NORMAL, Ill. – The Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year Milik Yarbrough was named team Most Valuable Player, while Phil Fayne earned four of the program's 10 awards announced at the team banquet on Monday evening.
Yarbrough was one of three student-athletes across the country to rank inside of his conference's top-five in points, rebounds, and assists. His overall numbers during the season – 531 points, 210 rebounds, 152 assists – put him in elite company, as just the 29th student-athlete in the NCAA since 1992-93 to put up those numbers. Of the players to accomplish the feat, just four have done it in 32 games or fewer including Yarbrough, Penny Hardaway, Evan Turner, and Denzel Valentine. His average stats have him as one of just 12 student-athletes since 1992-93 to average 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, and included in the other 12 includes Penny Hardaway, Evan Turner, Denzel Valentine, Grant Hill, Bob Sura, and Jason Kidd.
Fellow junior forward Fayne was named the Toughness Award winner, the Coaches Award winner, and the Rebound Award winner. Fayne averaged 15.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, en route to him being named Second Team All-MVC. Fayne joined Keyshawn Evans, Matt Chastain, and Zach Copeland as Captain Award recipients. Evans additionally earned the Torrey Ward Teammate Award. Evans averaged 15.2 points per game while making 91 three-point field goals, second-most in a season in school history. Madison Williams was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year.
Matt Hein earned the Most Improved Award after playing in 32 games and averaged 4.0 points, 1.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds per contest as a sophomore in 2017-18. Comparatively, as a freshman in 2016-17, Hein played in 15 games and averaged 0.5 points, 0.2 rebounds and no assists. In awards voted on by the coaching staff, Taylor Bruninga received the Student-Athlete Award.
The Redbirds finished the season with a 18-15 record. The squad earned the second seed for the MVC Tournament, and advanced to the championship game of the postseason tournament.
2017-18 Illinois State Men's Basketball Team Award Winners
Awards Voted on by Players
Most Valuable Player Award: Milik Yarbrough
Torrey Ward Teammate Award: Keyshawn Evans
Defensive Player of the Year Award: Madison Williams
Most Improved Player Award: Matt Hein
Toughness Award: Phil Fayne
Awards Voted on by Coaches
Coaches Award: Phil Fayne
Student-Athlete Award: Taylor Bruninga
Awards Determined by Statistical Leaders
Rebounding Award: Phil Fayne
Assist Award: Milik Yarbrough
Award Given to Team Captains
Captain Award: Phil Fayne, Keyshawn Evans, Matt Chastain, Zach Copeland
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