KALAMAZOO -- As another highly competitive season of basketball nears a conclusion in the Mid-American Conference, MAC Report Online (www.macreportonline.com), the premier media resource dedicated solely to coverage of MAC football and basketball, has released it's selections for it's annual year-end basketball awards recognizing the league's player and coach of the year in addition to to recognizing the top freshman, defensive and sixth man of the year.
"We believe that this year's group of honorees represent not only the top athletes and competitors in the Mid-American Conference but also are a great example of what makes inter-collegiate athletics, and in particular MAC basketball, so highly competitive while staying true to the concept of the student-athlete " stated MAC Report Online publisher Dave Ruthenberg in discussing this year's award winners.
Western Michigan's David Kool has been named Freshman of the Year one year after Joe Reitz was named MAC Player of the Year by MAC Report Online.
Freshman of the Year - David Kool, Guard, Western Michigan
David Kool entered Western Michigan as the 2006 State of Michigan Mr. Basketball with many questioning his ability to compete at the division one level. After one season in the MAC, Kool has likely silenced any such talk.
"He has really developed quickly for us," said Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins when discussing Kool. "My only regret was that we didn't have him sooner in the season when he was recovering from a pulled hamstring. His emergence in MAC play as an offensive weapon has really helped us but he also has great footwork defensively."
Kool has earned the coaching staff's confidence, becoming the team's starting off-guard but also playing in the point when called upon.
"He can play either position for us," added Hawkins. "We knew as he became more comfortable at the off guard spot, he would be able to handle the point as well."
Kool is the MAC's leading freshman scorer, averaging 10.2 points per game (12.1 ppg in conference play) and is fourth nationally in free throw percentage, nailing 93% of his attempts from the charity stripe. His dead-eye accuracy also currently places him second in the MAC in three point field goal percentage.
With NBA-like shooting skills and the composure of an upper classman, Kool has likely just provided a glimpse into the future and has the makings of an All-MAC performer that should have Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins feeling good about the next couple of season with Kool in the lineup.
David Kool's 2007 MAC Report Online Freshman of the Year honor is likely just the first of several he is likely to garner over the course of his collegiate career.
MAC Report Online 2007 Basketball Awards:
Player of the Year: Jerome Tillman, Ohio
Coach of the Year: Stan Joplin, Toledo
Freshman of the Year: David Kool, Western Michigan
6th Man of the Year: Cedrick Middleton, Akron
Defensive Player of the Year: Kashif Payne, Toledo
