St. Thomas Aquinas College's Starrell Hearns, Derrick James and Jordan Green each earned All-ECC honors, as the league office announced its annual awards on Tuesday.
Starrell Hearns and Derrick James took home First Team All-Conference honors, while Jordan Green scored Third Team kudos.
Hearns played in all 28 regular season games for the Spartans, while averaging 26.1 minutes per contest. The Carteret, New Jersey native ranks first on the team in total minutes played (730), points per game (17.4), total points (488 - 4th ECC), rebounds per game (5.4), total rebounds (152), total steals (57 - 1st ECC), total field goals made (176 - 3rd ECC), total three-point field goals made (60 - 4th ECC) and total free throws made (76). He was also second on the squad in minutes per game (26.1), assists per game (2.7), total assists (75), steals per game (2.0 - 4th ECC). Starell tallied his 1,000th career point on December 10, and received recognition by the East Coast Conference with Player of the Week recognition on both January 26 and February 23. The Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association also acknowledged Star's work on the hardwood with Division II/III accolades on February 24.
James suited up in 21 regular season games for the maroon and gold, while averaging 27.5 minutes per contest. The Columbus, Ohio resident ranks first on the team in assists per game (5.8 - 2nd ECC, 10th NCAA), total assists (122 - 3rd ECC) and steals per game (2.5 - 2nd ECC). He was also second on the squad in points per game (12.6), total steals (52 - 5th ECC), three-point field goal percentage (43.8 percent - 1st ECC) and third in total points (265) and total free throws made (50). Derrick recorded his 1,000th career point on January 21 and his 500th assist on February 22.
Green participated in all 28 regular season games for STAC, while averaging 25.4 minutes per matchup. The Hagerstown, Md. native ranks first on the team in field goal percentage (59.2 percent - 1st ECC), blocks per game (0.9) and total blocked shots (24). He was also second on the squad in total minutes played (711), total field goals made (126), total free throws made (61), total points (313), rebounds per game (4.8) and total rebounds (135) and third in minutes per game (25.4) and points per game (11.2).
No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas receives a bye into the semifinal round of the East Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and will next play on Saturday, March 7, against the winner of Wednesday's first round matchup between No. 3 College of Staten Island and No. 6 Roberts Wesleyan University. The Spartans and Dolphins or Redhawks will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. inside of Lumsden Gymnasium on the campus of top-seeded Daemen University in Amherst, New York.
2025-26 All-ECC Men's Basketball Team
Player of the Year: Zach Philipkoski, Daemen
Co-Rookie of the Year: Oliver Spence, District of Columbia; Sean Reynolds D’Youville
Defensive Player of the Year: Justin Hemphill, Daemen
Coach of the Year: Mike MacDonald, Daemen
First-Team All-ECC
Benjamin Bill, Daemen
Aaron Goldstein, Staten Island
Starrell Hearns, St. Thomas Aquinas
Justin Hemphill, Daemen
Derrick James, St. Thomas Aquinas
Zach Philipkoski, Daemen – Player of the Year
Second-Team All-ECC
Tahj-Malik Campbell, Queens
JJ Chestnut, Staten Island
Justin Glover, Daemen
Bryce Merchant, Molloy
Elisha Warren, D’Youville
Third-Team All-ECC
Jordan Green, St. Thomas Aquinas
Dylan Kopp, Molloy
Kohen Rowbatham, Mercy
Oliver Spence, District of Columbia
Collin Woods, Roberts Wesleyan