Courtesy of Coppin State Athletic Communications


BOXTOROW RELEASE


FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. – Coppin State's Anthony Tarke was named on Thursday as BOXTOROW Co-Player of the Year and First Team All-American with the announcement of its postseason award. Additionally, DeJuan Clayton was selected as a Second Team All-American.
 
A redshirt senior from Gaithersburg, Md., Tarke was named the MEAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Eagles in virtually every category.  Tarke averaged 16.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.6 steals and 1.9 blocks while shooting 47.3% from the floor, guiding Coppin to its first MEAC regular season title since the 2003-04 season. Tarke was later named a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year which goes to the top mid-major player in the Nation, as well as a Mid-Major All-American.
 
Through the regular season, Tarke led the MEAC in total points, rebounds, double-doubles, defensive rebounds, blocks, steals and free throws made. Tarke was also named to the Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America Team, and is a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award, given annually to the top defensive player in Division I basketball.
 
One of the most complete players in the Country, Tarke is the only player in the Nation to average at least 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two steals per game this season.  Only ten players since the 1992-93 season have accomplished such a feat, including four-time NBA All-Star and current University of Memphis head coach Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway.
 
Tarke scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games this season, reaching at least 20 points six times and a pair of 30-plus point games.  In a win over eventual Southern Conference Champion UNC Greensboro, Tarke finished with a career-high 34 points on 11-of-13 shooting while adding ten rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and four steals.  This was the first time since the 2010-11 season that a player had recorded such a stat line.  Tarke also had the Nation's only 5-by-5 game when he recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, six steals and five blocks in a win over Delaware State.
 
In the regular season finale at Delaware State, Tarke made all 11 of his shot attempts, setting a CSU record, for 31 points and dished out another eight assists.
 
A redshirt senior from Bowie, Md., Clayton was a First Team All-MEAC selection after receiving Second Team honors as a redshirt sophomore and Third Team accolades last season.  Starting in all 16 games, Clayton had his best collegiate season, averaging 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals.  Reaching double figures in 12 games, Clayton put up a career-high 32 points on 14-of-15 free throws in a win over Delaware State after missing the previous six games.  Clayton also had 22 points in the season opener at Duke and had a pair of 20-plus point efforts in back-to-back wins over Norfolk State.
 
In MEAC play, Clayton ranked fifth in points per game (15.7), second in assists (5.3), seventh in free throw percentage (79.6) despite making a league-high 74 free throws, and first in assist/turnover ratio (2.1).
 
One of the best players to ever don the Navy & Gold, Clayton ranks fifth in CSU history with 1,518 points and third with 419 assists.  Clayton joins McKee as the only Coppin State players to ever record over 1,500 points and 400 assists and ranks fourth in school-history with 430 free throws made.