ATLANTA, Ga. (February 25, 2025) – Maryville’s senior guard Reed Kemp was named the CCS Player of the Year, while Covenant’s sophomore forward Pierce Smith earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Huntingdon’s senior guard Nate Johns was recognized as the Sixth Man of the Year, and Maryville’s freshman guard Kyle Cloninger took home Rookie of the Year accolades. Rounding out the honorees, Maryville’s Raul Placeres was named Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Player of the Year | Reed Kemp, Maryville
Kemp has been an offensive force all season, leading Maryville to a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with a stellar 20-5 overall record and an 11-1 mark in CCS play. Averaging a conference-best 25.3 points per game, he has been nearly unstoppable, ranking second in the nation in both scoring and third in three-point percentage (48.6%). His ability to take over games was on full display down the stretch, as he posted four consecutive 30-point performances, pushing him within 13 points of Maryville’s single-season scoring record. Kemp leads the Scots in nearly every major statistical category, including field goals made, free throws, and steals, while also leading the entire conference in three-point percentage (.486), free throw percentage (.837), and three-pointers made per game (3.4). His dominance on the court earned him three CCS Player of the Week honors.
Defensive Player of the Year | Pierce Smith, Covenant
Smith has been a defensive powerhouse for Covenant, anchoring the Scots in the paint with a conference-best 78 blocks, a number that also ranks him third nationally in NCAA Division III. His shot-blocking ability has set him apart, as the next closest player in the conference has 54 blocks. In addition to his rim protection, Smith broke Covenant’s single-season record for blocks and ranks in the top five in the conference in rebounding, pulling down 113 boards while also collecting 15 steals throughout the season.
Sixth Man of the Year | Nate Johns, Huntingdon
Johns provided a crucial spark off the bench for the Hawks, delivering efficient scoring and reliable playmaking. He appeared in 12 CCS games, starting five, and made the most of his minutes by leading the conference in field goal percentage (.642). His efficiency soared in conference play, where he shot an impressive 73% from the field and hit 83% of his free throws. Averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in CCS action, Johns helped lead Huntingdon to a No. 3 seed in the tournament with a 19-6 overall record (8-4 CCS). His scoring and rebounding placed him among the top 20 in the conference.
Rookie of the Year | Kyle Cloninger, Maryville
Cloninger made an immediate impact in his first collegiate season, playing a key role in Maryville’s dominant run. He earned CCS Rookie of the Week honors nine times, and finished the regular season averaging eight points, four rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, ranking seventh in the conference in assists. Playing 27.6 minutes per game, he was one of Maryville’s most dependable players, ranking top five on the team in both scoring and rebounding while also finishing third on the team in steals (30).
Coach of the Year | Raul Placeres, Maryville
For the second consecutive season, Placeres has guided Maryville to the top of the CCS, earning Coach of the Year honors once again. Under his leadership, the Scots finished 20-5 overall and 11-1 in conference play, securing the No. 1 seed in the CCS tournament. Maryville thrived on both ends of the floor, leading the conference in team field goal percentage while ranking second in points allowed per game. Placeres also orchestrated an impressive late-season surge, guiding the Scots to seven straight wins to close out conference play.
Belhaven led with five selections, followed by Huntingdon with four selections. Maryville, Asbury, and Piedmont each had three selections. Covenant had two players honored.
The 2024-25 CCS Men’s Basketball Championship begins today with quarterfinal matchups as No. 3 Huntingdon hosts No. 6 Piedmont and No. 4 Asbury faces No. 5 Covenant. The winners of these games will advance to the semifinals on Friday, where top-seeded Maryville and No. 2 Belhaven await. Maryville College will serve as the host for both the semifinals and the championship game, which will take place on Saturday, March 1, when this season’s CCS champion will be crowned.
2024-25 CCS MEN’S BASKETBALL SUPERLATIVE AWARDS
Player of the Year: Reed Kemp, Maryville
Defensive Player of the Year: Pierce Smith, Covenant
Sixth Man of the Year: Nate Johns, Huntingdon
Rookie of the Year: Kyle Cloninger, Maryville
Coach of the Year: Raul Placeres, Maryville
2024-25 CCS MEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
First Team
| Reed Kemp |
Maryville |
| Jordan Marshall |
Belhaven |
| BJ Brown |
Huntingdon |
| Chase Morgan |
Maryville |
| Jacob Reese |
Belhaven |
| Bailey Wiseman |
Piedmont |
| Jonathan Lucas |
Belhaven |
| Luke Imfeld |
Asbury |
| Martise Jackson |
Huntingdon |
| Logan Patterson |
Covenant |
Second Team
| Nate Johns |
Huntingdon |
| Ray'Quan Taylor |
Huntingdon |
| Jermario Hersey |
Belhaven |
| DeMarcus Powe |
Belhaven |
| Kyle Cloninger |
Maryville |
| Ben McNew |
Asbury |
| Dylan Patrick |
Piedmont |
| Pierce Smith |
Covenant |
| Clayton Winter |
Asbury |
| Fisher Darden |
Piedmont |
2024-25 CCS MEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
| Jonathan Combs |
Asbury |
| Todd Larkin |
Belhaven |
| Cole Carroll |
Covenant |
| Richie Hicks |
Huntingdon |
| Parker Gonzalez |
LaGrange |
| Malachi Chipp |
Maryville |
| Griffin Neville |
Piedmont |