Saint Mary's Kasongo named U SPORTS rookie of the year, Dalhousie's Stammberger wins Ken Shields Award

HALIFAX, N.S. (U SPORTS) – Saint Mary's guard Nikita Kasongo captured the Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy as Rookie of the Year, while Dalhousie forward Sven Stammberger earned the Ken Shields Award for Student-Athlete Community Service for his outstanding contribution both on and off the court. 

Laurentian guard Kadre Gray was honoured with the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy as U SPORTS men's basketball Player of the Year Wednesday night, as the national award winners were celebrated at the annual All-Canadian gala.

Carleton guard Marcus Anderson took home Defensive Player of the Year honours and his bench boss Dave Smart received the Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Trophy as Coach of the Year.
 

DR. PETER MULLINS TROPHY (Rookie of the Year): Nikita Kasongo, Saint Mary's

The 2017-18 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year is Nikita Kasongo of the Saint Mary's Huskies.

A 6-foot-4 guard from Montreal, Que., Kasongo started in all 20 of the Huskies' regular season games.

He led all freshman scorers, averaging 18.9 points per game, good for fifth overall in the AUS conference and second in team scoring, behind only Saint Mary's first team all-star Kemar Alleyne.

He averaged 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Kasongo is the first-ever Saint Mary's player to be named U SPORTS Rookie of the Year.

"Nikita has been a great player for us in his first year," said Saint Mary's head coach Jonah Taussig. "His ability to score in a variety of ways, as well as defend multiple positions were a big reason we finished the regular season with a 14-6 record. I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops in the coming years."

KEN SHIELDS AWARD (Student-Athlete Community Service): Sven Stammberger, Dalhousie

A native of Halifax, N.S., 6-foot-6 forward Sven Sammberger was the Tigers' leading scorer this season, averaging 18.4 points per game.

He also led Dalhousie in rebounding, with an average of 8.2 per game, and added 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

In the classroom, Stammberger is a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian with a 3.5 GPA.

He is heavily involved in the community, volunteering his time with numerous initiatives both on and off the Dalhousie campus, including the Special Tigers program. Currently in its fifth year, the Special Tigers program connects children and teens with cognitive disabilities with Dalhousie student-athletes through sport. Events include basketball, soccer, mini-stick hockey, badminton and more.

Stammberger has volunteered his time with several Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative (SAMHI) events, as well as with IWK Activity Days events. He has also been a part of the Best Buddies program – which works with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities – as well as Tigers basketball camps, working with elementary, junior high and high school students.

"In addition to being a fine athlete, Sven is a considerate, thoughtful and caring young man," said Dalhousie head coach Rick Plato. "When I think of Sven the words integrity, selflessness and compassion come to mind first and foremost. He is an exceptional young man and a true role model for both his teammates and youngsters alike."

2018 U SPORTS MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-CANADIANS
(*AUS Student-Athletes in bold)

First Team

Second Team

All-Rookie Team

For the complete U SPORTS release, please click here.

Source: U SPORTS Communications