Drew McDonald Named Horizon League Player of the Year

Northern Kentucky’s Drew McDonald will add Horizon League Player of the Year to the lengthy list of awards bestowed to the senior forward for the Norse, as McDonald highlights the list of awards doled out by the league office Tuesday afternoon. Jalen Tate earned a spot of the Horizon League All-Defensive Team as well.

McDonald, a Newport Central Catholic alum, ranks second in the conference in scoring (19.6 ppg), but averages a league-best 9.6 rpg for Northern Kentucky, which secured a share of its second-straight Horizon League Regular-Season Championship.

In the regular-season finale against Green Bay, McDonald both eclipsed 2,000 career points and set NKU’s career-scoring record, surpassing Craig Sanders’ 2,007 points. In the process, McDonald became just the third player in the 40-year history of the Horizon League to eclipse 2,000 points (2,011) and 1,000 rebounds (1,051).

With the player of the year nod, McDonald also highlights the All-Horizon League First Team, marking the third-straight year he has collected the honor. He becomes the 16th player in league history to win the award three-straight years.


Northern Kentucky posted a 23-8 overall record and 13-5 mark in Horizon League play, finishing as co-champions and earning the right to host Detroit Mercy in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on March 6 at BB&T Arena.

Photo by Jeff McCurry