blocks in NCAC action. Jacobs scored in double figures in 12 of 16 conference games this season, including a season-high 21 at Wabash on Feb. 1.

Wooster claimed the 2023 Coaching Staff of the Year honors, the 10th coaching award in program history. The Fighting Scots are led by Head Coach Doug Cline and assistants Jack Stevens, Mel Burke Jr. and Phil Kuchta. The Wooster squad was guided to their league-leading 19th NCAC championship after compiling a 13-3 record in conference play. In 16 conference games, the Fighting Scots averaged 74.3 points, 36.9 rebounds and a league-leading 14.44 assists per game. The Wooster defense held opponents to 66.4 points per game and caused a conference-high 14.4 turnovers and 8.06 steals per game.

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