Sunday November 2, 2008 by WH | A10collegehoops Contributor

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dionte Christmas

FIRST TEAM

Dionte Christmas, Temple – Bigtime scorer does a lot more than just put the ball in the bucket. He’s Mr. Everyman for the Owls.

Ahmad Nivins, St. Joseph’s – Best bigman in the league, but he needs a Terminator’s mentality.

Chris Lowe, Massachusetts – League’s top point guard pushes the ball faster than a speeding bullet, attacks the basket relentlessly and creates lot of scoring chances.

Lamont Mack, Charlotte – Most dangerous inside-out forward in the A-10. Deadly from distance when he finds the range.

Derrick Brown, Xavier – Explosive athlete is a monster on the break, scores inside and has been developing an outside shot. He could be NBA bound with a reliable jumper.

NOTES: I initially named Mack my POY. I think he’s going to be huge this year. Then I thought of Brown, but I wonder if he can create his own shot. I eventually decided on Christmas. For the first team I also considered Chris Wright.  Also taken into consideration was Nivins for POY.

SECOND TEAM

Chris Wright, Dayton – Perhaps the league’s best overall athlete, Wright is ready to carry the Flyers with scoring, rebounding, shotblocking – and monster jams.

BJ Raymond, Xavier – Best outside shooter in the A-10 is critical to the success of the Musketeers. His marksmanship will open up the inside for the most talented frontcourt in the league.

Robert Diggs, George Washington – Slender big forward is one of the best low-post scorers and rebounders in the league.

Ricky Harris, Massachusetts – The A-10’s second leading scorer among returning players can drill the triple, slash to the basket and finish as well as any guard in the league. He came up big in the Minutemen’s deep NIT run.

Kevin Lisch, St. Louis – Senior guard is a topnotch defender, terrific 3-point shooter, good ball-handler and a player who’s very dangerous in crunch time.

THIRD TEAM

Tommie Liddell, St. Louis – Versatile 6-4 wingmen bounces back from a difficult junior season. Liddell can do virtually everything on the court and is a darkhorse for POY if he meets his considerable potential.

David Gonvalez, Richmond – Tough wing guard can power to the hoop or sink a flurry of treys and is especially dangerous in the final minutes of a game.

Tasheed Carr, St. Joseph’s – Small forward turned point guard runs the offense efficiently and does almost everything well. He’s just a very good all-round player.

Kevin Anderson, Richmond – Rising sophomore point guard is ultra-quick, a slicer and dicer who kicks out to teammates or finishes himself. If he shoots the threeball consistently, Richmond might not miss Dan Geriot as much as it should.

Lavoy Allen, Temple – The next great bigman in the A-10 has the ability to score out to 18 feet and he’s an unusually good passer for such a young player. Before he graduates he’s also likely to end up on the All-Defensive Team.

Rodney Green, LaSalle – Another small forward converted to point guard, Green does not run the offense as well as Carr – not yet anyway – but he’s a superior athlete and a more dangerous scorer. Green is actually one of the best-low post scorers in the A-10.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Melquan Bolding, Duquesne

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM

Paul Williams, Dayton. The Flyers need a shooter. Williams can shoot and he’s stronger than a typical freshman.

Melquan Bolding, Duquesne – Slasher-scorer, a former Louisville recruit, will get plenty of minutes to do his thing.

Jio Fontan, Fordham – Floor general from St. Anthony’s will get the ball from Day 1 and run the show.

Josh Duinker, Richmond – Near 7-foot Aussie to replace injured Dan Geriot and give the Spiders a bigger insider presence.

Ramon Moore, Temple – Redshirt frosh was a big scorer in high school. The Owls need a scorer with the loss of Mark Tyndale.

Ruben Cotto, St Louis (if eligible) – Lights-out shooter just what the offensively challenged Billikens need.

Alternatives: Brett Thompson, St. Louis – The 6-10 frosh will be thrown into the fire, be he’s already bigger than most A-10 fronctourt players and has excellent skills

David Gibbs, Massachusetts – The 6-4 combo Guard has great quickness and explosive athletic ability.  Gibbs a solid defender will use his lateral quickness and long arms to pose problems on A10 guards.  The young guard should flourish under DK’s system and eventually become one of the A10’s elite.

Defensive Player of the Year

Garrett Williamson, St. Joseph’s

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Kevin Lisch, St. Louis
Tony Gaffney, Massachusetts
Garrett Williamson, St. Joseph’s
Marcus Johnson, Dayton
Charlie Coley, Charlotte

Most Improved Player

Idris Hilliard, St. Joseph’s – Talented 6-6 forward, a good scorer 15 feet in, will team up with Ahmad Nivins inside. He’ll get plenty of minutes as a sophomore to show his game.