NEW YORK — Leading the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team to the Skyline Conference Championship in their first year in the league, seniors Matt O'Neill and Michael Megafu have been named to the 2015-16 Skyline All-Conference Team, announced today by the league office. O'Neill earns first-team honors while Megafu is a second-team selection.
The duo led the most potent offense in the league pouring in a league-leading 79.5 points a game. The Bears (15-12, 10-10) finished in sixth place and are look to complete the cinderella story of securing their first league title in their inaugural season in the league. After upsetting No. 3 Farmingdale State and No. 2 Sage earlier this week, they will face top-seeded Old Westbury on Saturday, February 27 in the Skyline Championship Finals at 1 p.m.
O'Neill was one of the most prolific scorers in the Skyline averaging 18.1 points a game, third-best in the league. The guard scored in double figures in 23-of-25 games, finishing with 20-or-more points in 10 of those games. The St. Edmund Prep product made SJC Brooklyn history compiling the first recorded triple-double in Bears history with 15 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds against Maritime in the Bears regular season finale on February 17—his fifth double-double of the season.
The Brooklyn native also became the Bears all-time career steals leader, ranked fifth in the Division III with a Skyline-best 3.3 thefts per game. A six-time Skyline honor roll selection, the 5-foot-11 guard was ranked second in the conference with 4.8 assists and completed a solid all-around effort this season with 7.1 rebounds per game, second-best on the team. In addition to joining the coveted 1,000-point scoring club this season, O'Neill also scored a career-high 36 points vs. Sarah Lawrence on January 9, the most points in a single-game by a Bear in 12 years.
A three-time All-Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and All-Association of Division III Independent honoree his first three seasons, Megafu concludes an outstanding four-year career with a senior campaign averaging 16.1 points—scoring in double figures in all but one game—and 10.1 rebounds per game ranked second in the league in rebounding and double-doubles, third in blocks and sixth in steals. One of the most efficient shooters in the league connecting on 55.3 percent of his attempts, the Nazareth Regional High School product joined the exclusive 1,500-point, 1,000-rebound club this season, one of only two active Division III players to accomplish the feat. Despite having a smaller frame compared to his peers at forward at 6-foot-2, Megafu is the active career Division III leader in rebounds (1,103) and double-doubles (58).
In addition to his accomplishments on the court, Megafu was selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District First Team, the second SJC Brooklyn student-athlete to receive the honor. One of only seven Division III men's basketball student-athletes in New York State to receive the distinction and the only from the Skyline, Megafu will move on to the national ballot where Academic All-America Teams will be announced later this month.
The all-conference teams are voted on by the Skyline Conference's 11 head men's basketball coaches.
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2015-16 Skyline Conference Men's Basketball All-Conference Team
First Team
Melvin Ford, Sage (Sr., F; Voorhees, N.J.)
Andy Laurent, St. Joseph's (L.I.) (Jr. G; Amityville, N.Y.)
Patrick MacDonald, Maritime (So., C; Buffalo, N.Y.)
Matt O'Neill, St. Joseph's (Bklyn.) (Sr., G; Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Shelby Rosenberg, Yeshiva (Sr., F; Woodmere, N.Y.)
Jamail Stanley, Old Westbury (Jr., G; Syracuse, N.Y.) *
Second Team
Jamir Ferebee, Mount Saint Vincent (So., G; Staten Island, N.Y.)
Trey Kinard, Farmingdale State (So, G; Deer Park, N.Y.)
Michael Megafu, St. Joseph's (Bklyn.) (Sr. F; Jamaica, N.Y.)
P.J. Page, Old Westbury (Sr., F; Copiague, N.Y.)
Andre Robinson, Sage (Sr., G; Ft. Pierce, Fla.)
* Player of the Year: Jamail Stanley, Old Westbury
Defensive Player of the Year: Travis Gill, Sage (Sr., G/F; Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Rookie of the Year: George Riefenstahl, Farmingdale State (Fr., F; Bayport, N.Y.)
Coach of the Year: Brendan Twomey, Farmingdale State (third season)
2015-16 Skyline Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams Announced
2015-16 SJC Brooklyn Award Winners