Smiley, Thomas, Reaves and Rillie Headline Big Sky Awards

3/7/2024 1:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

FARMINGTON, Utah – Northern Colorado led the Big Sky with three individual award selections.

After being chosen ninth in the Big Sky Media Poll and tied for eighth among the 10 league head coaches, UNC Head Coach Steve Smiley led the Bears to a second-place finish in the conference and shared the Big Sky Coach of the Year Award, league officials announced Thursday. Smiley and Eastern Washington's David Riley after leading their teams to the top-two records and securing the top-two seeds in the Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, March 9 – March 14 in Boise Idaho.

UNC secured three selections on the all-conference teams, which equaled Eastern Washington and Montana for the most by any school. The 10 Big Sky Conference head coaches chose Saint Thomas as a unanimous first-team selection, while Dejour Reaves earned a second-team selection and Jaron Rillie collected honorable mention accolades.

Thomas added an individual award as Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year and every coach chose Reaves as the Big Sky Top Reserve.

"Receiving so many awards for our program is a huge sign of recognition for the body of work that our team accomplished during Big Sky play," Smiley said. "I do believe that any individual award reflects team success and for that, I'm extremely happy for our entire organization; the players, coaches, everybody! To get three players named to the All-Big Sky teams is extremely exciting for the program, as we received as many awards as any team in the league."

Smiley led the Bears to a 19-12 (.613) mark overall, including 12-6 (.667) in Big Sky play rank the highest in his four seasons at UNC. The Bears matched the highest seed in the conference tournament since joining the Big Sky and moving to Division I before the 2006-07 season and the 19 wins rank sixth-most during that span.

"I'm humbled to be nominated for this award, and I know that this is a reflection of the entire team and staff, really everybody that is associated with our program," Smiley said. "A head coach is only as good as the players, the coaches and the staff that he's lucky enough to work with daily, and I've got both talented players that sacrifice daily and an incredible staff that is the true reason that we succeed! In a league with so many great coaches, this award means even more, as we have elite coaches across the Big Sky. I'm humbled and grateful. "

Thomas, a transfer from Loyola Chicago, became the first Bear in program history with at least 500 points, 250 rebounds, 100 assists, 50 steals and 25 blocks in a campaign. In 123 seasons, no Bear reached the points and rebounds in a single year. He averaged 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Thomas ranked second in points and rebounds per game and sixth in assists. His 19 double-doubles paced the Big Sky, ranking fifth in the nation.

"There was no doubt in my mind that he would be the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year and a unanimous All-Big Sky First Team player," Smiley said. "Saint had one of the greatest individual seasons in UNC history, and he did it on an extremely successful team. I couldn't be prouder of Saint and his impact on our program this year. He's the ultimate winner and a player that competes every single day. I can't wait to see what he does in the Big Sky Tournament."

Reaves, a transfer from Trinidad State, averaged 14.7 points – second on the team in scoring - with 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Since moving from a starting role to the bench after an injury, the Bears boast a 14-6 mark and the team's offensive production increased from 76.9 points per game to 80.9. They improved their field-goal percentage from 43.8% to 50.7%. Behind the arc, they increased from 31.4% to 37.8%. He posted 12 of his 19 double-digit scoring games as the first off, the Bears bench, including five of his eight contests with at least 20 points. He ranked in the top 10 in the Big Sky in nine distinct categories.

"For Dejour to not only be named All-Big Sky Second Team but also the unanimous selection for Top Reserve is not only a testament to Dejour's talent and his impact on winning but more importantly, to his selflessness," Smiley said. "Dejour got injured right before our first Big Sky contest, and by the time he was medically cleared, we were in a groove and he was more than happy to come off the bench. Everybody knows he's one of the best players in the Big Sky, so for him to sacrifice like he did, he's as much a part of this winning season as anybody!"

Rillie finished with 127 assists, ranking fifth in the Big Sky Conference despite missing the first five games of the campaign. He averaged 4.9 per contest placed him second in the league and 59 in the nation, while netting the third-best assists-to-turnover ratio in the conference and 54th in the country at 2.5. He averaged 11.0 points – fourth on the squad – and 4.0 rebounds per game. Rillie registered 12 games with at least five assists and 14 double-digit scoring games.

"I'm really glad to see Jaron get selected to the All-Big Sky team," Smiley said. "Jaron had to recover from a severe injury in the non-conference portion of our schedule and for him to recover and play at the level he is playing at is extremely impressive. Jaron is one of the best passers and has one of the highest IQs for a player that I've been lucky enough to coach and his calm, steady presence helps us tremendously daily! He's well-deserving of this award."

Northern Colorado earned the No. 2 seed and faces the winner of Saturday's No. 7 Northern Arizona and No. 8 Idaho State first-round game in Sunday's quarterfinal at 8 p.m. at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho.

UNC Big Sky Newcomer of the Year
Saint Thomas, 2023-24
Andre Spight, 2017-18

UNC Big Sky Top Reserve
Dejour Reaves, 2023-24
Kai Edwards, 2019-20

UNC Big Sky Coach of the Year
Steve Smiley, 2023-2024
Jeff Linder, 2018-19
B.J. Hill, 2010-11

UNC Two-Time All-Big Sky Selection
Bodie Hume, 2020-21, 2021-22
Matt Johnson II, 2020-21, 2021-22

UNC All-Big Sky First-Team Selections
Saint Thomas, 2023-24
Jonah Radebaugh, 2019-20
Jordan Davis, 2018-19
Andre Spight, 2017-18
Derrick Barden, 2012-13
Devon Beitzel, 2010-11
Will Figures, 2009-10
Jabril Banks, 2008-09

UNC All-Big Sky Second-Team Selections
Dejour Reaves, 2023-24
Dalton Knect, 2022-23
Daylan Kountz, 2021-22
Bodie Hume, 2019-20
Tevin Svihovec, 2014-15
Derrick Barden, 2013-14
Tate Unruh, 2013-14
Tate Unruh, 2012-13
Anthony Johnson, 2015-16
Neal Kingman, 2010-11
Devon Beitzel, 2009-10

UNC All-Big Sky Third Team
Matt Johnson II, 2021-22
Bodie Hume, 2020-21
Matt Johnson II, 2020-21
Jordan Davis, 2017-18
Jordan Davis, 2016-17

UNC All-Big Sky Honorable Mention
Jaron Rillie, 2023-24
Daylen Kountz, 2022-23
Jonah Radebaugh, 2018-19

2023-24 Big Sky Men's Basketball Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player – Dillon Jones, Weber State
Newcomer of the Year – Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado
Defensive Player of the Year – Robert Ford III, Montana State
Top Reserve – Dejour Reaves, Northern Colorado *
Freshman of the Year – LeJuan Watts, Eastern Washington *
Co-Coach of the Year – David Riley, Eastern Washington & Steve Smiley, Northern Colorado

First Team All-Conference
Dillon Jones, Weber State *
Cedric Coward, Eastern Washington *
Aanen Moody, Montana *
Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado *
Robert Ford III, Montana State
Brayden Parker, Idaho State
Trenton McLaughlin, Northern Arizona

Second Team All-Conference
KJ Allen, Portland State
Ethan Price, Eastern Washington
Dischon Thomas, Montana
Casey Jones, Eastern Washington
Carson Basham, Northern Arizona
Dejour Reaves, Northern Colorado

Honorable Mention All-Big Sky
Steven Verplancken, Weber State
Maleek Arington, Idaho State
Brandon Whitney, Montana
Brandon Walker, Montana State
Jaron Rillie, Northern Colorado
Zee Hamoda, Sacramento State
Note: Honorable Mention features Six Players due to tie for final spot

All-Defensive Team
Robert Ford III, Montana State *
Maleek Arington, Idaho State *
Carson Basham, Northern Arizona
Casey Jones, Eastern Washington
Julius Mims, Idaho
Alex Tew, Weber State
Note: The team features Six Players due to tie for the final spot

* Denotes Unanimous Selection