JBL | The Quadaily 25, 2028 Season (Day 127): This Award Goes To...
The regular season has passed. So, it's time to give out some awards, we think.
National Coach of the Year
Jerekius Bankston, Colorado: The 31-year-old won 14 games in his first season a year ago, when he got the job after fudging his resume some (he will tell you he's been coaching since he was 16, but in terms of collegiate experience, he's really only been doing it ten). Whereas other coaches either brought in a lot of talent, or inherited a lot of talent, neither was the case at Colorado. Bankston had a team that was below average last year, and to that, added three freshmen. Only one of them, Tarkus Giles, started (averaging 6.8 ppg as the team's SG). Jordan Wright was the reserve at the spot.
Bankston took what he had last year, and improved upon that tremendously, winning a program-record 26 games so far, as well as the program's first conference championship. The Buffaloes haven't been to the CJBL Tournament since 2023. They will certainly get there this season.
Also for consideration:
Miks Yang, Bucknell
Dontel Bennett, Drexel
Jamaal Richmond, Illinois
Atiba Bigby-Williams, Indiana
Olin Manzie, Maryland
Dalin Batiste, Missouri
Bul Boyd, Pittsburgh
James Foster, Saint Joseph's
Tyron Yates, St. John's
Malachi O'Leary, Virginia
National Defensive Player of the Year: SG Kevon Capel, Indiana. With regards to Jack Dawkins (could anyone imagine giving him this award when the season began?), Capel was the best defender in the naiton this year. He finished tenth in the nation in steals (1.94), and his 88.2 DRtg was the best in the nation. No other player had a DRtg lower than 90.3 (Travon Easley of Duke). Only a handful of players had one below 95.0. Capel's defense has been magic all season long, and he is the biggest reason why Indiana's defense has been tops in the naiton this year.
Also for consideration:
SG/SF Travon Easley, Duke
SF Jack Dawkins, Connecticut
SF Gleen Harris, Cincinnati
SF Tre Wallace, Texas State
SF Cayne Springer, UNLV
PF Tre Faulkner, Villanova
C Spencer Irving, Georgetown
PF Brandon Dampier, Missouri
PF Jevon Sawvell, Houston
SG Jared Hodge, Kansas
National Reserve of the Year: SG Chuck Patrick, Northeastern. Patrick averaged 15.5 ppg despite getting only one start in 21 games. He shot 46.8% from the field (44.1% from three), and added 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and over a steal per game. His 24.9 PER led the Colonial Conference.
National Player and Freshman of the Year: Brandon Dampier, Missouri. The kid led Missouri to the SEC regular season championship. He tied for the national lead in scoring (22.6 ppg), despite taking 4.3 less shots a game than Jack Dawkins, the co-leader. He led the nation in rebounding, at 10.5 rebounds per game. He posted over a steal and a block per game (not a lot of players can say that). He led the nation in PER by a considerable margin. The second place finisher, Justin Nelson of Siena, is closer to seventh than Dampier's 39.3 mark. There is no debate on this. Dampier has been the nation's best player for arguably the nation's best team, one he has put on his back since Day 1.
The Quad First 5
PG: Justin Noel, Fr, NC State
SG: Joey Bullock, Fr, Gonzaga
SF: Jack Dawkins, Sr, Connecticut
PF: Brandon Dampier, Fr. Missouri
C: Spencer Erving, So, Georgetown
The Quad Second 5
PG: Corban Vance, Fr, Connecticut
SG: Chris Knight, Fr, Michigan
SF: Glenn Harris, So, Cincinnati
PF:Mason Hargrove, Jr, Maryland
C: Samir Barnard, Sr, Long Beach State
The Quad Third 5
PG: Andres Manzie, Jr, Utah
SG: Trayvon Easley, Fr, Duke
SF: Kadeem Springer, Jr, Lafayette
PF: Derrick Bynum, So, Indiana
C: Jeremy Sawvell, Fr, Arizona
The Quad, 2028 Season
Final Regular Season Poll
1. Duke (28-4, 1)
2. Missouri (27-4, 3)
3. Kansas (26-4, 2)
4. Indiana (28-3, 4)
5. Kentucky (28-3, 5)
6. North Carolina (26-6, 6)
7. Connecticut (27-5, 7)
8. Colorado (26-5, 8)
9. Illinois (26-5, 9)
10. Virginia (26-5, 10)
11. NC State (26-5, 11)
12. Southern Cal (25-6, 12)
13. Maryland (21-9, 13)
14. Florida (23-7, 14)
15. Villanova (22-8, 15)
16. Washington (24-7, 16)
17. Memphis (26-5, 17)
18. Utah (23-7, 18)
19. San Diego State (28-3, 20)
20. UNLV (26-5, 21)
21. Stanford (22-9, 22)
22. Ohio State (24-8, 23)
23. St. Joe's (25-4, 25)
24. Gonzaga (25-4, 19)
25. Georgetown (22-9, 25)
Next: Pittsburgh, Arizona, Drexel, Dayton, Illinois State
Dropped Out: None