Hopkins, Thomasson and Pruitt pick up post season All-KJCCC honors
After third place finish in the KJCCC East and a 16-7 overall record, three Grizzlies were named to the All-KJCCC team this season.
Shawn Hopkins was awarded first team while Noah Thomasson and DeeJuan Pruitt picked up second team honors.
Shawn Hopkins, sophomore guard from Benton Harbor, MI, was a Frist Team All-KJCCC selection after a strong sophomore campaign for the Grizzlies. Hopkins led Butler in scoring this season averaging 15.8 points per game shooting 48% on the season. He averaged 6.4 rebounds per game and just over two assists per game. Hopkins had five games this season where he scored 20+ points and had a season high 29 pints in the Grizzlies 87-70 win over Barton.
Noah Thomasson, sophomore transfer guard from Richmond, TX, was named to the KJCCC East second team All-KJCCC after he led the Butler offense from his point guard position and gave the Grizzlies his all each and every night averaging 31.9 minutes per game this season. Thomasson averaged 15 points per game on 49% shooting from the floor, 32% from 3PT range and 80% from the free throw line. Thomasson dished out 4.7 assists per game and grabbed 4.3 rebounds a game. Thomasson had a stretch in March where he posted 24 points in three consecutive games. Thomasson neared a triple double three different times this season with points, rebounds and assists.
DeeJuan Pruitt, freshman forward out of Sacramento, CA, also was recognized as a second team selection after an eye-popping freshman year. Pruitt, if you ever watched him play, tried to dunk every ball he touched this season but was also able to pull up in the open court and knock down a shot. Pruitt averaged 13.5 points per game shooting 53% from the floor. He was 12-33 from behind the arc for 37% and was an 82% free throw shooter going 71-87 on the season. Pruitt pulled down 7.3 rebounds per game and finished the year with 15 blocks. Pruitt finished the year with seven double-doubles. His season high point game was 25 scored on the road at Allen on March 6th. Pruitt pulled down 16 rebounds in a game against Neosho, his most of the season.
The Grizzlies finished the shortened season 16-7 overall and 14-6 in KJCCC play. They were third in the KJCCC East behind No. 5 Coffeyville and No. 15 Cowley. They were ranked inside the NJCAA Top 20 a handful of times and were receiving votes most of the year.
2021 KJCCC EAST DIVISION I MENS BASKETBAL AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER - DALEN RIGNAL, COWLEY
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - BLASÉ KEITA, COFFEYVILLE
COACH OF THE YEAR - JAY HERKELMAN, COFFEYVILLE
FIRST TEAM
Dalen Ridgnal Cowley G/F 6'6 So.
Tylor Perry Coffeyville G 5'11 So.
Tim Dalger Independence F 6'7 So.
Shawn Hopkins Butler F 6'4 So.
Magic Reliford Neosho County G 6'1 So.
SECOND TEAM
Noah Thomasson Butler G 6'3 So.
Blaise Keita Coffeyville F 6'10 Fr.
DeeJuan Pruitt Butler F 6'8 Fr.
Mikel Henderson Cowley G 6'0 So.
Madison Monroe Independence G 6'4 So.
ALL-KJCCC HONORABLE MENTION (Listed alphabetically by school)
ALLEN - Freddie Word, Amadou Traore; CLOUD COUNTY - Ibrahim Drame, Savian Edwards, Zavien Smith;
COFFEYVILLE - Bostyn Holt, Love Bettis; COWLEY - Cevin Clark, Moun'tae Edmundson, Shemarri Allen; NEOSHO
COUNTY - Cougar Downing.