Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Rorie, Pridgett headline All-Big Sky first team
3/12/2019 11:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball
OGDEN, Utah – Four Grizzlies were recognized by the Big Sky Conference on Tuesday morning, headlined by first-team all-conference selections Ahmaad Rorie and Sayeed Pridgett.
For Rorie, it is his second consecutive first-team nod, while Pridgett was recognized for the first time. Michael Oguine also earned his second all-conference pick, being named to the third team, while Kendal Manuel, a Billings native who transferred from Oregon State, was named both the Newcomer of the Year (co) and Top Reserve.
Rorie has facilitated Montana's offense and ranks in the top 10 in Big Sky play for scoring (14.7 per game, ninth), assists (4.4, sixth) and minutes played (35.5, third). His 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio leads the league by a wide margin, and overall, ranks 37th nationally.
Rorie is the fastest player in school history to reach 1,500 career points and is one of 16 active players in the entire country with at least 1,500 career points and 400 career assists.
After excelling as Montana's sixth man a year ago, Pridgett, from Oakland, Calif., has nearly doubled his point production as a junior. He's been impressive all season, but took his game to another level during the second half of league play, averaging 20.7 points per game over the past 10 contests. He ranks sixth for scoring (16.3 per game) and second for field-goal percentage (.622). He also ranks among the league leaders for rebounding, assists and steals.
In Montana's most-recent game, at Sacramento State, he became the 34th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points.
Oguine does it all for the Griz, both on and off the court. His stats, at times, get overlooked because he's able to mold into the role his team needs of him on any given night, but he still ranks in the top 20 for scoring (12.5 per game) and rebounding (5.3). He also ranks ninth for field-goal percentage (.490), 14th for steals (1.2) and 13th for offensive rebounds (1.7).
In addition to this year's selection, he also has been named a second-team pick, the league's defensive player of the year and the 2018 Big Sky Championships MVP. Oguine will likely finish his career ranked in the top five of Montana's record books for scoring, steals and games started. He is one of six active players nationally with more than 1,500 career points, 600 rebounds and 150 steals.
Kendal Manuel, a Billings, Mont., native who began his collegiate career at Oregon State, transferred closer to home prior to the start of the season. He didn't get clearance by the NCAA to play this season until two days before the team's season opener, but since he got word, he's been ready to go.
The junior leads the league with an .896 free-throw percentage and ranks fifth for three-point shooting, connecting on 43.8 percent of his long-range attempts. Manuel has played all 31 games, averaging 19.3 minutes and 9.2 points per game.
Montana made up 40 percent of the first team, with Jordan Davis (Northern Colorado), Jerrick Harding (Weber State) and Tyler Hall (Montana State) joining Rorie and Pridgett. Montana and Eastern Washington are the only two schools to have three selections among the 15 all-conference picks. Northern Colorado won the majority of the individual awards, with Davis being named the most valuable player, Bodie Hume earning freshman-of-the-year honors, Jonah Radebuagh being selected as the top defensive player and Jeff Linder earning coach of the year.
The Grizzlies travel to the Big Sky Championships this week in Boise, Idaho, where they will play as the No. 1 seed. Montana won the regular-season title for the second consecutive season, and looks to defend its tournament crown as well and make a return to the NCAA tournament. The Grizzlies are 23-8 overall. Their quarterfinals opponent will either be Northern Arizona or Sacramento State (Thursday at noon).
2019 All-Big Sky Conference Teams
First Team
Jordan Davis, Northern Colorado
Ahmaad Rorie, Montana
Jerrick Harding, Weber State
Sayeed Pridgett, Montana
Tyler Hall, Montana State
Second Team
Harald Frey, Montana State
Marcus Graves, Sacramento State
Holland Woods, Portland State
Mason Peatling, Eastern Washington
Jesse Hunt, Eastern Washington
Third Team
Michael Oguine, Montana
Jacob Davison, Eastern Washington
Joshua Patton, Sacramento State
Bernie Andre, Northern Arizona
Cameron Oluyitan, Southern Utah
Honorable Mention
Jonah Radebaugh, Northern Colorado
Brekkott Chapman, Weber State
Brandon Boyd, Idaho State
Cody John, Weber State
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player – Jordan Davis, Northern Colorado
Newcomer of the Year – Bernie Andre, Northern Arizona; Cameron Oluyitan, Southern Utah; Kendal Manuel, Montana
Freshman of the Year – Bodie Hume, Northern Colorado
Defensive Player of the Year – Jonah Radebaugh, Northern Colorado
Top Reserve – Kendal Manuel, Montana
Coach of the Year – Jeff Linder, Northern Colorado
For Rorie, it is his second consecutive first-team nod, while Pridgett was recognized for the first time. Michael Oguine also earned his second all-conference pick, being named to the third team, while Kendal Manuel, a Billings native who transferred from Oregon State, was named both the Newcomer of the Year (co) and Top Reserve.
Rorie has facilitated Montana's offense and ranks in the top 10 in Big Sky play for scoring (14.7 per game, ninth), assists (4.4, sixth) and minutes played (35.5, third). His 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio leads the league by a wide margin, and overall, ranks 37th nationally.
Rorie is the fastest player in school history to reach 1,500 career points and is one of 16 active players in the entire country with at least 1,500 career points and 400 career assists.
After excelling as Montana's sixth man a year ago, Pridgett, from Oakland, Calif., has nearly doubled his point production as a junior. He's been impressive all season, but took his game to another level during the second half of league play, averaging 20.7 points per game over the past 10 contests. He ranks sixth for scoring (16.3 per game) and second for field-goal percentage (.622). He also ranks among the league leaders for rebounding, assists and steals.
In Montana's most-recent game, at Sacramento State, he became the 34th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points.
Oguine does it all for the Griz, both on and off the court. His stats, at times, get overlooked because he's able to mold into the role his team needs of him on any given night, but he still ranks in the top 20 for scoring (12.5 per game) and rebounding (5.3). He also ranks ninth for field-goal percentage (.490), 14th for steals (1.2) and 13th for offensive rebounds (1.7).
In addition to this year's selection, he also has been named a second-team pick, the league's defensive player of the year and the 2018 Big Sky Championships MVP. Oguine will likely finish his career ranked in the top five of Montana's record books for scoring, steals and games started. He is one of six active players nationally with more than 1,500 career points, 600 rebounds and 150 steals.
Kendal Manuel, a Billings, Mont., native who began his collegiate career at Oregon State, transferred closer to home prior to the start of the season. He didn't get clearance by the NCAA to play this season until two days before the team's season opener, but since he got word, he's been ready to go.
The junior leads the league with an .896 free-throw percentage and ranks fifth for three-point shooting, connecting on 43.8 percent of his long-range attempts. Manuel has played all 31 games, averaging 19.3 minutes and 9.2 points per game.
Montana made up 40 percent of the first team, with Jordan Davis (Northern Colorado), Jerrick Harding (Weber State) and Tyler Hall (Montana State) joining Rorie and Pridgett. Montana and Eastern Washington are the only two schools to have three selections among the 15 all-conference picks. Northern Colorado won the majority of the individual awards, with Davis being named the most valuable player, Bodie Hume earning freshman-of-the-year honors, Jonah Radebuagh being selected as the top defensive player and Jeff Linder earning coach of the year.
The Grizzlies travel to the Big Sky Championships this week in Boise, Idaho, where they will play as the No. 1 seed. Montana won the regular-season title for the second consecutive season, and looks to defend its tournament crown as well and make a return to the NCAA tournament. The Grizzlies are 23-8 overall. Their quarterfinals opponent will either be Northern Arizona or Sacramento State (Thursday at noon).
2019 All-Big Sky Conference Teams
First Team
Jordan Davis, Northern Colorado
Ahmaad Rorie, Montana
Jerrick Harding, Weber State
Sayeed Pridgett, Montana
Tyler Hall, Montana State
Second Team
Harald Frey, Montana State
Marcus Graves, Sacramento State
Holland Woods, Portland State
Mason Peatling, Eastern Washington
Jesse Hunt, Eastern Washington
Third Team
Michael Oguine, Montana
Jacob Davison, Eastern Washington
Joshua Patton, Sacramento State
Bernie Andre, Northern Arizona
Cameron Oluyitan, Southern Utah
Honorable Mention
Jonah Radebaugh, Northern Colorado
Brekkott Chapman, Weber State
Brandon Boyd, Idaho State
Cody John, Weber State
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player – Jordan Davis, Northern Colorado
Newcomer of the Year – Bernie Andre, Northern Arizona; Cameron Oluyitan, Southern Utah; Kendal Manuel, Montana
Freshman of the Year – Bodie Hume, Northern Colorado
Defensive Player of the Year – Jonah Radebaugh, Northern Colorado
Top Reserve – Kendal Manuel, Montana
Coach of the Year – Jeff Linder, Northern Colorado
Players Mentioned
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