MITCH CHARLENS NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR; DARIEN MCCLAIN TABBED AS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The SDCC men's basketball team routed Mesa 102-74 on Friday to cap off its second consecutive undefeated PCAC South season, and third in the last four years. The back-to-back PCAC South champions finished the regular season on a 12-game win streak, their longest in school history. 

The Knights, who went 26-5 overall and 10-0 in the PCAC South, were rewarded for their success on Monday. 

Head Coach Mitch Charlens was named PCAC South Coach of the Year for the sixth time. He has now led the Knights to conference titles six times (2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017) since joining the program in 2004. 

The 26 wins so far this season are the most since the Knights went 28-5 in 2008-09. The Knights have won at least 20 games six times under Charlens, including in five of the last six seasons. and have made the playoffs a total of seven times.

City's coach was not the only one who was honored by the PCAC. Sophomore point guard Darien McClain was named PCAC South Player of the Year. McClain averaged team-bests in scoring (10.7), assists (3.5), steals (1.7), and led the team in free throw percentage (85.6). 

McClain made 44 three-pointers this season, which was the second most on the team. He scored a season-high 26 points twice against Grossmont. The first time occurred in the title game of the Grossmont tournament on December 4, which the Knights won.

Six other Knights were named to the All-PCAC South team along with McClain, including Wonder Smith and Romario Wilson who were selected to the All-PCAC first team. Robert McCoy and Alex Wilbourn were named to the second team. Marcus Brumsey and Jahmere Mitchell were given honorable mention. 

Wonder Smith was City's second leading scorer at 10.3 points per game. He also averaged 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He scored a season-high 20 points in a loss to Fullerton on November 6.

Romario Wilson was a spark off the bench for the Knights. He averaged 7.5 points, but scored in double figures in the Knights' last five games and in eight of the 10 conference games. 

Robert McCoy also provided offensive power off the bench by averaging 9.2 points. He scored a season-high 22 points twice, including in the final game of the season against Mesa. 

Alex Wilbourn started 29 games for the Knights and averaged 8.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks. He scored a season-high 23 points in a loss to Citrus on November 12. 

Marcus Brumsey averaged 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 steals. 

Jahmere Mitchell provided 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game