ST. LOUIS - A trio of Missouri State players was honored Tuesday afternoon as part of the Missouri Valley Conference's first round of postseason awards.
Highlighting the group is 2009-10 MVC Newcomer of the Year Adam Leonard (Jr., G, Lee's Summit, Mo.) who tops the six-man All-Newcomer squad. In his first year at MSU, the transfer from Eastern Kentucky ranks second for Cuonzo Martin's Bears in scoring (13.1 ppg.) and leads the league in three-pointers made (87) and three-pointers per game (2.9). That number is tied for third-best among any first-year player in league history and is just seven shy of the Missouri State single-season record.
Leonard, who has earned MVC Newcomer of the Week laurels three times this season, is the fourth MSU player to win Newcomer of the Year honors. Spencer Laurie was the last Bear to win Newcomer of the Year honors, do­ing so in 2007, while previous honorees include Danny Moore (1997) and Mike Wallace (2001).
Also adding to his list of conference accolades is Kyle Weems (So., F, Topeka, Kan.) who landed a spot on the All-MVC second team after averaging team-bests 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. He also ranks among the Valley's top 10 players in six other statistical categories, including third in defensive rebounds (5.0).
Weems was an MVC All-Freshman squad selection a year ago and was named the league's Player of the Week on Nov. 23, 2009 on the heels of earning most valuable player honors in the Hispanic College Fund Challenge. He has led the Bears in scoring eight times this season and in rebounding 14 times, including a pair of double-doubles over his last three games.
Also earning Missouri Valley Conference distinction was Jermaine Mallett (Jr., G, Jackson, Miss.) who joined Leonard on the MVC All-Newcomer squad. The transfer from Marion (Ala.) Military Institute is averaging 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds this season, starting all 30 games for the 19-11 Bears. He is an 85-percent free throw shooter and has accounted for 30 three-pointers, trailing only Leonard and Weems in long-distance shots this season.
Mallett was named MVC Newcomer of the Week on Jan. 4. He has led the Bears in scoring seven times, rebounding 11 games, and assists 10 times this season.
Also receiving top league honors Tuesday were Northern Iowa's Adam Koch (Player of the Year), Evansville's Colt Ryan (Freshman of the Year), Dinma Odiakosa of Illinois State (Defensive MVP), Lucas O'Rear of UNI (Sixth Man of the Year), and UNI as the league's Defensive Team of the Year. The Valley will announce its All-Bench and Most-Improved teams on Wednesday. MVC Coach of the Year and All-Academic selections will be announced Thursday.
The Bears enter this week's State Farm MVC Tournament in St. Louis as the No. 7 seed and will open the event with an 8:35 p.m. game against 10th-seeded Evansville on Thursday. The winner will advance to play No. 2 Wichita State on Friday at 6:05 p.m.
