DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – The Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-South Region teams were announced on Friday afternoon. RJ Sunahara, the junior forward for the No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks, was honored as the South Region Player of the Year and also earned his second career D2CCA All-Region First-Team selection. Sunahara is joined on the First-Team by Will Yoakum.
The D2CCA South Region teams were selected by NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors from institutions and conference offices in the South Region, made up of Gulf South Conference, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Sunshine State Conference.
Sunahara follows in former teammates Sekou Sylla’s footsteps, winning both the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and South Region Player of the Year in the same season. No. 1 Nova Southeastern (30-0), following winning back-to-back Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament titles, has advanced to the NCAA National Tournament unbeaten for the second consecutive year. The forward is averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals for SSC Coach of the Year Jim Crutchfield.
Yoakum, in his first season at Nova Southeastern, has joined the top-ranked Sharks and elevated both his game and the program. The senior guard is one of two Sharks to start all 30 games for NSU, and is averaging 18.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and is shooting 59% from the field.
Player of the Year
RJ Sunahara (Nova Southeastern) 6-8 Junior Forward Bay Village, Ohio
First Team
RJ Sunahara^ (Nova Southeastern) 6-8 Junior Forward Bay Village, Ohio
Will Yoakum (Nova Southeastern) 6-5 Senior Guard/Forward Delaware, Ohio
Chaney Johnson^ (Alabama Huntsville) 6-7 Sophomore Guard Alabaster, Ala.
Jadin Booth (Florida Southern) 6-2 Sophomore Guard Omaha, Neb.
Tylandrius Parks (Union) 6-5 Senior Guard Pocahontas, Tenn.
Second Team
Michael Zabetakis (West Georgia) 6-5 Senior Guard Cumming, Ga.
Shardarrion Allen (West Alabama) 6-4 Senior Forward Bolton, Miss.
K.J. Doucet (Fort Valley State) 6-7 Sophomore Forward Austell, Ga.
E.J. Dambreville (Florida Southern 6-3 Senior Guard Dorchester, Mass.
Sean Houpt (Florida Tech) 6-4 Senior Guard Danville, Ill.
^-2021-22 first-team All-South Region Pick
No. 1 Nova Southeastern is set to begin the NCAA South Region Tournament against eighth-seed Miles on Saturday, March 11, from the Rick Case Arena. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
