Darius McGhee has been named the ASUN Player of the Year for an unprecedented third straight season as announced by the league Monday. The Flames have now had a player win ASUN Player of the Year four straight seasons, as Caleb Homesley earned the honor in 2020.
McGhee was named to the All-ASUN first team while Liberty senior forward Kyle Rode was also named to the ASUN’s second team all-conference, and Colin Porter was named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team, spotlighting the Flames’ postseason awards.
Additionally, Rode was named the ASUN’s Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He is the first player in program history to receive that honor while the Flames have been ASUN members. Rode becomes the second player in school history to earn a scholar-athlete of the year distinction. In 2013, John Caleb Sanders received Big South Scholar of the Year recognition. Rode has also been named to the ASUN All-Academic team for the first time in his career.
McGhee is the top scorer in the conference and ranks among the national scoring leaders. He’s currently averaging 22.3 points per game to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists each contest. McGhee is shooting 44.3% from the field and 40.4% from three. Earlier this season he became Liberty and the ASUN’s all-time scoring leader.
McGhee is one of only two players in ASUN history to earn the award three times, joining Centenary’s Willie Jackson who did so from 1982-84. McGhee is the 33rd player in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history to be named conference player of the year three times for one conference.
Rode is averaging 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season. He has shot 44.6% from the field and 36.8% from three-point range.
As a true freshman, the 5’9″ point guard Colin Porter leads the team with 122 assists to go along with 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while he has started all 31 games for the Flames.
McGhee, Rode, and Porter helped lead the Flames to a 7th straight 20-win season. Liberty will compete this week with hopes of winning a 4th ASUN Tournament title in five seasons and get back to the NCAA Tournament.
McGhee was joined on the first team by Eastern Kentucky’s Devontae Blanton, Kennesaw State’s Chris Youngblood, Lipscomb’s Jacob Ognacevic, and Stetson’s Jalen Blackmon. McGhee was the only unanimous selection to first team all conference.
Joining Rode on the second team Kennesaw State’s Terrell Burden, North Alabama’s Daniel Ortiz, North Florida’s Carter Hendricksen, and Queens’ Kenny Dye.
The ASUN third-team consisted of Bellarmine’s Garrett Tipton, Central Arkansas’ Camren Hunter, FGCU’s Isaiah Thompson, North Florida’s Jose Placer, Queens’ AJ McKee, and Stetson’s Stephan Swenson.
Joining Porter on the All-Freshman Team were North Alabama’s Jacari Lane, Bellarmine’s Ben Johnson and Peter Suder, and Eastern Kentucky’s Tayshawn Comer.
Kennesaw State’s Brandon Stroud was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Stetson’s Jalen Blackmon was named the Newcomer of the Year. North Alabama’s Jacari Lane was named the Freshman and Sixth Man of the Year while Kennesaw State’s Amir Abdur-Rahim was named the Coach of the Year.
The Flames return to action Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the ASUN Tournament quarterfinals. The Flames have a first round bye and will meet the winner of North Florida-Bellarmine who play Monday night.
