UMKC’s Martez Harrison wins WAC player of the year award

Martez Harrison, who has helped lead UMKC to its best conference finish in a decade, has been chosen Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball player of the year.

Harrison, a sophomore point guard who played at University Academy, leads the WAC in scoring at 17.8 points and steals at 1.87 and is third in assists at 3.84.

The Kangaroos finished tied for second in the WAC and will open conference tournament play on Thursday against seventh-seeded Texas-Pan American.

Harrison, who was chosen the league’s top freshman last year, is the second player from UMKC to win a conference player of the year award. Michael Jackson won the honor in 2000, when the Kangaroos were members of the Mid-Continent Conference. UMKC has been a Division I conference member for 20 years.

Harrison was named to the All-WAC first team, and forward Reese Holliday, a UMKC senior, was named to the league’s all-newcomer team.

Holliday, who played at Sumner Academy, averages 11.7 points and 4.4 rebounds.

All-WAC men’s basketball team

First team

Aly Ahmed, Bakersfield

Martez Harrison, UMKC

Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State

Pascal Siakam, New Mexico State

Isiah Umipig, Seattle

All-Newcomer Team

Josh Braun, Grand Canyon

Reese Holliday, UMKC

Janari Joesaar, Texas-Pan American

DeWayne Russell, Grand Canyon

Pascal Siakam, New Mexcio State

▪ Player of the year: Martez Harrison, UMKC

▪ Freshman of the year: Pascal Siakam, New Mexico State

▪ Don Haskins coach of the year: Marvin Menzies, New Mexico State

This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 11:03 AM with the headline "UMKC’s Martez Harrison wins WAC player of the year award."