Afonja, Wallace Receive GNAC Postseason Honors
WINTHROP, Mass. – Ademola Afonja (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Milik Wallace (Hinesville, Ga.), seniors on the Regis men's basketball team, have received postseason honors from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, as Afonja was voted Second Team All-GNAC by the conference coaches and Wallace was selected as the Pride's representative on the GNAC Men's Basketball All-Sportsmanship Team.
Afonja set a new Regis single season record in scoring with 416 points, averaging 18.1 points per game. He is eighth in the GNAC in scoring average as well as in field goal percentage at 54.7 percent (176-for-322). In addition, Afonja led the team in free throws made (64), free throws attempted (102), steals (30), and blocked shots (28), plus he was one of the team's top rebounders with 147 boards (6.4 rpg).
In 23 games played during the 2018-19 season, Afonja reached double figures in scoring 21 times, including 10 games with 20 or more points. He scored a career-high 32 points at GNAC champion Albertus Magnus Jan. 31, the second-highest single game scoring total in program history. He notched three double-doubles during the year, with a season-high 12 rebounds to go along with 25 points at Pine Manor Jan. 5.
Afonja, already a graduate of Regis with his bachelor's degree in psychology, established himself as one of the top players in program history over the past four seasons, completing his collegiate career with 1,294 points, second on the Pride's all-time scoring list. He also holds the career school records for points per game (13.9 ppg), field goal percentage (54.6%), total rebounds (666), rebounding average (7.16 rpg), and blocked shots (96).
"Ademola's growth and ability to put others before himself have been very impressive," Coach Hager said. "I would like to thank Ademola for his hard work and dedication to the program."
Wallace enjoyed his best season at Regis in 2018-19, appearing in 23 games, including 12 starts for the Pride. He averaged 4.1 points per game as he shot 35.4 percent (23-for-65) from behind the three-point line and 78.6 percent (11-for-14) from the free throw line.
Wallace, working towards his bachelor's degree in exercise science, emerged as a factor in the Pride rotation Dec. 30 against Rivier when he hit three three-pointers and went 4-for-6 from the free throw line for 13 points, plus he earned two rebounds and two steals. His first career appearance in the starting lineup came at Pine Manor Jan. 5, and Wallace responded with a career-high 17 points thanks to five three-pointers.
"Milik epitomizes the definition of resiliency. His hard work and dedication have paid off on the court, as he went from a limited minutes player as a freshman and sophomore to an impact player and starter as a junior and senior. I thank Milik for his hard work, toughness, and commitment to the program even in the face of true adversity," said Coach Hager.
Junior Brian Hogan-Gary of Johnson & Wales University was selected as the 2019 GNAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, while Delshawn Jackson Jr. of the University of St. Joseph received Rookie of the Year honors. Suffolk's Jeff Juron was voted GNAC Coach of the Year by his peers, and Norwich University received the Institutional Sportsmanship Award.