The Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Division-II postseason awards were recently announced, and Arizona Western College 6-foot-6 sophomore Marsai Mason emerged as the conference’s most dominant individual performer. Mason captured two of the league’s most prestigious honors, being named both as the ACCAC Division-I Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and highlighting his incredible impact on both ends of the floor this season. Mason's outstanding play all season helped lead Arizona Western College to the ACCAC Division-I championship.
Throughout the season, Mason consistently demonstrated why he was one of the most complete players in the conference. His ability to score and defend made him one of the most difficult matchups for opposing teams. Offensively, Mason proved to be a serious mis-match for opposing teams. Whether attacking the rim, scoring around the basket or knocking down perimeter shots, Mason was the driving force behind Arizona Western’s success. On the defensive end, Mason elevated his game even further. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses, pressure ball handlers, and generate turnovers made him one of the most feared defenders in the conference. That defensive intensity ultimately earned him the ACCAC Defensive Player of the Year award, an honor reserved for the league’s top defensive performer.
Mason’s remarkable season also earned him a spot on the ACCAC All-Region First Team, where he was joined by Ryan Hunt and Kahu Treacher of Eastern Arizona College, Matt Anglo of Arizona Western College, and Brayden Gant of Central Arizona College.
Arizona Western’s success was also reflected in the conference coaching honors, as Head Coach Kyle Isaacs was named ACCAC Division-I Coach of the Year, after leading the Matadors to the conference championship.
In addition, Emmanuel Joe-Samuel of Cochise College was recognized as the conference’s Freshman of the Year, highlighting another rising young talent within the ACCAC.
Still, the story of the ACCAC Division-I season clearly belonged to Marsai Mason, whose dominance on both ends of the floor helped power Arizona Western College to a championship season.
Winning both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season is a rare accomplishment and speaks volumes about Mason’s complete skill set, leadership and competitiveness. Mason has firmly established himself as one of the top junior college prospects in the country, and a prospect capable of making an impact at the Division-I level of college basketball.
Here are this year's selections for Division-I honors by the ACCAC this season . . .
ACCAC D-I Men's Basketball Postseason Awards
ACCAC Division-I Conference Champions
- Arizona Western College
ACCAC Division-I Player of the Year
- Marsai Mason — Arizona Western College
ACCAC Division-I Defensive Player of the Year
- Marsai Mason — Arizona Western College
ACCAC Division-I Freshman of the Year
- Emmanuel Joe-Samuel — Cochise College
ACCAC Division-I Coach of the Year
- Kyle Isaacs — Arizona Western College
ACCAC Division-I All-Region 1st Team
- Marsai Mason — Arizona Western College
- Ryan Hunt — Eastern Arizona College
- Kahu Treacher — Eastern Arizona College
- Matt Anglo — Arizona Western College
- Brayden Gant — Central Arizona College
ACCAC Division-I All-Region 2nd Team
- Jhace Johnson — Cochise College
- Jason Parent — Yavapai College
- Emmanuel Joe-Samuel — Cochise College
- Maximus Romero — College of Southern Nevada
- Teron Murray — Cochise College
