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Rothstein Files: 2012 End Of Year Awards For NYC Area College Basketball

By Jon Rothstein
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With the annual Haggerty Award Dinner set for Thursday night at the Tarrytown Marriott, we unveil our end of season awards for the 2011-12 college basketball season in the New York metropolitan area.

2011-12 ALL METRO AREA FIRST TEAM

SCOTT MACHADO, IONA

The ultimate swiss army knife as a point guard, Machado was a constant threat to fill up every category in the box score. A sporadic offensive player throughout the first three years of his career, the senior improved his accuracy from the outside while leading Tim Cluess' transition game with poise and precision each time Iona stepped in between the lines.

JORDAN THEODORE, SETON HALL

The Big East's best floor general for most of the season, Theodore's last season in South Orange was his best. Tallying an impressive 6.6 assists per game, the former Paterson Catholic standout also averaged over 16 points per contest and brought Seton Hall to within inches of the NCAA Tournament.

MIKE GLOVER, IONA

Glover's two years of college basketball were beyond memorable. A freak offensive rebounder with a deft touch around the rim, the 6-foot-6 power forward dominated the MAAC at will with ease while excelling for Iona.

HERB POPE, SETON HALL

A long and rocky college career finally came to a solid close for Pope, who anchored Kevin Willard's team in the middle throughout the entire season. As a senior, Pope enjoyed his best offensive season as a collegiate player and tallied a double-double on a nightly basis. The Pirates wouldn't have been on the NCAA bubble without him.

JULIAN BOYD, LIU

To win at the mid major level, you have to get players that can play a level above and that's just what Boyd's been for the Blackbirds. Sporting a refined outside shot to go with his bruising interior game, the 6-foot-7 forward continues to get better and better each time he steps on the floor.

COACH OF THE YEAR: JIM FERRY, LIU

Now the head man at Duquesne, Ferry left his mark in Brooklyn after a few unforgettable years with the Blackbirds. In the last two seasons under Ferry, LIU went 38-4 in NEC play and won back to back league titles while advancing to two NCAA Tournaments.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: MOE HARKLESS, ST. JOHN'S

The gem of Steve Lavin's first recruiting class as coach of the Red Storm proved to be one of the Big East's best players. Harkless dazzled folks routinely with his skill set and offensive game, averaging an impressive 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Now set to take his talents to the NBA, St. John's will hard pressed to find a talent of his caliber next season.

6TH MAN OF THE YEAR: MYLES MACK, RUTGERS

The highly touted guard thrived as a spark off the bench for Mike Rice's Scarlet Knights and proved why he was one of the nation's more highly touted freshman entering the season. While Mack began the year as a starter, he flourished as a 6th man and averaged just under ten points per game. Look for his shooting percentages to increase next year as a sophomore.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: SEAN ARMAND, IONA

A lethal outside threat with intergalactic range, Armand improved in all major offensive categories during his second collegiate season and was a big reason why Iona was one of the more prolific offensive teams in the country. A lights out shooter with an impressive 46.2% shooting percentage from 3-point range, look for Armand to be a candidate for MAAC Preseason Player of the Year entering next season.

MOST OVERACHIEVING TEAM: ST. FRANCIS NY

Despite not playing a home game until December 19th, Glenn Braica led the Terriers to a memorable season, finishing fourth in the Northeast Conference with an impressive 12-6 in league record. St. Francis finished 15-15 overall and returns sharpshooting guard Ben Mockford and bruising forward Jalen Cannon next season.

GAME OF THE YEAR: RUTGERS VS. SETON HALL ON FEBRUARY 25TH

Senior Day for the Pirates turned into a bitter defeat to their in state rivals. Rutgers entered this game losers of six in a row and rallied for a dramatic 77-72 overtime win thanks to a monster three point shot down the stretch by freshman guard Jerome Seagears, a player who seemed to get better and better as the season went along.

2012 HAGGERTY AWARD WINNER: SCOTT MACHADO, IONA

No player had his imprints on the 2011-12 season like Machado. The senior point guard routinely filled up the box score and was always mentioned among the elite floor generals in all of college basketball throughout the season. We're really going to miss this kid.

Who would be your pick for player of the year? Coach of the year? Let us know in the comments below...

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