Eastern Kentucky University freshman Nick Mayo, a former Messalonskee of Oakland basketball standout, has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday.
Mayo, who was also named a conference first-team selection, started in all 31 regular-season games for the Colonels and averaged 14.5 points, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. The 6-foot-9 forward also hit 60.7 percent of his shots from the field, good for fourth place in the conference and 18th in the nation.
Mayo was also accurate from 3-point land where he made 55.6 percent of his shots and hit 80.2 percent at the foul line.
During the season, Mayo scored 20 or more points in eight games and a season-high 28 points against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Jan. 16. He also finished the regular season with three double-doubles in points and rebounds.
In conference games, Mayo increased his scoring average to 16.6 points per game, ninth in the league.
He was named the conference’s freshman of the week nine times during the season, which was the second highest in the history of the award.
The Colonels finished with a 15-16 overall record and a 6-10 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference, finishing ninth and just missing the eight-team league playoffs that began Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee.