Bess, Toppin, Kier, Dunn-Martin Also Claim Major Awards





BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Davidson junior guard Jon Axel Gudmundsson was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year while VCU coach Mike Rhoades was voted A-10 Coach of the Year. The league announced its awards Tuesday in advance of the 2019 Men’s Basketball Championship, which begins Wednesday at Barclays Center.

Saint Louis senior forward Javon Bess was named Defensive Player of the Year while Dayton forward Obi Toppin was selected as Rookie of the Year. George Mason junior guard Justin Kier was voted as the Chris Daniels Award winner, which is given to the A-10’s Most Improved Player. Duquesne sophomore guard Tavian Dunn-Martin was selected as the Sixth Man of the Year.

The major awards, the 15-member All-Conference teams, All-Defensive and All-Rookie teams were all nominated and voted by the conference’s 14 head coaches. The basketball communications directors select the five-member All-Academic team.

Gudmundsson led Davidson to a second-place finish in the A-10. He finished third in scoring in the league with 17.2 points per game, fifth in rebounds with 7.3 rebounds per game and fifth in the A-10 in assists with 4.7 per game. This marks the third A-10 Player of the Year awards for a Wildcat in Davidson’s five years in the league. Last year Peyton Aldridge was named Co-Player of the Year (with St. Bonaventure’s Jaylen Adams), and in 2014-15 Tyler Kalinoski earned the award.

Bess led a Saint Louis team that was third in the league in defense, allowing just 64.9 points per game. He was ninth in the conference in steals per game with 1.5, and sixth in defensive rebounds with 5.5.

Toppin, who was named A-10 Rookie of the Week seven times this season, set the Dayton dunks record, breaking the old record of 66. He also leads the league and is fourth in the nation in field goal percentage at 67.3 percent.

Kier improved in nearly every statistical category from 2017-18, most notably scoring (+3.0 points per game), 3-point field goal percentage (.372 over .174), field goal percentage (.469 vs. .451), rebounds per game (+1.9 rebounds per game).

Dunn-Martin is second on Duquesne in assists and 3-pointers made. He has scored in double-digits eight times and topped the 20-point mark three times. Dunn-Martin had four games with five or more assists in conference play, and he’s one of three Duquesne players to see action in every game.

Rhoades led VCU to a 16-2 record in league play, the most conference wins by an A-10 team since the 2005-06 season. The Rams, who are 25-6 overall, were picked seventh in the preseason poll entering the season.

The 2018 Championship begins Wednesday with two afternoon first-round games that will air on ESPN+. Thursday features four second-round games and the quarterfinals are Friday. Thursday’s and Friday’s games will be carried by NBCSN. Semifinals begin Saturday at 1:00 pm on CBS Sports Network and the Championship final is Sunday at 1:00 pm on CBS Sports. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.

2018-19 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Awards

Player of the Year

Jon Axel Gudmundsson, Davidson



Defensive Player of the Year

Javon Bess, Saint Louis



Rookie of the Year

Obi Toppin, Dayton



Chris Daniels Most Improved Player

Justin Kier, George Mason



Sixth Man of the Year

Tavian Dunn-Martin, Duquesne



Coach of the Year

Mike Rhoades, VCU



All-Conference First Team

Jon Axel Gudmundsson, Davidson

Kellan Grady, Davidson

Obi Toppin, Dayton

Courtney Stockard, St. Bonaventure

Marcus Evans, VCU



All-Conference Second Team

Justin Kier, George Mason

Cyril Langevine, Rhode Island

Jacob Gilyard, Richmond

Charlie Brown, Jr., Saint Joseph's

Javon Bess, Saint Louis



All-Conference Third Team

Jalen Crutcher, Dayton

Josh Cunningham, Dayton

Grant Golden, Richmond

Hasahn French, Saint Louis

De'Riante Jenkins, VCU



All-Academic Team

Ryan Mikesell, Dayton

Justin Mazzulla, George Washington

Jeff Dowtin, Rhode Island

Noah Yates, Richmond

Marcus Evans, VCU



All-Defensive Team

Cyril Langevine, Rhode Island

Jacob Gilyard, Richmond

Osun Osunniyi, St. Bonaventure

Javon Bess, Saint Louis

Hasahn French, Saint Louis



All-Rookie Team

Sincere Carry, Duquesne

Nick Honor, Fordham

Obi Toppin, Dayton

Kyle Lofton, St. Bonaventure

Osun Osunniyi, St. Bonaventure