UAlbany's Brian Lillis Chosen 2008 America East Conference Fans' Choice Player of the Year

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Brian Lillis has been selected as the 2008 America East Conference Fans’ Choice Player of the Year, as announced on Thursday, March 6 by the conference office. For the second year in a row, fans of America East basketball voted for the award. Vermont’s Marqus Blakely and UMBC’s Jay Greene were the other finalists.

Lillis, a 6-foot-5 senior from Urbandale, Iowa, leads the Great Danes in scoring (15.8 ppg), rebounding (6.1 pg), assists (3.5 pg), steals (1.7 pg) and blocked shots (0.7 pg). He is one of 10 players at the Division I level to lead his team in points, rebounds and assists. Lillis, who ranks among the league leaders in six statistical categories, has scored 20-plus points five times and recorded five double-doubles.

“This award shows the respect that people have for Brian Lillis as a student-athlete,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team tied for second place in the conference’s regular-season standings. “He is one of the most popular players we have had here. He is the MVP of our conference because he means so much to our team. Brian should be proud of this award.”

The Fans’ Choice award included voting in the preliminary round and finals, with those votes added together to determine the winner. Vermont’s Mike Trimboli won the inaugural award in 2006-07.

The America East Conference will announced its all-conference basketball awards on Friday at the league’s annual postseason banquet, to be held at Binghamton University’s Events Center.