LBWCC men’s basketball coach Ricky Knight and freshman guard Troyce Manassa were selected as the ACCC Southern Division Coach and Player of the Year, respectively, as was announced by the conference on Tuesday.

Knight just finished his 27th year as the coach of the Saints, where he helped lead his team to 16-11 overall record, and 12-2 record in the ACCC South.

Manassa, who also was selected on the All-Region First Team and First Team Southern Division, averaged 18.7 points per game and finished with a 79.3 shot percentage from the field.

In addition to Manassa, Saints players Malcolm Snyder and Shawntal Byrd were given awards for their efforts on the court. Snyder made the All-Region Second Team and the First Team Southern Division; and Byrd made the Second Team Southern Division.

LBWCC President Dr. Herb Riedel said the college is so proud of Knight and the players for their work on the court.

“I’m really pleased for him,” Riedel said of Knight. “Coach Knight is just really a remarkable athlete in his own right. He’s done a great job coaching at LBW for quite a few years. This is the best team I can remember us having in basketball since I’ve been at the college, since over five years.”

An Andalusia High School graduate, Knight played at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and continued his playing career in Australia, Brazil and Venezuela. He went back to take a head-coaching gig at UAH for one season before taking the same role at LBWCC. Additionally, Knight coaches the women’s team, who also made a playoff berth this season.

This is Knight’s fifth Coach of the Year award.

Snyder, a sophomore guard, averaged 16 points per game off the bench. Byrd, also a sophomore, averaged 9.6 points in 14 games this season.

Riedel said the student-athletes represent what is best about the college.

“They’ve done really well,” he said. “They need to be students and athletes, and they’re doing that. They’re an important representation for their teammates and all their classmates as well.”