Seven Arkansas Tech University student-athletes were recognized when the Great American Conference announced its 2017-18 basketball awards on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
R.J. Glasper was named GAC men’s basketball freshman of the year. The Forrest City product is averaging 19.7 points per game, which ranks second in the conference and No. 1 among all NCAA Division II freshmen.
Glasper (photographed) was also named to the All-GAC first team, making him the first freshman in GAC men’s basketball history to earn first team all-conference honors.
Two of Glasper’s teammates — Mason Cline and Montrell Williams — also earned commendation from the league.
Cline, a junior forward from Springdale, received the GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award, while Williams was named All-GAC honorable mention.
Four ATU women’s basketball players are listed among the 2017-18 GAC honorees.
Senior forward Cheyenne North of Gallatin, Tenn., earned All-GAC first team accolades. It marks the sixth time in the seven-year history of the conference that the Golden Suns have had at least one All-GAC first team performer.
Freshman guard Jayana Sanders of Pine Bluff (All-GAC second team), junior guard Kylie Ladd of Ozark (All-GAC honorable mention) and junior guard Taylor Ely of Norman, Okla. (GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award) also heard their names called on Wednesday night during the awards banquet, which preceded the GAC Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla.
