Evelyn, Walker Earn MVC Postseason Honors
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Valparaiso University men’s basketball sophomore Bakari Evelyn (Detroit, Mich./Hillcrest Academy/Southfield Christian [Nebraska]) was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team and senior Tevonn Walker (Montreal, Quebec/Vanier College) earned a spot on the MVC All-Defensive Team as the conference office announced its postseason All-Conference Teams on Tuesday.
Evelyn made an immediate impact on the Crusaders’ roster this year in his first season of action after transferring from Nebraska. The sophomore averaged 12.5 points per game and recorded a team-best 90 assists overall in the regular season. Evelyn raised his scoring average to a team-high 14.1 ppg in MVC action, good for 10th in the conference, and also ranked among the conference’s best in MVC-only play in 3-point percentage (42.3%, fourth) and 3-pointers made (2.3/game, sixth).
Walker received All-Defensive Team honors for the second straight year, having picked up the accolade last season in the Horizon League as well. Often tasked with locking down the opposition’s top perimeter threat, Walker ranks second in the conference with 1.7 steals/game. He is knocking on the door of the Crusaders’ single-season top-10 chart with 47 steals to date, and his 149 career steals are ninth-most in program history, just one theft shy of eighth position.
Tuesday morning begins the unveiling of the conference’s postseason awards over the next couple days. The conference’s major award winners will be announced Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday morning features the release of the conference’s All-Bench and Most Improved teams, while the Scholar-Athlete team will be announced on Thursday morning. The Coach of the Year will be unveiled at the Coach of the Year Reception in St. Louis on Thursday morning as well.