BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Boston University graduate student forward Sukhmail Mathon received 2021-22 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Year presented by PenFed Credit Union, in addition to earning a spot on the All-League first-team when the League office announced postseason major awards and All-League honors.
Mathon leads the Patriot League and is 12th in NCAA DI in rebounding (10.3 rpg) while placing sixth in scoring (15.1 ppg) and field-goal percentage (.529) to claim player of the year honors and a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team. He also ranks 10th in League history with 837 career rebounds.
Army West Point senior guard Josh Caldwell was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row after averaging 2.1 steals per game for the Black Knights. Holy Cross freshman guard Kyrell Luc captured Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors after leading all League freshmen in scoring (13.0 ppg) and claiming League rookie of the week honors six times this season.
Navy Head Coach Ed DeChellis claimed his second-consecutive Patriot League Coach of the Year honor after leading the Mids to the No. 2 seed in the upcoming League championship with the nation’s sixth-ranked scoring defense (58.8).
The Patriot League major awards and all-League teams are presented by PenFed Credit Union. They were voted on by Patriot League men’s basketball head coaches, who could not vote for their student-athletes or themselves.
2021-22 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Year
Sukhmail Mathon, Boston University, Gr., F, Shavertown, Pa./Holderness School (N.H.)
2021-22 Stats: 15.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, .529 FG%, .771 FT%, 22 blocks, 19 steals
*Mathon is the only Patriot League men’s basketball player to average a double-double this season, finishing with 15.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He ranked seventh in NCAA DI with 16 double-doubles.
*His 10.3 rebounds per game leads the Patriot League and is 12th in the nation.
*The two-time Patriot League Player of the Week finished sixth in the League in scoring (15.1 ppg) and field-goal percentage (.529).
2021-22 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
Josh Caldwell, Army West Point, Sr., G, Jr., G, Columbia, S.C./Heathwood Hall (USMAPS)
2021-22 Stats: 12.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 64 steals, 4 blocks
*Caldwell claimed his second-consecutive Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year after finishing second in the League with 2.1 steals per game. He was also 11th in the League with 5.2 rebounds per game.
*The Columbia, S.C. native posted 19 multi-steal games, including a League season-high six steals against Navy on Jan. 22. His five-steal against Boston University is tied for the second-highest single-game total in the League this season.
*He helped the Black Knights’ defense create 14.0 turnovers per game, tied for the best mark in the League.
2021-22 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year
Kyrell Luc, Holy Cross, Fr., G, Dorchester, Mass./Brimmer & May
2021-22 Stats: 13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 45 steals, 9 blocks, .356 3FG%, .773 FT%
*Luc, a six-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, led all League freshmen in scoring with 13.0 points per game.
*The Dorchester, Mass. native reached double-figures 23 times this season, including a season-high 24 points in a 75-70 win at Boston University on Jan. 31.
*Reached double-figures in scoring in 11 of his last 12 games of the season to help the Crusaders overcome a 1-5 start to earn a first-round home game in the Patriot League Championship.
2021-22 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year
Ed DeChellis, Navy
*DeChellis was selected Patriot League Coach of the Year for the second-consecutive season after leading the Mids to the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Championship.
*The Mids have frustrated opponents throughout the season with the sixth-ranked scoring defense in NCAA DI, allowing 58.8 points per game while holding opponents to a League-low .401 field-goal percentage.
*He also guided Navy to a win over then-No. 25 Virginia, the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since 1986.
2021-22 All-Patriot League Teams
Colgate and Boston University tied for a League-high three student-athletes on the three All-Patriot League squads. Lehigh had two players recognized, while American, Army West Point, Bucknell, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Loyola Maryland and Navy had one representative apiece.
Six of the 15 student-athletes voted onto the three All-Patriot League teams are multi-year honorees. Boston University graduate student guard Javante McCoy (17.1 ppg) and senior forward Walter Whyte (12.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg) received All-League accolades for the third time. American senior guard Stacy Beckton Jr. (13.4 ppg), Colgate senior guards Nelly Cummings (14.6 ppg) and Tucker Richardson (12.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.8 apg), and Holy Cross senior forward Gerrale Gates (16.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg) are all two-time honorees.
Mathon, McCoy, Cummings and Richardson all made the first team with Loyola Maryland junior guard Cam Spencer, who led the League in scoring (18.6 ppg) and steals (2.3 spg).
Army West Point sophomore guard Jalen Rucker (16.8 ppg), an all-rookie selection last year, makes his first appearance as an All-League selection on the second team. Bucknell senior guard Andrew Funk (17.7 ppg), who finished second in the League in scoring, was joined by Gates, Lafayette junior center Neal Quinn (14.6 ppg, 7.4 ppg, 3.9 apg) and Navy senior guard John Carter Jr. (12.9 ppg).
Beckton Jr. and Whyte both made the third-team, joining Colgate junior forward Keegan Records (10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg), who led the Patriot League in field-goal percentage (.643). Lehigh senior center Nic Lynch (10.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and junior guard Evan Taylor (13.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) also made the third-team as first-time All-Patriot League recipients.
Caldwell, the defensive player of the year, highlights the Patriot League All-Defensive squad, with Mathon and Navy senior center Richard Njoku earning the recognition for the defensive prowess for the second straight season. Colgate’s Richardson and Navy senior guard Greg Summers were first-time all-defense selections.
Luc leads a group of talented freshmen on the Patriot League All-Rookie Team. Lehigh freshman guard Keith Higgins Jr., a three-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, averaged 11.5 points in League play to make the rookie squad. Lafayette freshman guard C.J. Fulton made the team after finishing third in NCAA DI in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.50). American freshman guard Elijah Stephens and Lehigh freshman guard Tyler Whitney-Sidney were also recognized by the League coaches for their early impact.
2021-22 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Major Awards and All-League Teams
Player of the Year – Sukhmail Mathon, Boston University, Gr., F
Defensive Player of the Year – Josh Caldwell, Army West Point, Sr., G
Rookie of the Year – Kyrell Luc, Holy Cross, Fr., G
Coach of the Year – Ed DeChellis, Navy
First-Team All-Patriot League
Sukhmail Mathon, Boston University, Gr., F
Javante McCoy, Boston University, Gr., G
Nelly Cummings, Colgate, Sr., G
Tucker Richardson, Colgate, Sr., G
Cam Spencer, Loyola Maryland, Jr., G
Second-Team All-Patriot League
Jalen Rucker, Army West Point, So., G
Andrew Funk, Bucknell, Sr., G
Gerrale Gates, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Neal Quinn, Lafayette, Jr., C
John Carter Jr., Navy, Sr., G
Third-Team All-Patriot League*
Stacy Beckton Jr., American, Sr., G
Walter Whyte, Boston University, Sr., F
Keegan Records, Colgate, Jr., F
Nic Lynch, Lehigh, Sr., C
Evan Taylor, Lehigh, Jr., G
Patriot League All-Defensive Team
Josh Caldwell, Army West Point, Sr., G
Sukhmail Mathon, Boston University, Gr., F
Tucker Richardson, Colgate, Sr., G
Richard Njoku, Navy, Sr., C
Greg Summers, Navy, Sr., G
Patriot League All-Rookie Team
Elijah Stephens, American, Fr., G
Kyrell Luc, Holy Cross, Fr., G
C.J. Fulton, Lafayette, Fr., G
Keith Higgins Jr., Lehigh, Fr., G
Tyler Whitney-Sidney, Lehigh, Fr., G
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.