McLennan Basketball squads claim All-Conference awards

The McLennan Men's & Women's Basketball squads dominated the 2024-25 North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference's awards.
 
The Highlanders, the conference champions with a 12-2 league record, claimed three First-Team All-Conference selections: Evan Chatman, Ari Gooch and Rontavious Blackshear. Chatman, a sophomore forward from Harker Heights, was named the Player of the Year. The University of Alabama at Birmingham commit, is averaging 14.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Gooch, a guard from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was named the Freshman of the Year. He is averaging 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Blackshear, a sophomore guard from Lancaster, is averaging 12.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
 
Frederick Rogers III and Joseph Mayberry were selected as Honorable Mention All-Conference. Rogers III, a freshman forward from Detroit, Michigan, is averaging 9.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1. 2 assists per game. Mayberry, a freshman guard from Lancaster, is averaging 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
 
Men's head coach Kevin Gill was named the Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his McLennan career.
 
The McLennan women, the conference-co-champions with a record of 14-2, also had three All-Conference selections: Jalayah Ingram, Tajenae Gooden and Charnelle Hoof. Ingram, a sophomore guard from Willis, is averaging 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Gooden, a freshman guard from Dallas, was named the Freshman of the Year. She is averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Hoof, a freshman guard from Forrest City, Arkansas, was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She is averaging 8.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
 
Women's head coach Candice Thomas was named the Co-Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.
 
Both McLennan squads claimed the North's top seed in the Region V Tournament hosted at McLennan March 12-15. The men will face New Mexico at 7 p.m. Wednesday with the women facing Clarendon at 7 p.m. Thursday.