KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The MIAA released its 2024 All-MIAA Men's Basketball teams and postseason awards. Sam Somerhalder and Boston Stanton III earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention status.

Somerhalder led the Jets in minutes played this season with 828 total minutes while starting 28 of 28 games. Somerhalder was a key piece in the Jets success this year scoring a total of 281 points, ten points per game. Somerhalder led in multiple stat categories withh 6.1 rebounds per game (172 total) and led the team in assists with 85. Somerhalder shot 51% from the field, making 120 total field goals. His season high points was against Pittsburg State in Janurary where he scored 21 points where he also made his season high field goals made with ten. Somerhalder was selected at the MIAA Men's Basketball athlete of the week for week 12 of play. During this week, Somerhalder helped lead the Jets to a 2-0 week in MIAA play with wins over UAFS and NSU. During this week of play, he totaled 37 points, 18 rebounds, and recorded a league high 12 assists for 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. He also shot 80% from the field that week going 17-21 from the floor. Somerhalder finished 10th in the MIAA in rebounding, 8th in field goal percentage, 16th in assists, and 4th in assist/turnover ratio.

Stanton III was a huge contributor for the men's team on all cylinders. Stanton III totaled 721 minutes while averaging the second highest minutes per game and starting in all 26 games that he played in. Stanton III scored 316 total points while shooting 41% from the field and 38% from behind the arc. Stanton III hit 44 three pointers, with his season high seven three-pointers made in the win against Emporia State just a few weeks ago. Stanton III hit his season and career high 30 points in the same game against the Hornets, where he shot 8-16 from the floor for 50% from the field and 63% from behind the arc. Stanton III dished out a total of 58 assists, brought down a total of 93 rebounds, and totaled 31 steals. Stanton III finished 22nd in the MIAA in total scoring, 17th in three point field goals per game, and 20th in steals. 


2024-25 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS & ALL-MIAA TEAMS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jordan Frison, Pittsburg State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jacob Hanna, Washburn
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Jacob Hanna, Washburn
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kyran Tilley, Central Missouri
COACH OF THE YEAR: Brett Ballard, Washburn 
 
MIAA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
RJ Forney – Pittsburg State, Sr. 
Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State, Sr.
Jacob Hanna – Washburn, Sr. 
Michael Keegan – Washburn,  Sr.
Shaun Riley – Fort Hays State, Sr.
 
ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
Jack Bachelor – Washburn, So.
Jordan Frison – Pittsburg State, So.
Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State, Sr.
Jacob Hanna – Washburn, Sr. 
Anthony Marshall – Rogers State, Sr.
 
ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
Zane Nelson – Missouri Western, Sr.
Trey Phipps – Northeastern State, Gr.
Jacobi Sebock – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
Brayden Shorter – Washburn, So. 
Avery Taggart – Pittsburg State, Sr.
 
ALL-MIAA THIRD TEAM
Ethan Blackmon – Northeastern State, So.
Karyiek Dixon – Emporia State, Jr.
Ja'Bryant Hill – Nebraska Kearney, Jr.
Andrew Orr – Washburn, Sr.
Allen Taylor – Nebraska Kearney, Sr. 
 
ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION
DeAirius Barker – Central Missouri, Sr.
RJ Forney – Pittsburg State, Sr.
Caden Fry – Rogers State, Jr.
Kyle Grill – Fort Hays State, So.
Israel Hart – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
Martin Macenis – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Andrew Mason – Rogers State, Jr.
Sam Somerhalder – Newman, Jr.
Boston Stanton III – Newman, Sr.
Zion Swader – Missouri Western, Sr.
Chase Thompson – Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
Terrell Williams – Arkansas-Fort Smith, Sr.