Pitts racks up two more honors

DAILY FORUM FILE PHOTO
Northwest Missouri State University’s Justin Pitts dumps the ball off to Chris-Ebou Nodow during the Bearcats’ 55-52 win over Southwest Minnesota State in the Central Regional final.

The basketball accolades keep pouring in for Northwest Missouri State University junior guard Justin Pitts.

On Monday, Pitts was named to the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCCA) Division II All-America First team as well as the Basketball Times Player of the Year.

Basketball Times is a monthly magazine that prides itself on insider basketball information. He was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Central Region First Team. He is joined by Gage Davis from St. Cloud State, Rob Davis from Fort Hays State, Aaron Lien from Minnesota State Moorhead, Braxton Reeves from East Central, and Jordan Spencer from Augustana.

Pitts is on the D2CCA All-America First team along with Matt Bingaya from Fairmont State, Michael Smith from California Baptists, Dustin Sleva from Shippensburg, and Phil Taylor from Shorter.

Taylor was named the 2017 Ron Lenz National Player of the year after he averaged 34 points, 4 rebounds, and five assists per game this season. The Hawks finished with a 17-12 record.

Pitts has already been named the Mid America Intercollegiate Conference (MIAA) Player of the Year, the MIAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, the D2CAA Central Region Player of the Year, as well as becoming the all-time leading scorer in program history.

He has scored in double-digits 31 times this year while averaging 20.5 points per game.

Pitts owns the top two single-season scoring totals in program history at 693 and 675. He scored 693 his junior season and has 675 so far this year.

Pitts is second all-time in field goals made for a career with 671. He needs 123 more to pass all-time leader Vic Coleman in that category.