COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The NJCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Committee announced Thursday North Lake (TX) sophomore forward Dare Brazeal as the 2017 recipient of the Spalding® NJCAA Player of the Year award for the division.
Behind Brazeal’s stellar and consistent play, the Blazers won the Region 5 championship to earn the fifth-seed at the DIII national tournament. North Lake upended higher seeds in all three of their contests at the championship in Rochester (MN) to win the program’s third national title.
Brazeal earned All-Tournament honors after leading North Lake in its semifinal victory over No. 1 Anoka-Ramsey (MN) with 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. In the finals against No. 2 Elgin (MI), the sophomore posted a double-double, tallying 11 points and 12 rebounds.
In 22 out of 33 outings during the season, Brazeal surpassed double-figures in scoring – seven of those were double-double in points and rebounds. He capped the season averaging 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Photos by Greg Mittelsteadt
About Spalding®
Since the 2013-14 season, Spalding has sponsored the NJCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Coach and Player of the Year awards. Spalding is the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, and America's first baseball company. Spalding is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) as well as the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA, the official baseball of the NJCAA and Little League World Series® and the official volleyball of the King of the Beach® Volleyball Tour. In addition to being the leading producer and marketer of basketballs, baseballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls, Spalding produces softballs under the Dudley® brand. The SPALDING® and DUDLEY® trademarks are owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.