Courtesy of Ferris State Athletic Communications
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced today that Ferris State University's Zach Hankins has been selected as the 2018 NABC Division II National Player of the Year.
Hankins will receive his award on Sunday, April 1, at the annual NABC Guardians of the Game awards show in San Antonio, Texas. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Lila Cockrell Theater in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center during the NABC Convention and NCAA® Men's Final Four®.
A first team All-America selection by the NABC Division II coaches, Hankins helped the Bulldogs reach Saturday's NCAA Division II championship game with an 85-79 semifinal win over West Texas A&M. The 6-10, 255-pound junior center, a two-time Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, scored 13 points with 11 rebounds and three blocks Thursday night in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Hankins, whose dominant post play was pivotal as Ferris State advanced to its first NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 30 seasons, led Division II in total blocks for the second straight season and was ranked among the national leaders in field goal percentage.
Coach Andy Bronkema's team takes a program best 37-1 record into the national championship game on Saturday where the Bulldogs will face Northern State University. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. (ET) with live national television coverage on CBS. The game will also be carried live by local flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com with a special one-hour pregame show starting at 2 p.m. (ET).