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Drew McDonald picked as Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year; Holland 2nd Team

Northern Kentucky’s Drew McDonald has been tabbed Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year and Oakland has been named the 2017-18 Horizon League men’s basketball preseason favorite by a vote of the League’s head coaches, sports information directors and media representatives. A first-team all-conference selection a season ago, McDonald led Northern Kentucky to the Motor City Madness title and a berth into its first NCAA Tournament at the Division I level. The junior forward tallied 11 double-doubles and scored in double figures 30 times in 2016-17. McDonald ranked fifth in scoring (16.9) and fourth in rebounding (7.6) during Horizon League games last season.

Lavone Holland II was Northern Kentucky’s second leading scorer at 14.5 ppg a year ago and ended last season on an absolute tear. He was named to the preseason all-league second team due to those efforts. In the last seven games of the 2016-17 season, Holland averaged 19 points and 5.6 assists per game. He highlighted the Horizon League all-tournament team as the MVP in guiding NKU to the tourney championship before wrapping up the season with a game-high 22 points against in-state rival Kentucky in the NCAA tournament.

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PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

  • Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky (16.9 ppg, 7.6 rebs)
  • Jalen Hayes, Oakland (17.9 ppg, 9.2 rebs)
  • Martez Walker, Oakland (17.8 ppg overall)
  • Dikembe Dixson, UIC (20.3 ppg, 6 rebs (all gms.))
  • Cameron Morse, Youngstown State (23.2 ppg led HL)

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

  • Corey Allen, Detroit Mercy (15.4 ppg, 16-17 HL FOTY)
  • Jaleel Hogan, Detroit Mercy (16.9 ppg, 6.9 rebs)
  • Lavone Holland II, Northern Kentucky (14.5 ppg, 4.1 ast overall)
  • Kendrick Nunn, Oakland (15.5 ppg at Illinois in 15-16)
  • Tai Odiase, UIC (3.2 blks, 16-17 HL DPOTY)