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Owls’ Beckford, Matthew named to NJCAA Men’s Basketball All-Region Team
Two Oakton Owls basketball players received prestigious accolades from NJCAA.
The postseason honors keep rolling in for the Oakton Community College men’s basketball team. Freshman guard Tafari Beckford (Skokie, Niles North High School) tied for the most votes in balloting for the NJCAA Region IV Division II District 4 All Region Team, earning first team accolades. Sophomore captain Ryan Matthew (Park Ridge, Maine South) earned second team honors in the ballot.
Beckford, the 2016-17 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) player of the year, averaged a double-double in ISCC play, en route to earning first team all-conference honors with an average of 21.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per conference game.
Overall, Beckford averaged 20 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, shooting 53.3 percent from the field, including 38.1 percent three-point shooting in 24 games.
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“Tafari’s combination of size, skill, athleticism and mental toughness make him a nightmare for opposing teams,” said Mick Reuter, Owls head coach. “Throughout the season, Tafari grew as a player and a leader and was a big part of our turnaround this year.”
Matthew, a guard, was the Owls’ most consistent offensive threat throughout the season. In 30 games, he averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He shot 45 percent from the field, including 34.3 percent from beyond the three-point-arc. The first team all-ISCC selection averaged 15.4 points, 4.5 assists and 4.3 assists in league contests for the Owls and earned league player of the week honors three different times..
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“Ryan has been a steady contributor for us throughout the year,” Reuter said. “His leadership on the court and off has set a great example for our younger players. I am looking forward to watching him and the other players raise their level of play in regionals.”
The Owls (17-13) host Black Hawk College (14-15) in the quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II District 4 Men’s Basketball Tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 2, in Oakton’s gymnasium, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines.
