HICKORY, N.C. — Three members of the Catawba Valley Community College men's basketball program have been awarded for their play following the 2021-22 season.
Sophomore guards Nasim Fuller and Anthony Allen and freshman forward Shad Thomas were all named Region 10 performers — the second time in Red Hawk men's basketball program history that three players received conference honors.
Fuller and Thomas were both named to the first team — the first time in program history the Red Hawks have two first-team All-Region men's basketball performers — while Allen was named honorable mention.
"It is a big honor for Shad and Nasim to be named first team All-Region, and Anthony to be named honorable mention," said CVCC head men's basketball coach Bryan Garmroth. "We certainly had other players on this team deserving as well, but with 12 teams in our Region there are only so many spots on All-Region. We are not allowed to vote for our own players for All-Region so for these three to earn the respect of the other coaches to vote for them speaks volumes for how well they played night in and night out."
A 6-foot-1 sophomore from Concord, N.C., Fuller led the Red Hawks this season in scoring with 17.4 points per contest. Fuller was also second in rebounding (5.1 per game) and field goal percentage (46.4).
His 540 points scored this winter are the second-most in a season at Catawba Valley.
"I appreciate everyone who pushed me to be the best I can be this season," Fuller said.
Thomas, a 6-foot-5 freshman from Winston-Salem, N.C., had an impressive first season on the court for the Red Hawks. On top of being the leading rebounder among National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II men's basketball players, Thomas set new single-season program records for rebounds (426) and rebounds per game (13.7).
In 31 games, Thomas recorded 22 double doubles and six games with 20 or more rebounds — both new program records.
"I am blessed to receive first team All-Region," Thomas said. "It was a tough season, and we overcame a lot. Hard works always pays off — no matter what, and never let anyone tell you that you cannot do it."
Allen, who started in 21 games this season — most of them coming in the second half of the season — averaged 14.2 points per game, which was third for the Red Hawks this winter.
Allen led the Red Hawks in 3-point field goal percentage (30.4) and made a team-best 65 shots from 3-point range.
"I'm blessed to receive this award," Allen said. "This is only the beginning."
The Red Hawks finished their 2021-22 men's basketball season with a 19-12 record and 14-8 mark in Region 10 games.
Garmroth is impressed with all three player's performance and also his entire team's play despite a difficult schedule.
"When you consider that we made up nine games in a three-week span added into the games that were already scheduled, I feel it speaks highly of these three and everyone on the team to compete as hard as they did playing four to five games a week," Gamroth said.
Below is a complete list of the All-Region 10 men's basketball teams:
2021-22 All-Region 10 men's basketball teams
First team
Shayne Saigo, Wake Tech
Javeon Jones, Davidson-Davie
Nasim Fuller, Catawba Valley
Shad Thomas, Catawba Valley
L.J. Rogers, Davidson-Davie
Second team
George Jones Jr., Fayetteville Tech
Avery Huggins, Pitt
Brennan Howard, Southwest Virginia
Tyler Hammond, Louisburg
Kamron Humphrey, Wake Tech
Third team
Saveon Falls, Southwest Virginia
Kristopher Clark, Pitt
Rujon Walters, Louisburg
Jeremy Bryant, Fayetteville Tech
Wy'kise Allen, Johnston
Honorable mention
Anthony Allen, Catawba Valley
Chance Jamison, Wake Tech
Luke Jones, Louisburg
Kamon Green, Johnston
Jefferson Youngblood, Bryant & Stratton
Player of the Year: Shayne Saigo, Wake Tech
Coach of the Year: Adam Wainwright, Wake Tech