Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year

The Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an award given to the most outstanding men's basketball player in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The award was first given following the 1967–68 season. Four players have won the award multiple times: Tom Kozelko, Ron Harper, Gary Trent and Bonzi Wells. Trent is the only player to have been honored as player of the year three times (1993–95). There have been no ties, nor has any player from the MAC ever won any of the national player of the year awards.

MAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Awarded forthe most outstanding basketball player in the Mid-American Conference
CountryUnited States
History
First award1968
Most recentEnrique Freeman, Akron

Through 2024, Ohio has the most all-time winners with 11. Toledo is second with eight winners. All current members of the MAC have had at least one winner.

Co-Players of the Year
* Awarded a national player of the year award:
Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1904–05 to 1978–79)
UPI College Basketball Player of the Year (1954–55 to 1995–96)
Naismith College Player of the Year (1968–69 to present)
John R. Wooden Award (1976–77 to present)
Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the MAC Player of the Year award at that point

Winners

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Steve Mix, Toledo, 1969
Walter Luckett, Ohio, 1974
Dan Roundfield (r), Central Michigan, 1975
Paul Dawkins, Northern Illinois, 1979
Ron Harper, Miami, 1985 and 1986
Bonzi Wells, Ball State, 1996 and 1998
Antonio Daniels, Bowling Green, 1997
Wally Szczerbiak, Miami, 1999
Chris Kaman, Central Michigan, 2003
DeAndre Haynes, Kent State, 2006
Romeo Travis, Akron, 2007
Michael Bramos, Miami, 2009
Javon McCrea, Buffalo, 2014
Antonio Campbell, Ohio, 2016
C. J. Massinburg, Buffalo, 2019
Marreon Jackson, Toledo, 2021
RayJ Dennis, Toledo, 2023
Enrique Freeman, Akron, 2024
Season Player School Position Class Reference
1967–68 Fred Foster Miami F Senior [1]
1968–69 Steve Mix Toledo C Senior [2]
1969–70 Jim Penix Bowling Green SF Senior [3]
1970–71 Ken Kowall Ohio G Senior [4]
1971–72 Tom Kozelko Toledo PF Junior [5]
1972–73 Tom Kozelko (2) Toledo PF Senior [6]
1973–74 Walter Luckett Ohio SG Sophomore [7]
1974–75 Dan Roundfield Central Michigan PF / C Senior [8]
1975–76 Jeff Tyson Western Michigan SF Senior [9]
1976–77 Matt Hicks Northern Illinois PF Senior [10]
1977–78 Archie Aldridge Miami PF Senior [11]
1978–79 Paul Dawkins Northern Illinois SF Senior [12]
1979–80 Jim Swaney Toledo F Senior [13]
1980–81 Harvey Knuckles Toledo SF Senior [14]
1981–82 Mel McLaughlin Central Michigan SG Junior [15]
1982–83 Ray McCallum Ball State PG Senior [16]
1983–84 John Devereaux Ohio C Senior [17]
1984–85 Ron Harper Miami SG Junior [18]
1985–86 Ron Harper (2) Miami SG Senior [19]
1986–87 Booker James Western Michigan SF / SG Senior [20]
1987–88 Grant Long Eastern Michigan PF Senior [21]
1988–89 Paul Graham Ohio SF / SG Senior [22]
1989–90 Dave Jamerson Ohio SG Senior [23]
1990–91 Marcus Kennedy Eastern Michigan PF Senior [24]
1991–92 Lewis Geter Ohio SF Senior [25]
1992–93 Gary Trent Ohio PF Freshman [26]
1993–94 Gary Trent (2) Ohio PF Sophomore [27]
1994–95 Gary Trent (3) Ohio PF Junior [28]
1995–96 Bonzi Wells Ball State SF Sophomore [29]
1996–97 Antonio Daniels Bowling Green PG Senior [30]
1997–98 Bonzi Wells (2) Ball State SF Senior [31]
1998–99 Wally Szczerbiak Miami SF / SG Senior [32]
1999–00 Anthony Stacey Bowling Green SF Senior [33]
2000–01 David Webber Central Michigan PG Junior [34]
2001–02 Keith McLeod Bowling Green SG Senior [35]
2002–03 Chris Kaman Central Michigan C Junior [36]
2003–04 Mike Williams Western Michigan SF / PF Senior [37]
2004–05 Turner Battle Buffalo PG Senior [38]
2005–06 DeAndre Haynes Kent State PG Senior [39]
2006–07 Romeo Travis Akron SF Senior [40]
2007–08 Al Fisher Kent State PG / SG Junior [41]
2008–09 Michael Bramos Miami SG / SF Senior [42]
2009–10 David Kool Western Michigan G Senior [43]
2010–11 Justin Greene Kent State SF Junior [44]
2011–12 Mitchell Watt Buffalo C Senior [45]
2012–13 D. J. Cooper Ohio PG Senior [46]
2013–14 Javon McCrea Buffalo PF Senior [47]
2014–15 Justin Moss Buffalo PF Junior [48]
2015–16 Antonio Campbell Ohio F Junior [49]
2016–17 Isaiah Johnson Akron C Senior [50]
2017–18 Tre'Shaun Fletcher Toledo SG / SF Senior [51]
2018–19 C. J. Massinburg Buffalo SG Senior [52]
2019–20 Loren Jackson Akron PG Junior [53]
2020–21 Marreon Jackson Toledo PG Senior [54]
2021–22 Sincere Carry Kent State PG Junior [55]
2022–23 RayJ Dennis Toledo SG Senior [56]
2023–24 Enrique Freeman Akron PF Graduate [57]

Winners by school

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School (year joined) Winners Years
Ohio (1947) 11 1971, 1974, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2013, 2016
Toledo (1951) 8 1969, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 2018, 2021, 2023
Miami (1948) 6 1968, 1978, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2009
Buffalo (1999) 5 2005, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019
Akron (1992) 4 2007, 2017, 2020, 2024
Bowling Green (1952) 4 1970, 1997, 2000, 2002
Central Michigan (1972) 4 1975, 1982, 2001, 2003
Kent State (1951) 4 2006, 2008, 2011, 2022
Western Michigan (1948) 4 1976, 1987, 2004, 2010
Ball State (1973) 3 1983, 1996, 1998
Eastern Michigan (1972) 2 1988, 1991
Northern Illinois (1973/1997)[a] 2 1977, 1979
Marshall (1954/1997)[b] 0
  • a Northern Illinois University was a member from 1973 to 1986, then left for a period. They rejoined in 1997 and continue as a member today.
  • b Marshall University was a member starting in 1954 before being expelled from the conference in 1969 due to NCAA violations. The Thundering Herd rejoined in 1997, but left in 2005 for Conference USA.

References

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  1. ^ "Miami's Fred foster MAC Player of Year". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. March 6, 1968. p. 29. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Locke, Mix MAC's Best". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. March 10, 1969. p. 19. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "MAC Hoop Star Man on the Move". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. March 8, 1970. p. 69. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Ken Kowall MAC's Choice". Times Recorder. Zanesville, Ohio. March 10, 1971. p. 21. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Tom Kozelko Of Toledo Named Player Of Year". Springfield News-Sun. Springfield, Ohio. March 14, 1972. p. 13. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tom Kozelko named top MAC player". Washington C.H. Record-Herald. Washington Court House, Ohio. March 14, 1973. p. 18. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bob Nichols, Walter Luckett MAC's Top Coach, Player". Palladium-Item. Richmond, Indiana. March 28, 1974. p. 23. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Roundfield, Parfitt receive MAC honors". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. April 2, 1975. p. 15. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Fostoria's Jeff Tyson MAC Player of Year". News Herald. Port Clinton, Ohio. March 24, 1976. p. 10. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Hicks the best". Troy Daily News. Troy, Ohio. March 15, 1977. p. 7. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Miami's Aldridge named most valuable MAC player". The Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. March 22, 1978. p. 41. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Dawkins, Rayhorn honored". Daily Chronicle. DeKalb, Illinois. April 11, 1979. p. 14. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Rockets dominate All-MAC". The Advocate. Newark, Ohio. March 18, 1980. p. 9. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "MAC honorees". The Bryan Times. Bryan, Ohio. March 18, 1981. p. 13. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Basketball". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. March 18, 1982. p. 28. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Ball State's McCallum honored". Vincennes Sun-Commercial. Vincennes, Indiana. March 16, 1983. p. 14. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Media cites Devereaux". Daily Chronicle. DeKalb, Illinois. March 9, 1984. p. 11. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Harper named MAC's best". Sentinel-Tribune. Bowling Green, Ohio. March 9, 1985. p. 12. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "MAC's Player of Year improving in class, too". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 9, 1986. p. 42. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Booker James Named MAC Player of Year". The Star Press. Muncie, Indiana. March 7, 1987. p. 23. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Long honored". Telegraph-Forum. Bucyrus, Ohio. March 15, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Graham, Bukovac best in MAC". Sentinel-Tribune. Bowling Green, Ohio. March 14, 1989. p. 12. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Zaleski, Doug (March 13, 1990). "Eckert, Jamerson named MAC's top players". Muncie Evening Press. Muncie, Indiana. p. 11. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Bullet in thigh is Kennedy's lesson". Billings Gazette. Billings, Montana. March 22, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "OU's Geter takes top MAC honor". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Lancaster, Ohio. March 17, 1992. p. 6. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Trent nabs sweep of MAC's awards". The Marion Star. Marion, Ohio. March 16, 1993. p. 8. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Barreiro, Dan (March 17, 1994). "And the winners are..." The Daily Journal. Franklin, Indiana. p. 11. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "MAC tournament tough to predict". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Lancaster, Ohio. March 10, 1995. p. 17. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Benson, Randy (March 12, 1996). "Bonzi earned MAC award". The Star Press. Muncie, Indiana. p. 11. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Daniels player of the year". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. March 7, 1997. p. 40. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Wilson, Phillip B. (March 3, 1998). "Cleaning Up His Act: BSU's Wells has grown up on and off the court". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 17. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Condotta, Bob (March 11, 1999). "The Man for Miami". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. 36. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Seabum, John (March 10, 2000). "Waters named MAC's top coach". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 34. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Williams, Marty (March 9, 2001). "Miami: In MAC semifinals". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. p. 18. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "McLeod voted top MAC player". Ironton Tribune. Ironton, Ohio. March 7, 2002. p. 9. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ Albom, Mitch (March 20, 2003). "Small-town roots lead CMU to the big time". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 39. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Williams named top player, Reed also honored". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. March 11, 2004. p. 9. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ DiCesare, Bob (March 11, 2005). "Cage finds ideal remedy for illness". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. 3. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ Farrell, Perry A. (March 10, 2006). "Haynes player of year in MAC". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 71. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Akron's Travis MAC's top player". Sidney Daily News. Sidney, Ohio. March 7, 2007. p. 16. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Storm, Stephanie (March 12, 2008). "KSU's Al Fisher named MAC Player of Year". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. C003. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ Beaven, Michael (March 14, 2009). "Bramos, RedHawks await the leftovers". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 28. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "MAC honors Zips, Flashes". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. March 11, 2010. p. C003. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ St. Myer, Thomas (March 8, 2011). "Preseason seminar contributes to Cardinals' success". The Star Press. Muncie, Indiana. p. 7. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Watt puts Bulls ahead". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. March 4, 2012. p. 3. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Ohio University's Cooper, Akron's Dambrot awarded top MAC honors". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. March 14, 2013. p. B3. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ Mandelaro, Jim (March 13, 2014). "Leader of the MAC: Newark's McCrea named the conference's Player of the Year". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. p. D1. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Key play put Mountaineers on top". The Roanoke Times. Roanoke, Virginia. March 21, 2015. p. 20. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ Gaughan, Mark (March 12, 2016). "UB one win away from return trip to NCAAs". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. 13. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ Crawford, Dakota (March 10, 2017). "Ball State vs. Akron: 3 things to watch". The Star Press. Muncie, Indiana. p. B1. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "Toledo 71, Miami 69". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. March 9, 2018. p. C005. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "No. 18 Buffalo 82, Akron 46". Daily News. New York, New York. March 15, 2019. p. 53. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ Thomas, George M. (March 13, 2020). "March Madness over". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. C1. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ O'Connor, John (March 18, 2021). "UR shows grit with its top scorers out". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. B2. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ Thomas, George M. (March 14, 2022). "Zips shut down Sincere Carry". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. C5. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ "Akron, Kent State earn multiple spots on All-MAC teams". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. March 10, 2023. p. B5. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "Creighton 77, Akron 60". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. March 22, 2024. p. C3. Retrieved June 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.