COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Peninsula’s Roosevelt Williams Jr. is North Region MVP

Published 1:30 am Thursday, March 9, 2023

PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College swept the major honors when the 2023 NWAC men’s basketball All-Region awards were released earlier this week.

Sophomore guard Roosevelt Williams Jr. earned North Region Most Valuable Player honors in voting conducted by league coaches.

Williams, an Australian product affectionately known as the Koala Bear, shot a stunning 51 percent on his way to a team-high 18.2 points-per-game average. Williams also averaged 8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1 steal in 23 contests.

He also earned NWAC men’s basketball Player of the Week honors in early February.

“He’s contributing in every way statistically and in a leadership role,” said head coach Donald Rollman. “He continues to set the standard on and off of the floor.”

Peninsula sophomore forward Malik Jackson earned two honors, making the North Region First Team and the All-Defensive Team.

Jackson put up 12.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks per game before he suffered a high ankle sprain late in the regular season. He is not expected to return to the court this season.

Pirates freshman guard Ese Onakpoma earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Onakpoma averaged 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks in 27 appearances, 25 of which were starts.

And Peninsula head coach Donald Rollman was picked as North Region Coach of the Year for guiding the Pirates to the NWAC North Region title and a 25-3 overall record.

Peninsula gets going in the NWAC Tournament on Saturday at noon against host Columbia Basin.

NORTH REGION

Most Valuable Player

Roosevelt Williams Jr., So, Peninsula

Coach of the Year

Donald Rollman, Peninsula

First Team

Malik Jackson, So, Peninsula

Prophet Johnson, Fr, Bellevue

Leon Sayers, So, Everett

Bishop Tosi, So, Bellevue

Elyon Zevenbergen, Fr, Edmonds

Second Team

Bryson Echiverri, So, Edmonds

Chris Lee, So, Edmonds

Josiah Miller, So, Skagit Valley

Jadin Penigar, Fr, Everett

Jalyn Stepney, So, Shoreline

Freshman of the Year

Prophet Johnson, Fr, Bellevue

Defensive Player of the Year

Ese Onakpoma, Fr, Peninsula

All-Defensive Team

Hodges Fleming, So, Skagit Valley

Malik Jackson, So, Peninsula

Josiah Miller, So, Skagit Valley

Tucker Molina, Fr, Everett

Colton Spencer, So, Everett

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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.