(Houghton, N.Y.)—Three
Houghton College men’s basketball players have earned honors from
the American Mideast Conference (AMC) North Division. Sophomore
forwards Mada Abdelhamid and Yannick Anzuluni were named All-AMC
North, Second Team, while sophomore guard Ben Kopp earned honorable
mention.
The 6’6”
Abdelhamid, from Auckland, New Zealand, led the team in scoring with
15.2 per game and was the team’s second-best shooter, at 49 percent.
He was second on the team in rebounding, with 9.1 per game. That
placed him 20th in the country in the NAIA Division II.
He also had 10 blocked shots and 28 steals on the season.
“Mada has
improved his footwork and finishing since last year,” said Brad
Zarges, head coach of the Highlanders, “He really anchors our inside
with his play.”
Anzuluni, the
6’8” Ottawa native, led Houghton in rebounding, pulling down 9.5 per
game. He was 13th in the nation in rebounding for the
NAIA’s DII. Anzuluni was second on the team in scoring at 14.3 per
game. He led the team in steals, with 59, and blocked shots, with
31. His 53 assists were second only to Houghton’s point guard, Jon
Mannarino.
“Yannick
tends to be our most recognizable player, with his athleticism,”
said Zarges, “but his well-rounded game made him one of the top
players in our conference.”
Between them,
Abdelhamid and Anzuluni made a potent one-two punch. No two
teammates in the country combined for more double-doubles (26);
Anzuluni was tied for 9th in the nation with 14 and
Abdelhamid had 12.
“The two were
among the conference and national leaders in double-doubles and
really led us in their play,” said Zarges.
Ben Kopp, a
6’5” guard from Franklinville, N.Y., graduated from Ten Brock
Academy. He was third on the team in scoring, with 9.8 per game, and
was third on the team in assists, with 48.
“Ben started
to realize his potential in the second half of the season and came
on strong with some great games late in the year,” said Zarges, “I
look for him to be one of the top players in the conference next
year as he becomes consistent in each game.”
“The beauty
is that they will all come back together for two more years,” Zarges
added. The Highlanders finished 7-19 overall, 0-10 in the AMC North.
