ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - For the second time in as many seasons, Saint Peter's men's basketball was represented on All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) teams, by
KC Ndefo and
Daryl Banks III, announced by the league office today. Ndefo secured a unanimous spot on the first team, while Banks claimed third team honors. The duo were both voted by the league's coaches to the same respective teams in the preseason.
After earning All-MAAC Third team accolades in 2019-20, Ndefo locked down a unanimous selection to the All-MAAC First Team in 2020-21. The junior forward led the Peacocks in scoring, blocks, and steals for the second consecutive season, averaging 13.6 points, 3.7 blocks, and 1.4 steals. Ndefo ranked top-10 in the MAAC in all three categories, finishing the regular season first in blocks, sixth in points, and seventh in steals, while also ranking ninth in rebounds. His blocks per game average and total blocks (85) both lead the nation. Known predominantly for his rim protection, Ndefo made a jump offensively this season, improving his scoring average by 5.1 points per game and scoring in double-figures in 18 out of 23 games. Moreover, the Elmont, NY native is one of two players ranked top-10 in the conference in both blocks and steals this season.
History was made in 2020 when Ndefo won both the MAAC Defensive Player and Sixth Player of the Year awards. With his ascendance offensively, he has a shot at making more history in 2021 as a viable candidate for both MAAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Major awards for the conference will be announced on Wednesday, March 10.
An All-Rookie selection last season, Banks has now made an all-conference appearance in each of his first two seasons in Jersey City, claiming a spot on the All-MAAC Third team in 2020-21. A guard from Los Angeles, CA, he averaged 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals. Banks led the Peacocks in free throw percentage this season, converting on 87.8 percent of his freebies and ranked second on the lineup in points, assists, steals, and games in double-digits, scoring above 10 points 16 times on the year. On the MAAC leaderboard, the sophomore ranked 12th in steals and 13th in both three-point field goal percentage (.366) and assist to turnover ratio (1.37). Banks is the first Peacock since Wesley Jenkins '11 to be voted to a pair of all-league teams in his first two seasons at Saint Peter's.
The third-seeded Peacocks open play in the 2021 Hercules Tires MAAC Basketball Championship quarterfinals on Thursday, March 11 at 5:00 p.m. against the winner of No. 6 Canisius and No. 11 Rider at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
All-MAAC First Team
Isaiah Ross* - Iona
Deion Hammond*- Monmouth
KC Ndefo* - Saint Peter's
Manny Camper* - Siena
Jalen Pickett – Siena
All-MAAC Second Team
George Papas - Monmouth
Marcus Hammond - Niagara
Kobi Nwandu - Niagara
Dwight Murray – Rider
Jacob Rigoni - Quinnipiac
All-MAAC Third Team
Malek Green – Canisius
Ant Nelson - Manhattan
Warren Williams – Manhattan
Melik Martin - Monmouth
Daryl Banks III - Saint Peter's
Jordan King – Siena
MAAC All-Rookie Team
Nelly Junior Joseph* - Iona
Hakim Byrd – Marist
Ricardo Wright * - Marist
Tymu Chenery* - Quinnipiac
Louis Kortright* - Quinnipiac
* denotes unanimous selection
