Coastal Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year

CAA Men's Basketball
Player of the Year
Awarded forthe most outstanding basketball player in the Coastal Athletic Association
CountryUnited States
History
First award1983
Most recentTyler Thomas, Hofstra

The Coastal Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year (formerly the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year) is an award given to the Coastal Athletic Association's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1982–83 season, when the conference was known as the ECAC South basketball league.[1] In 1985, the conference expanded to offer more sports, and became the Colonial Athletic Association.[2] The conference name was changed to Coastal Athletic Association in 2023.[3]

The first award, the only tie, was given to Dan Ruland of James Madison and Carlos Yates of George Mason.[4] Two players have won the award three times: David Robinson of Navy (1984–1986) and George Evans of George Mason (1999–2001).[5][6] Evans' first award in 1999 was as a 28-year-old sophomore—he had served seven years in the United States Army, seeing combat in Somalia, Bosnia, and Desert Storm.[6] Eight other players have been the CAA POY twice, with Hofstra's Aaron Estrada being the most recent (2022, 2023).

Hofstra has the most all-time awards with nine and most individual recipients with six. Since July 2022, it is the only one of the five schools with the most awards to still be in the conference. George Mason (six winners) left for the Atlantic 10 in 2013. James Madison, Old Dominion and VCU have each had four winners; James Madison left for the Sun Belt Conference in 2022, Old Dominion left for Conference USA in 2013, and VCU left for the A-10 in 2012. Navy's three wins by Robinson were won while the team was a conference member for just nine years. Another charter member, Richmond, won three awards before leaving the conference in 2001. Other original members to leave, American and East Carolina, each have one recipient. Of the conference's current members, William & Mary went the longest without its first winner. In 2015, 32 years after the award was first handed out, Marcus Thornton claimed William & Mary's first ever honor.

Key

† Co-Players of the Year
* Awarded a national player of the year award:
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 CAA Player of the Year award at that point

Winners

Johnny Newman, Richmond, 1984
David Robinson, Navy, 1985 through 1987
Curtis Blair, Richmond, 1992
Jarod Stevenson, Richmond, 1998
Brett Blizzard, UNC Wilmington, 2002 and 2003
J. J. Barea, Northeastern, 2006
Eric Maynor, VCU, 2008 and 2009
Charles Jenkins, Hofstra, 2010 and 2011
Ryan Pearson, George Mason, 2012
Marcus Thornton, William & Mary, 2015
Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra, 2018 and 2019
Nathan Knight, William & Mary, 2020
Season Player School Position Class Reference
1982–83† Dan Ruland James Madison C Senior [4]
Carlos Yates George Mason F Sophomore [4]
1983–84 Johnny Newman Richmond F Sophomore [7]
1984–85 David Robinson Navy C Sophomore [5]
1985–86 David Robinson (2) Navy C Junior [5]
1986–87 David Robinson* (3) Navy C Senior [5]
1987–88 Kenny Sanders George Mason F Junior [8]
1988–89 Blue Edwards East Carolina F Senior [9]
1989–90 Steve Hood James Madison SG Junior [10]
1990–91 Steve Hood (2) James Madison SG Senior [10]
1991–92 Curtis Blair Richmond SG Senior [11]
1992–93 Brian Gilgeous American F / G Senior [12]
1993–94 Odell Hodge Old Dominion C / F Sophomore [13]
1994–95 Petey Sessoms Old Dominion F Senior [14]
1995–96 Bernard Hopkins VCU F Senior [15]
1996–97 Odell Hodge (2) Old Dominion C / F Senior [13]
1997–98 Jarod Stevenson Richmond SF Senior [16]
1998–99 George Evans George Mason C / F Sophomore [6]
1999–00 George Evans (2) George Mason C / F Junior [6]
2000–01 George Evans (3) George Mason C / F Senior [6]
2001–02 Brett Blizzard UNC Wilmington SG Junior [17]
2002–03 Brett Blizzard (2) UNC Wilmington SG Senior [17]
2003–04 Domonic Jones VCU PG Senior [18]
2004–05 Alex Loughton Old Dominion C / F Junior [19]
2005–06 J. J. Barea Northeastern PG Senior [20]
2006–07 Loren Stokes Hofstra G Senior [21]
2007–08 Eric Maynor VCU PG Junior [22]
2008–09 Eric Maynor (2) VCU PG Senior [22]
2009–10 Charles Jenkins Hofstra PG Junior [23]
2010–11 Charles Jenkins (2) Hofstra PG Senior [24]
2011–12 Ryan Pearson George Mason SF Senior [25]
2012–13 Jerrelle Benimon Towson PF Junior [26]
2013–14 Jerrelle Benimon (2) Towson PF Senior [26]
2014–15 Marcus Thornton William & Mary SG Senior [27]
2015–16 Juan'ya Green Hofstra PG Senior [28]
2016–17 T. J. Williams Northeastern PG Senior [29]
2017–18 Justin Wright-Foreman Hofstra PG Junior [30]
2018–19 Justin Wright-Foreman (2) Hofstra PG Senior [30]
2019–20 Nathan Knight William & Mary PF Senior [31]
2020–21 Matt Lewis James Madison SG Senior [32]
2021–22 Aaron Estrada Hofstra PG / SG Junior [33]
2022–23 Aaron Estrada (2) Hofstra PG / SG Senior [33]
2023–24 Tyler Thomas Hofstra SG Graduate [34]

Winners by school

The CAA began in 1982 when it was known as the ECAC South. The CAA was officially organized in 1985 when it expanded from only a basketball conference. Awards from the ECAC are included.

Years of joining reflect the calendar year in which each school joined the CAA or ECAC South.

School (year joined) Winners Years
Hofstra (2001) 9 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
George Mason (1982)[a] 6 1983†, 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2012
James Madison (1982)[b] 4 1983†, 1990, 1991, 2021
Old Dominion (1991)[c] 4 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005
VCU (1995)[d] 4 1996, 2004, 2008, 2009
Navy (1982)[e] 3 1985, 1986, 1987
Richmond (1982)[f] 3 1984, 1992, 1998
Northeastern (2005) 2 2006, 2017
Towson (2001) 2 2013, 2014
UNC Wilmington (1985) 2 2002, 2003
William & Mary (1982) 2 2015, 2020
American (1984)[g] 1 1993
East Carolina (1982)[h] 1 1989
Campbell (2023) 0 —
Charleston (2013) 0 —
Delaware (2001)[i] 0 —
Drexel (2001) 0 —
Elon (2014) 0 —
Georgia State (2005)[j] 0 —
Hampton (2022) 0 —
Monmouth (2022) 0 —
North Carolina A&T (2022) 0 —
Stony Brook (2022) 0 —
  1. ^ George Mason University left for the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) in 2013.
  2. ^ James Madison University left for the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) in 2022.
  3. ^ Old Dominion University left for Conference USA (CUSA) in 2013. It is now in the SBC.
  4. ^ Virginia Commonwealth University was a member until joining the A-10 in 2012.
  5. ^ The United States Naval Academy (Navy) was a member until joining the Patriot League in 1991.
  6. ^ The University of Richmond was a member until joining the A-10 in 2001.
  7. ^ American University was a member until it joined the Patriot League in 2001.
  8. ^ East Carolina was a member until it joined CUSA in 2001. It is now in the American Athletic Conference.
  9. ^ Delaware will leave for CUSA after the 2024–25 season.
  10. ^ Georgia State University left for the SBC in 2013.

References

  1. ^ Parks, Kyle (April 11, 1982). "ODU's move angers ECAC South brass". The News & Advance. Lynchburg, Virginia. p. 30. Retrieved September 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Hessler, Warner (June 5, 1985). "ECAC-South: Game's same, but not the name". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. 21. Retrieved September 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "So long Colonial Athletic Association, hello Coastal Athletic Association". The Roanoke Times. Roanoke, Virginia. July 21, 2023. p. B2. Retrieved September 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Ruland, Yates tops ECAC-South". Danville Register & Bee. Danville, Virginia. March 10, 1983. p. 38. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d O'Connor, John (January 10, 1995). "For its 10th anniversary, CAA seeks a dream team". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. 8. Retrieved September 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e O'Connor, John (March 3, 2001). "3 times, for Evans' sake". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. 37. Retrieved September 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Doughty, Doug (November 18, 1984). "Richmond's Newman makes up for lost time". The Roanoke Times. Roanoke, Virginia. p. 142. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ O'Connor, John (March 5, 1988). "Sanders nips Woolfolk to win award". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. 32. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Edwards Player of Year". The News & Advance. Lynchburg, Virginia. March 4, 1989. p. 11. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "CAA". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. March 1, 1991. p. 9. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Johnson, Dave (April 12, 1992). "Richmond standout ready to try next level". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. 7. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ O'Connor, John (March 6, 1993). "Gilgeous fooled the recruiters". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. 34. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b Markon, John (March 11, 1997). "Top five include three of the best". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. 27. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ O'Connor, John (March 4, 1995). "ODU's Sessoms king of league". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. 33. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "VCU's Hopkins named CAA's Player of Year". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. March 2, 1996. p. 30. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Tar Heel (cont.)". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. April 3, 1998. p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "CAA Awards – Player of the Year". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. March 7, 2003. p. D7. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Packett, John (March 5, 2004). "Ram tough: CAA player of the year Jones overcame injury, lifted team to top seed". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. E1. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "ODU delivers in overtime". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. March 8, 2005. p. 57. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "NU's Barea is CAA Player of the Year". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. March 3, 2006. p. 30. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Boland, Erik (March 2, 2007). "Stokes CAA's top player". Newsday. Nassau County, New York. p. 57. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b "Maynor a star for CAA". The Daily Progress. Charlottesville, Virginia. July 15, 2009. p. 11. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Weiss, Dick (April 1, 2010). "Welsh Hofstra's new Pride and joy". Daily News. New York, New York. p. 59. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "All-CAA team". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. March 4, 2011. p. 30. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Surprise of the day". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. July 15, 2009. p. C3. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Dodson, Aaron (June 13, 2014). "Benimon, Usher following similar paths to dream". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. D12. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "All-CAA Men's Basketball Awards". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. March 6, 2015. p. C3. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Tresolini, Kevin (March 4, 2016). "UD has two All-CAA picks". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. C8. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Tribe's Dixon earns CAA honor". The Virginia Gazette. Williamsburg, Virginia. March 4, 2017. p. B3. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b Van Meter, Jarrett (March 13, 2019). "Northeastern stuns Hofstra for CAA spot". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. C5. Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "All-CAA". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. March 7, 2020. p. B2. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "All-CAA". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. April 17, 2021. p. B2. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b "Jones, Estrada enter transfer portal". Newsday. Nassau County, New York. April 5, 2023. p. A45. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Tresolini, Kevin (March 12, 2024). "Delaware fails to join lower-seeded winners in CAA basketball tourney". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. C2. Retrieved June 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.