Jordan Derkack was named the NEC Player of the Year on Tuesday. Derkack was also name the Defensive Player of the Year and he was First Team All-NEC.
The sophomore wasn’t the only Warrior to be awarded hardware.
Budd Clark was named the Rookie of the Year, Second Team All-NEC and NEC All-Rookie. Bryan Etumnu was named the league’s Most Improved Player.
Jordan Derkack – Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-NEC
The Colonia, N.J. native averaged a team-high 17.7 points a game this season, this mark was good enough for best in the NEC. The Jersey native also ranked fourth in the conference in assists per game (3.83). Derkack ranked seventh in the conference in rebounds per game (5.9). He finished the season second in steal per game (2.10) behind backcourt mate Clark. Nationally, Derkack ranks in the top 40 in steals per game. Derkack has scored 20+ points 10 times this season and 30+ points twice. He also has two double-doubles on the year. The sophomore guard earned a record-tying seven NEC Player of the Week awards.
Adam “Budd” Clark – Rookie of the Year, Second Team All-NEC, NEC All-Rookie Team
The Philadelphia, Pa. native led all NEC rookies averaging 13.1 points per game this season. Clark led the conference in steals (77) and steals per game (2.57). He ranked second in assists (116), third in assists per game (3.87) and fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.65). Nationally, Clark ranked sixth in steals, as well as eighth in steals per game. Clark also earned seven NEC Rookie of the Week honors this season and one NEC Player of the Week.
Bryan Etumnu – NEC Most Improved Player
The Sugar Land, Texas native transformed into one of the most important members of the Merrimack College men’s basketball team this season. Etumnu went from averaging 0.8 points per game a season ago to averaging close to eight points a contest. He is shooting close to 42 percent from beyond the arc in the last six game. Etumnu has become a rim protector for the Warriors. He ranks second in the conference in blocks per game (1.9) and ranks in the top 30 nationally in block rate (9.09).
