Cain Named District II Coach of the Year; Hunter Named Region II Player of the Year

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--The Keene State College men's basketball duo of Jeff Hunter and Octavio Brito were both named First Team All-District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and First Team All-Region by D3hoops.com, as announced today by the respective organizations.  

Hunter (Hudson, Mass.) was named to the NABC First Team All-District for the second straight year, and is a D3hoops.com Regional honoree for the second straight year, having been named to the second team in 2021-2022.   He was also voted as Region II Player of the Year by D3hoops.com.   The Owls' co-captain was named First Team All-Little East Conference, LEC Offensive Player of the Year, LEC Defensive Player of the Year, and to the LEC All-Defensive Team.  The 6-7 forward started all 30 games and had 24 double-doubles, averaging 18.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game.   He was named LEC Player of the Week five times, USBWA National Player of the Week twice, and to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week twice.  

Brito (Lincoln, R.I.) receives his first nod to the First Team All-District and First Team All-Region.   The sophomore co-captain was also named First Team All-LEC and to the All-LEC Defensive Team.   Brito started 29 of 30 games this seaosn, leading the Owls in scoring at 20.4 points per game, with 6.7 rebounds and shooting 44.1% from three point range and 75.8% from the foul line.  He was named LEC Player of the Week four times, and to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week twice this season.

Both players have been named to the Bevo Francis Top 50 Watch List.

Head coach Ryan Cain was named the NABC District II Coach of the Year.   Cain led the Owls to a school record 28 wins, a perfect 16-0 mark in the Little East Conference, a second consecutive LEC tournament title and fifth in the last nine seasons, and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Championship.  The Owls were also selected as a host site for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament, playing "March Madness" games at Spaulding Gymnasium for the first time since 2007.