LEXINGTON, Va. - Virginia Military Institute center D.J. Covington (Virginia Beach, Va./Norfolk Academy) has been named State University Division Basketball Rookie of the Year as voted by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID). The team was announced Tuesday, April 5.
Covington capped a banner debut season after being named 2010-11 Big South Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 9.1 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game while registering 2.3 blocks per contest. In 25 games including 12 starts, Covington shot 61.5% from the floor and led the Big South in blocks per game.
Covington was named Big South Freshman of the Week four times this season including three consecutive weeks in February. He scored in double figures in 12 games during the campaign including five straight outings where he averaged 12.6 points over that span. Covington turned in his first career-double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Liberty February 15 and scored a career-high 20 points against High Point February 10.
Covington's 57 blocks rank fifth all-time on the school single-season list and moved him into 10th place on the all-time VMI list in blocks after just one season. He blocked a school record nine shots against Southern Virginia and blocked five shots each against Winthrop December 2, Radford January 13, and Liberty February 15. Covington also grabbed season-high 10 rebounds and hit seven of eight shots from the floor against Liberty February 15.
Covington overcame a rash of early season injuries and moved into the starting lineup in mid-January. VMI was 8-3 with him as a starter against Big South foes.
The Keydets finished the 2010-11 season with an 18-13 mark, their second winning campaign over the last three years.
VMI senior guard Austin Kenon also was named honorable mention by VASID as one of six designated players to receive that honor. Other named honorable mention were Virginia Tech senior Jeff Allen, ODU senior Kent Bazemore, VCU junior Bradford Burgess, William and Mary junior Quinn McDowell, and VCU senior Joey Rodriguez.
University of Richmond forward Justin Harper was selected as Player of the Year and VCU head coach Shaka Smart was tabbed Coach of the Year in the annual balloting.
A complete list of all honorees, including All-State squads, is contained in the PDF document that is linked to the top of the page.
