Now that we’ve gone through the conference’s headliners, which are the guards, it’s time to look at the MVC’s wings and big men to decide who the top five are.
With several returning award winners from last season, the lone first team All-MVC selection heads the list.
1. Egidijus Mockevicius, Evansville Purple Aces
Averaging a double-double is a huge milestone for big men to establish themselves as a true force, and it’s an accomplishment that rarely goes without serious recognition from award list voters. Mockevicius was just .1 rebounds per game from locking that down, and it earned him a spot on last season’s first team All-MVC list. As he enters his final season, it’s safe to assume that he’ll have a good shot at pulling down those extra three rebounds next season.
2. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, Illinois State Redbirds
Earning the award for Conference Newcomer of the Year, Akoon-Purcell is as much of a pure wing as there is in the conference. He wasn’t always the most efficient scorer last season, shooting under 43-percent for the season, but that’s not entirely unexpected as a newcomer to such a difficult conference. If he can add a few percentiles to his marksmanship from beyond the arc, he could turn into one of the most dynamic scorers in the league.
3. Montel James, Loyola Ramblers
Another member of the All-Newcomer team, James made his presence felt on both ends for Loyola after being a standout for Coffeyville CC. With his length, rangy athleticism, and reported work ethic, James could be in for a big leap into double-figure scoring and raise his rebounds per game by a few over the course of the season.
4. Paul Jesperson, Northern Iowa Panthers
Sure, Jesperson does a lot of his work on the perimeter, but with the departure of Seth Tuttle, Jesperson will have a lot more space to operate in the midrange and interior, where he can use his size as a match-up advantage. It’s also perfectly reasonable to assume that his second season in the conference will give him a bit more comfort.
5. Shaquille Morris, Wichita State Shockers
This may seem like a reach, given the fact that Morris barely played more than 12 minutes per game last season. However, Morris was extremely productive in those minutes, and should have a chance to expand his role as a sophomore. Morris, a member of the All-Freshman team last season, is a load underneath and it’s hard to imagine that Gregg Marshall won’t utilize him a bit more going forward.
