CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
ATLANTA, Ga. (February 20, 2024) – The spotlight shines brightly on Maryville's junior guard Reed Kemp as he leads this year's men's all-conference team after clinching the esteemed 2023-24 CCS Player of the Year honor. Alongside Kemp, Belhaven's senior guard Judah Jordan secures the Defensive Player of the Year title, while teammate Jacob Reese earns the Sixth Player of the Year award, as voted by the conference's head coaches. Huntingdon's freshman guard BJ Brown stands out as this year's Rookie of the Year, and Maryville's Raul Placeres takes home the Coach of the Year accolade, as revealed by the league office.
Player of the Year | Reed Kemp, Maryville
Reed Kemp of Maryville secures the coveted Player of the Year title, dominating the court with his exceptional scoring prowess and leadership abilities. In conference-only games, Kemp leads all CCS scorers with an impressive 20.0 points per game. The Tennessee native ranks sixth in field goal percentage (49.4%), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (42.3%) and leads in free-throw percentage (86.4%). Kemp's stellar performances include two of the top five high-point games in the league this year, scoring 39 against Berry and 34 against Belhaven. Overall, he is second in scoring among all CCS leaders, averaging 18.5 points. Kemp dominates as the league leader in 3-pointers made with 68, averaging 2.7 per game. His prowess extends to field goal percentage where he ranks seventh (46.5%), 3-point field goal percentage where he’s ranked third (39.5%), and ranks second in free-throw percentage (86.0%) among CCS top 10 in all games. Additionally, he has been named CCS Player of the Week twice.
Defensive Player of the Year | Judah Jordan, Belhaven
Leading the conference in minutes played while securing a top 10 spot in steals, Jordan's presence on the court significantly impacts Belhaven's defensive prowess and has contributed to the team's current standing as the second-best defense in the league.
Sixth Man of the Year | Jacob Reese, Belhaven
Jacob Reese, representing Belhaven, earns the Sixth Man of the Year accolade, demonstrating remarkable versatility and impact off the bench. The junior forward shines averaging a double-double on the season (11.3 points, 11.8 rebounds) and tallying 13 double-doubles overall, with 11 coming off the bench. Leading CCS in rebounding, Reese is the only player in the league to maintain a double-double average. He was also honored as CCS Player of the Week in Week 10.
Rookie of the Year | BJ Brown, Huntingdon
Huntingdon's standout freshman guard, BJ Brown, claims the Rookie of the Year title, making an immediate impact with his impressive performance on the court. The freshman guard made a remarkable debut, achieving three double-doubles and one triple-double in conference play. He ranks fifth in conference scoring, leads in assists, secured the second spot in steals within the conference, and ranks third in the NCAA in total assists in Division III. He is also a six-time CCS Rookie of the Week honoree.
Coach of the Year | Raul Placeres, Maryville
Guiding Maryville to success against formidable odds, Raul Placeres earned the esteemed Coach of the Year recognition, showcasing exemplary leadership and coaching prowess throughout the season. Despite the loss of the 2023 CCS Player of the Year from last season and the departure of top scorers and rebounders, Placeres led the Scots to greater heights with 20 wins overall and an impressive 11-1 league record. Securing the league title by three games for the second consecutive year, Maryville finishes with a remarkable +18.3 scoring margin in league play, far surpassing any other team's margin.
Superlative Awards
Player of the Year – Reed Kemp, Maryville
Defensive Player of the Year – Judah Jordan, Belhaven
Sixth Man of the Year – Jacob Reese, Belhaven
Rookie of the Year – BJ Brown, Huntingdon
Coach of the Year – Raul Placeres, Maryville
CCS Men’s Basketball All-Conference Teams
First Team
| Name |
Institution |
Class |
Position |
Hometown |
| Reed Kemp |
Maryville |
Junior |
Guard |
Franklin, Tenn. |
| Ryan Jolly |
Piedmont |
Graduate Student |
Guard |
Martinez, Ga. |
| BJ Brown |
Huntingdon |
Freshman |
Guard |
Birmingham, Ala. |
| Chase Morgan |
Maryville |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Lenoir City, Tenn. |
| Samuel Moss |
LaGrange |
Freshman |
Guard |
Sharpsburg, Ga. |
| Trey Minter |
Berea |
Junior |
Guard |
Louisville, Ky. |
| Luke Couch |
Belhaven |
Senior |
Guard |
Vestavia Hills, Ala. |
| Judah Jordan |
Belhaven |
Senior |
Guard |
Baltimore, Md. |
| Jacob Reese |
Belhaven |
Junior |
Forward |
Starkville, Miss. |
| Max Gardner |
Huntingdon |
Senior |
Guard |
Decatur, Ala. |
Second Team
| Name |
Institution |
Class |
Position |
Hometown |
| Noah Reardon |
Piedmont |
Senior |
Guard |
Lake Mary, Fla. |
| R.J. Simmons |
Maryville |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Powder Springs, Ga. |
| Bryce Riley |
Berea |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Bardstown, Ky. |
| Jackson Garner |
Maryville |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Jordan Marshall |
Belhaven |
Junior |
Guard |
Raymond, Miss. |
| Fisher Darden |
Piedmont |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Martinez, Ga |
| Brodie Scott |
LaGrange |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Athens, Ga. |
| Demetris Phillips |
Berea |
Freshman |
Forward |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Kameron McCall |
LaGrange |
Freshman |
Guard |
Powder Springs, Ga. |
| Daryl Rice |
Maryville |
Senior |
Guard |
Tyrone, Ga. |
CCS Men’s Basketball All-Sportsmanship
| Name |
Institution |
Class |
Position |
Hometown |
| Todd Larkin |
Belhaven |
Junior |
Guard |
Magee, Miss. |
| Ja’Rel Montgomery |
Berea |
Junior |
Guard |
Bardstown, Ky. |
| Eli Witt |
Covenant |
Senior |
Forward |
Brandon, Miss. |
| Austin Linville |
Huntingdon |
Senior |
Guard |
Zephyrhills, Fla. |
| Grant Evans |
LaGrange |
Senior |
Guard |
Newnan, Ga. |
| Jesse Harbin |
Piedmont |
Senior |
Guard |
Flowery Branch, Ga. |
| Javi Rosell |
Maryville |
Freshman |
Guard |
Miami, Fla. |
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Berea College, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
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