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BAY CITY, Mich. -- Senior center Callistus Eziukwu (Muskegon, Mich.) of Grand Valley State University has been selected as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) men's basketball "Player of the Year." Rookie center Kale Richardson (Carroll, Ohio) of Ashland University was chosen as "Freshman of the Year," while Grand Valley State head coach Ric Wesley earned GLIAC "Coach of the Year" honors. All three were selected by the GLIAC men's basketball coaches in conjunction with all-conference balloting.

Eziukwu led Grand Valley State to a 30-0 regular season record and the first 18-0 campaign in GLIAC history. Eziukwu averaged 15.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocked shots and shot 62.9 percent from the floor. Eziukwu tallied 13 double-doubles on the year, including a string of eight straight, scored in double figures 27 times and notched double-digit rebounds 14 times. Eziukwu led Grand Valley State to a 87-9 record overall, a 49-5 mark in GLIAC play and three GLIAC North Division titles the last three years. Callistus ranks third in D-II history with 315 blocked shots, while his 1,571 points rank fifth in GVSU annuls.

Richardson averaged 16.0 points, and 7.2 rebounds per game this season. He ranked eighth in the conference in both scoring and rebounding as well as free throw percentage (.806). The 6-8, 250-pound rookie was also seventh in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.439) and ninth in blocked shots (0.79 bpg.). Richardson had six double-doubles and scored in double digits in 24 of 28 games. He had 10 games where he scored 20 or more points, including a season-high 28 points against then fourth-ranked Findlay. Richardson reached double figures in rebounds seven times. Richardson is the second AU player to be named the GLIAC "Freshman of the Year" following Alex Jones, who won the award following the 2003-04 season.

Wesley guided the Lakers to school and GLIAC history during the 2007-08 campaign. Wesley led GVSU to a 30-0 regular season mark, the first undefeated regular season in school history, and an 18-0 GLIAC record, the first time a team has won 18 games in a GLIAC single-season. Wesley's 2007-08 squad currently leads the nation in scoring defense (53.3 points per game) and field goal percentage defense (36.1 pct.). Wesley, who is 105-19 (.846) in his fourth year at the helm of the Laker basketball program, picked up his 100th career victory third-fastest (119 games) in D-II history and eighth-fastest in the history of college basketball. He leads all active coaches in the NCAA ranks with an .846 winning percentage. GVSU is 87-9 since the 2005-06 season overall, including a 49-5 record in GLIAC action. Wesley has led GVSU to three straight GLIAC North Division titles (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08).

Joining Eziukwu on the All-GLIAC North Division First Team are: Grand Valley State senior guard Jason Jamerson and junior guard Pete Trammell; Michigan Technological University senior forward Tim Strom; and Northern Michigan University senior guard Jake Suardini.

The All-GLIAC South Division First Team includes: Findlay junior forward Josh Bostic; Gannon University junior forward Kyle Goldcamp and senior forward Vince Mosley; Hillsdale College senior forward Tim Homan; Mercyhurst College senior guard Terry Smith. 

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
2007-08 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams and Postseason Awards

Player of the Year: Callistus Eziukwu - Grand Valley State University (Sr., C, Muskegon, Mich.)

Freshman of the Year: Kale Richardson - Ashland University (Fr., C, Carroll, Ohio)

Coach of the Year: Ric Wesley - Grand Valley State University

GLIAC North Division All-Conference First Team

Name School Year Pos. Hometown/High School

Callistus Eziukwu Grand Valley State University Sr. C Muskegon, Mich.

Jason Jamerson Grand Valley State University Sr. G Muncie, Ind./Burris

Tim Strom Michigan Technological University Sr. F Marquette, Mich.

Jake Suardini Northern Michigan University Sr. G Gwinn, Mich.

Pete Trammell Grand Valley State University Jr. G Jenison, Mich.

GLIAC South Division All-Conference First Team

Name School Year Pos. Hometown/High School

Josh Bostic University of Findlay Jr. F Columbus, Ohio/Westland

Kyle Goldcamp Gannon University Jr. F Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic

Tim Homan Hillsdale College Sr. F Celina, Ohio

Vince Mosley Gannon University Sr. F Boynton Beach, Fla./Dillard

Terry Smith Mercyhurst College Sr. G Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden

GLIAC North Division All-Conference Second Team

Name School Year Pos. Hometown/High School

Mark Barnes Northwood University Jr. G Saginaw, Mich.

L.J. Kilgore Grand Valley State University Sr. G Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston

Ryan Kuhl Lake Superior State University Jr. F Rochester, Mich./Adams

Lawrence Ross Saginaw Valley State University Jr. G Battle Creek, Mich./Central (Miami, Ohio)

Robby Springborn Michigan Technological University Jr. G Fond du Lac, Wis.

GLIAC South Division All-Conference Second Team

Name School Year Pos. Hometown/High School

Brett Bartlett Ashland University Sr. G Lagrange, Ohio/Keystone

Tony Gugino Hillsdale College Jr. F Holland, Mich./Christian

Morgan Lewis University of Findlay Jr. F Painesville, Ohio/Harvey

Wynn Sarden Wayne State University Sr. G Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Cousino

Bret Wackerly Ashland University Jr. G Canton, Ohio/Hoover

GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team

Name School Year Pos. Hometown/High School

Callistus Eziukwu Grand Valley State University Sr. C Muskegon, Mich.

Sean Geary Michigan Technological University Jr. G Marquette, Mich.

L.J. Kilgore Grand Valley State University Sr. G Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston

Pete Trammell Grand Valley State University Jr. G Jenison, Mich.

Mike Zuiderveen Saginaw Valley State University Sr. C Kalamazoo, Mich./Christian

GLIAC South Division All-Defensive Team

Name School Year Pos. Hometown/High School  

Josh Bostic University of Findlay Jr. F Columbus, Ohio/Westland

Kyle Goldcamp Gannon University Jr. F Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic

Joe Lindsey Gannon University Jr. G Spring Valley, N.Y.

Marcus Parker University of Findlay So. G Canton, Ohio/McKinley

Terry Smith Mercyhurst College Sr. G Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden