By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Two seniors with impressive statistics tied for Division I Player of the Year in a vote conducted by members of the Northern Kentucky Boys Basketball Coaches Association on Saturday.
Cooper senior guard Adam Kunkel and Covington Catholic senior guard C.J. Fredrick will share the title, adding a little more drama to the post-season playoffs that begin Monday. CovCath and Cooper are the top two teams in the 9th Region, so there’s a chance the award-winning players could meet again in the championship game.
Adam Kunkel
C.J. Fredrick
Kunkel finished the regular season averaging 21 points and seven rebounds per game for Cooper. Fredrick is averaging 22.8 points and 3.4 rebounds for CovCath. Both of them are shooting better than 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line.
With those equally impressive stats, it’s easy to see why Kunkel and Fredrick tied for first place in the Division I coaches’ voting on Saturday, one day after they were among 19 players selected as finalists for Mr. Kentucky Basketball.
Newport senior guard McKell Burries was voted Division II Player of the Year by local coaches. He’s averaging 21 points and seven rebounds per game with 80 3-point field goals. The leading vote-getter in Division III was Calvary Christian sophomore guard Mason Rusch. He’s one of the state’s top 10 scorers with a 25.9 average and he’s shooting 48 percent from the field.
The coaches association will select a 9th Region Player of the Year and a Coach of the Year after the playoffs. They will be announced during an awards banquet in March. That’s when winners of the Mr. Hustle, Defensive Award and Academic Award in each division will also be recognized.
Here is a complete list of the top players selected in each division:
DIVISION I
Adam Kunkel (Cooper), C.J. Fredrick (CovCath), Jake Walter (CovCath), Ethan Haynes (Boone County), Aiden Ruthsatz (CovCath), Reid Jolly (Campbell County), Kelly Niece (Simon Kenton), Chad Ohmer (Scott), Vince Rankin (Ryle), Tanner Clos (Campbell County), Chris McNeil (Cooper), Zach Kelch (Simon Kenton).
Players of the Year — Adam Kunkel (Cooper) and C.J. Fredrick (CovCath)
Mr. Hustle — Chris McNeil (Cooper)
Defensive Award — Braydon Runion (Cooper)
Academic Award — Michael Collins (CovCath)
DIVISION II
MeKell Burries (Newport), Brennan Hall (NewCath), Tahj Harding (Newport), Parker Zimmerman (Holy Cross), Ben toebbe (Beechwood), Scotty Draud (Beechwood), Brendan Luken (NewCath), Nolan Schrand (Holy Cross), Donnie Miller (Newport), Karez Race (Holmes), Jamal Neal (Lloyd), Jordan Fann (Lloyd).
Player of the Year — MeKell Burries (Newport)
Mr. Hustle — Duncan Baugh (Beechwood)
Defensive Award — Donnie Miller (Newport)
Academic Award — Ben Toebbe (Beechwood)
DIVISION III
Mason Rusch (Calvary Christian), Brett Maehren (Bellevue), Sean McIntyre (Villa Madonna), Ben Zalla (Villa Madonna), Ian Vanllandingham (Ludlow), Trey Donahue (Ludlow), Tommy Ratterman (Bellevue), Elian Tercios (Silver Grove), Josh Moran (Calvary Christian), Julian Jimenez (Dayton).
Player of the Year — Mason Rusch (Calvary Christian)
Mr. Hustle — Brett Maehren (Bellevue)
Defensive Award — Will Ryan (Bellevue)
Academic Award — Dan Gerst (Villa Madonna)
