Joey McMullin Earns All-American Honors

When the NJCAA announced its 2021-22 Division III men's basketball All-American teams on Wednesday, Sandhills Community College freshman Joey McMullen first learned about his third team selection from a friend.

"It blew my mind when he texted me and I saw it," he said following the team's year-end banquet that evening. "I was not expecting that coming into this year. I worked really hard for this and am definitely glad it happened."

Although the 6-foot-3 forward started only 10 of the Flyers' 35 games, he finished second on the team averaging 14.4 points per game while converting 56.9 per cent of his shots from the field and 80.9 per cent of his free throws. He scored a season-high 27 points on two occasions and was a double-figures scorer 26 times.

"Joey had an amazing season as a first-year player," Flyers' Coach Mike Apple said.

Following the Region 10 tournament, the product of Orange High School was named the Region 10 Player of the Year. He also shared the Region 10 Freshman of the Year honor with teammate Bryan Quiller.

McMullin helped a Flyer squad that had to work through a number of injuries and other adversities compile a record of 26-9 and earn three banners for Region 10 regular season and tournament titles as well as a district title. The team qualified for the national tournament for the fourth season in a row.

A dean's List student for the fall semester, it was also announced at the banquet that his teammates and coaches had voted for him to receive the Best Teammate Award.

McMullin joins a list of Flyers who have earned NJCAA All-American recognition that include: 2009 Germann Bostic - Honorable Mention; 2010 Bostic - Second Team; 2012 Markell Lotharp - Second Team; 2017 Jeremias Easterling - Third Team; 2018 Mason Harrell - Honorable Mention and 2020 Sayaun Dent - First Team and Player of the Year.

C. Bergmann