NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. - Four La Roche men's basketball players were recognized for their stellar seasons Tuesday afternoon when the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference announced it's postseason awards.
Tyler Frederick was named the AMCC Player of the Year and named a member of the All-Conference first team. Seniors Kennedy Smith and Darius Lawrence capped off their breakout senior seasons by earning spots on the All-Conference second team. Austin Hannes was slated on the All-Conference third team.
Junior F Tyler Frederick led the AMCC in scoring and rebounding for all season. Frederick has averaged 19.1 points per game and 11.4 rebounds per game (10th in D-III) while shooting 53.3% from the field (8th in AMCC), 34.5% from deep and 77.4% at the free throw line (11th in AMCC). Tyler recorded 16 double-doubles (T-10th in D-III) in just 23 games. Frederick was one of two players in the conference this season to be named the USBWA National Player of the Week (1/7). He was also named the AMCC Player of the Week three times this season (12/23, 1/6, 2/17). The AMCC Preseason Player of the Year scored a career-high 34 points in a victory over Pitt Greensburg on December 21st. He followed that up by scoring 30 points and reeling in a career-high 19 rebounds in a win against D'Youville. Tyler has posted at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in eight games this season.
Senior G Darius Lawrence has established himself as one of the most clutch and well-rounded players in the conference. Lawrence has hit two go-ahead game winning shots this season against number two seed Pitt Greensburg and number three seed Penn St. Behrend. Darius started all 20 regular season AMCC games this season where he averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 assists (5th in AMCC), 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals. He has also been one of the best free throw shooters in the league, averaging 4.7 made FT/game (3rd in AMCC) while shooting 81.2% at the line (7th in AMCC). Lawrence has scored 13 or more points in 21 games this season and scored a career-high 21 points in the AMCC semi-final against Penn St. Altoona.
Senior G Kennedy Smith has established himself as one of the top guards in the league this season. Smith averaged 16.2 points per game (7th in AMCC), 6.5 rebounds per game (12th in AMCC), 3.4 assists per game (5th in AMCC) and 1.6 steals per game (7th in AMCC). Kennedy shot an efficient 50.5% from the field and 40.0% from deep (10th in AMCC). After a career weekend at the Geneva Coaches vs. Cancer tournament, Smith was named the AMCC Player of the Week (11/25). In the first game at the tournament against Grove City, Kennedy posted a career-high 16 rebounds and 20 points. He followed that performance up by scoring a career-high 32 points against Geneva while shooting 11-13 from the floor and 7-9 from deep. Smith has scored 20 or more points on seven separate occasions in 2019-20.
Junior G Austin Hannes is one of the biggest deep threats in the conference. Hannes averaged 2.6 three pointers a game in conference play (4th in AMCC) while shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc (5th in AMCC). Austin played in all 20 conference games this season where he averaged 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Hannes drained a season-high six triples on just seven attempts in an 88-85 win over Hilbert on Jan. 18th. He has hit three or more treys in 10 games this season and has made at least one 3-PT in 40 straight games dating back to last season.
View the entire 2020 AMCC All-Conference team here.