Two hoopsters earn spots on All-Rookie team

In a season that, despite some bumps, will help in the long run, two Nipissing Lakers men’s basketball team members were recognized for being key contributors to their team. Both Marcus Lewis and Marcos Clennon were named to the OUA All-Rookie team last week thanks to being two impact players for the Lakers this season and sitting one and two in team scoring. Lewis led the team in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game, which put him 19th in the OUA, a position that likely would have been higher had he not missed a handful of games with an ankle injury. He scored at least 14 points in nine of his 12 games played and surpassed the 20 point mark twice and recorded one double-double, scoring 24 points and adding 13 rebounds against Laurier in mid-February. In 12 games, on top of his solid points per game numbers, he shot the ball at a 44.8 per cent clip, hit 27.6 per cent of his three point attempts and was 73.8 shooting from the free throw line. Lewis was slowed down by an ankle injury in the middle of the season, missing almost a month of games during January. Once he returned, he was on fire, scoring at least 17 points in five of the final six games the Lakers played, including a season-high 24 points. He also recorded at least one rebound in every game he played in along with a steal in all but three games. The Brampton, ON native will be counted on next season to take his game to the next level in order for the Lakers to continue to take strides in the right direction.

Teammate and fellow rookie, Clennon, was the top Laker when it came to ball control and was one of the best in the OUA in rebounds and blocks. He ranked 13th in offensive rebounds, fifth in blocks and overall, 17th in total rebounds picking up 112 on the season. His rebounds per game numbers put him 21st. He hit double digits nine times during the season, with his season-high coming against Windsor in early February when he put up 21 points. Another impressive feat is the fact that he recorded over 10 rebounds three times, including a big game against Guelph when he came down with 16 total boards. The other two games came against Laurentian, where he recorded a combined 22 rebounds in those meetings. His three double-doubles were also a highlight for the young Lakers, as he led the team in that category.  During a stretch from late January to mid-February, he recorded over 10 points in four of five games.

The two players were part of a young team that went through some growing pains, but will be better off in the long run. If they continue to develop and improve like they did throughout their first OUA/CIS season, they’ll soon be a force in the league.