ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College Men's Basketball sophomore forward Avery Oduro-Dompreh (Elkridge, MD/Oakland Mills) was voted the 2024-25 Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, highlighting the five Gators that earned All-Conference honors. Results of the voting, conducted by the league's head coaches, was announced earlier today.
"Our coaching staff is incredibly proud of our Empire 8 award winners this season," said Head Coach Brian Barnes. "This was a special group for us to coach and we are appreciative of their collective efforts to return to Empire 8 postseason play."
The forward led the Conference with 36 total blocks, 1.4 per-game, and was tied for fourth in the E8 in rebounding at 7.5 per-game. He helped RSC (16-10/9-7 E8) lead the Conference in team defense at 66.5 points per-game and qualify for the Conference Championship Tournament for the fourth time in program history. Opponents only made 39.0 percent of their field goal attempts and 27.5 percent from three-point range against the Gators, good for 21st and seventh nationally. Oduro-Dompreh, who averaged 10.4 points on 62.4 percent shooting, tallied 19 steals and 31 assists on the season. The forward registered five double-doubles, had 11 multiple-block performances, and grabbed double-digit boards on seven occasions.
"We couldn't be happier for Avery winning Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year this season," said Barnes. "Avery is an outstanding teammate whose overall development continues to impress our coaching staff. His defensive versatility allowed us to be amongst the Nation's best in defensive field goal % and one of the best in Empire 8 Conference play in points per-game allowed. We are looking forward to his continued growth in our program and an exciting year to build on."
He closed his sophomore campaign atop the program's career record book with a 60.3 made field goal percentage, and fifth with 1.1 blocks per-game. The forward now has 53 career blocks, ninth-most by an RSC player.
Junior guard Trevor Green (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh/HVCC) was voted second-team All-E8. He averaged 12.8 points on 40.4 percent shooting and 6.5 rebounds, good for tenth in the Conference. The junior, who dished out 3.0 assists per-game, tied for third in the E8 with 2.0 steals per-game, and tied for seventh in the Conference with 0.8 blocks per-game. Green scored in double figures 12 times, surpassed 20 points on four occasions and registered five double-doubles. The guard passed out six assists twice during his RSC debut season.
"Trevor Green had an outstanding season despite missing some key Conference games in February," commented Barnes. "He showed night in and night out that he was one of the top all-around players in the Empire 8. We believe in Trevor and his potential to be a Player of the Year candidate next season."
Junior guard Brandon Harris (Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton/Herkimer CC) and senior guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) made the third-team.
Harris, the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, February 2, topped the Gators in scoring at 12.9 points per-game. He knocked down 40.1 percent of his field goals, while averaging 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals. The junior tallied 32 points at Alfred on January 31, tied for fourth-most in a game by an RSC player.
"Brandon Harris really stepped up at a key point in the season for us," commented Barnes. "He showed that he can score with the best of them and is one of the better all-around players in the Empire 8. We are incredibly proud of his development this season and look forward to helping him take another step forward next year."
Girard, who earned third-team All-E8 honors last season, is easy to find in the RSC Record Book. The two-year co-captain, the program's career leader with 157 made three-pointers, concluded the campaign with 1,149 career points, third-most by an RSC player. He totaled 140 career steals, 205 career assists, and 414 career made field goals, good for second, third, and third respectively among Gators. Girard, who played in 97 career games, fourth-most by an RSC player, averaged 12.2 points on 38.3 percent shooting, 35.9 percent from beyond the arc, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals this season.
"We're thrilled for Noah as only our second player ever to earn multiple all Empire 8 Conference recognition," said Barnes. "That is a testament to his hard work and dedication to our program. He will undoubtedly be missed as he's had his fingerprints all over our return to Empire 8 postseason play. Thank you, Noah!"
One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2024-25 E8 Men's Basketball Sportsmen of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen. Senior forward Todd Williamson (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons) represented the Gators on the squad.
"Todd Williamson has grown so much in his two years as a Gator captain," said Barnes. "He always puts the team above himself and exemplifies our program core values on a daily basis. An outstanding representative of our program, we're excited to honor Todd with his selection to the Empire 8 All Sportsman team. Todd will be a success in whatever he chooses in life and we're so thankful for his many contributions to our program.,"
Gator Bites: The 2024-2025 season marked the 16th for Barnes at the helm of the Gators...RSC which boasts the top defense in the E8, made its fourth E8 Championship Tournament appearance…The Gators earned a spot in the playoffs for three-straight seasons: 2019-20 – 2021-22…RSC finished the regular season with seven of the final ten, including six of the last seven, games away from home…The Gators got off to a 12-3 record, their best start to a season since 2014-15…Nine returnees combined with seven newcomers on this year's edition…Girard and Williamson were voted co-captains of this year's squad…Girard, the program's career leader for made three pointers, became just the fifth Gator to surpass 1,000 career points in the home win vs. Saint John Fisher on January 17…The co-captain, third all-time with 1,149 career points, became just the third Gator to dish out 200 career assists in the victory at Saint John Fisher on February 15…Williamson was selected the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, January 5…He registered team-highs of 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in the home win vs. SUNY Cobleskill on January 3…Oduro-Dompreh is a presence in the post for the Gators...The forward began the week leading the Conference in blocks per-game and was tied for fourth in the E8 in rebounding…Harris was announced as the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, February 2…He averaged 25.3 points on 50.8 percent shooting across three games…The junior tallied 32 points at Alfred on January 31, tied for fourth-most in a game by an RSC player.
