As Ivy Madness prepares to crown a champion and send its automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament, the Ivy League has announced its major award winners and All-Ivy teams for the 2024-25 season.
Mbeng Makes History with Dual Awards
Yale’s Bez Mbeng was named both Ivy League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, making history as the first player to win both awards in the same season. This marks Mbeng’s third straight Defensive Player of the Year honor, making him the first three-time winner since the award’s introduction in 2009.
Mbeng put up impressive numbers in Ivy League play, averaging 15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He led the conference in both assists and steals and ranked in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding. He also led the nation with three triple-doubles, including a standout 20-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist performance against Harvard.
Harvard’s Robert Hinton Named Rookie of the Year
Harvard’s Robert Hinton was unanimously voted Ivy League Rookie of the Year after an outstanding freshman season. He made an immediate impact, scoring 27 points in a win over Marist and 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists against Navy in his first two games. Hinton finished the season with 11 double-digit scoring performances in Ivy League play, including a season-high 31 points against Princeton on February 21.
Dartmouth’s Coaching Staff Earns Top Honors
The Dartmouth coaching staff, led by David McLaughlin, was named Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year. The Big Green had a breakthrough season, securing their first winning regular season and Ivy League record since 1998-99 and clinching their first-ever Ivy Madness berth. Dartmouth improved from 2-12 in Ivy League play last season to 8-6 this year, marking one of the league’s biggest single-season turnarounds.
All-Ivy Teams Announced
Mbeng was a unanimous First Team All-Ivy selection, leading a dominant Yale contingent that included John Poulakidas and Nick Townsend. Princeton’s Xaivian Lee was also a unanimous first-team pick after averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Kino Lilly Jr. (Brown) and Ryan Cornish (Dartmouth) rounded out the First Team All-Ivy selections.
The Second Team All-Ivy featured Cornell’s AK Okereke and Nazir Williams, Dartmouth’s Brandon Mitchell-Day, Princeton’s Caden Pierce, and Penn’s Sam Brown, who led the league in scoring with 19.3 points per game.
Harvard’s Chandler Piggé and Cornell’s Cooper Noard received honorable mention recognition.
Academic Excellence Recognized
The Ivy League also honored one student-athlete from each school for excellence in both academics and basketball as part of the 2024-25 Ivy League Men’s Basketball Academic All-Ivy Team. The honorees included:
- Brown – Aaron Cooley
- Columbia – Robbie Stankard
- Cornell – Cooper Noard
- Dartmouth – Jackson Munro
- Harvard – Evan Nelson
- Penn – George Smith
- Princeton – Blake Peters
- Yale – Nick Townsend
Looking Ahead: Ivy Madness Begins
With the individual awards settled, all eyes turn to Ivy Madness, where Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, and Yale will compete for the Ivy League championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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