Trevor Mbakwe Named Player of the Year

Minnesota Gopher signee Trevor Mbwake, a 6-foot-8 forward from Miami Dade (FL) CC, was named FCAAA Southern Conference Player of the Year. Mbakwe has paced the Sharks to a 26-2 record, with a loss to #1 Chipola and a forfeit. He has shined in the last month, being named NJCAA Player of the Week for games Feb. 1 through Feb. 8. Mbakwe had a game-high 26 points in their regular season finale.

Trevor Mbakwe has paced the Sharks to the Southern Conference title and a #1 Southern seed. They will face Gulf Coast (22-8), the #2 seed from the Panhandle Conference March 5th. Gulf Coast is led by first team All-Conference choices Marques Gilstrap and Brad Reese, both 6-foot-7 sophomores. Gilstrap signed with Iowa State and Reese is headed to Texas Tech.

The winner of that contest will meet the winner of the #1 Suncoast seed Polk (24-5) vs. #2 seed Mid-Florida Santa Fe (22-7) March 6th with the victor advancing to the title. Miami Dade could face #1 Chipola (28-1, the only team to defeat them this season.

Mbakwe is averaging 13.0 rebounds per game, third in the NJCAA. His inside game is likely to make an immediate impact for Minnesota next season.