Bones Hyland Named A-10 Player of the Year

VCU sophomore guard Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland (No. 5 pictured right) has been named Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday as part of its end-of-year awards. Junior forward Vince Williams Jr. (Third Team), sophomore forward Hason Ward (All-Defensive Team) and Adrian “Ace” Baldwin Jr. (All-Rookie Team) also earned postseason honors from the A-10. 

 

Hyland is the first Ram to win a conference Player of the Year honor since Eric Maynor captured back-to-back awards in the CAA in 2008 and 2009. Hyland, a Wilmington, Del. native, is the first VCU sophomore to win league Player of the Year since Calvin Duncan claimed the Sun Belt Conference’s top honor in 1982-83. Hyland was also named First Team All-Atlantic 10. The Rams have placed a player on the A-10’s First Team in eight of nine seasons since they joined the league in 2012-13.

 

The 6-foot-4 combo guard is averaging a league-best 19.4 points per game, as well as 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. His 2.9 three-point field goals per game also leads the conference. He scored 30 more points on three occasions this season, and his three double-doubles lead the team. Hyland has scored in double figures in 22 of 23 contests this year.

 

Hyland’s breakout campaign helped VCU defy preseason expectations on the way to a 19-6 record and the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. He poured in 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Rams’ A-10 quarterfinal win over Dayton. Hyland’s play has helped propel VCU into the A-10 Championship Game for the first time since 2017.

 

In addition, Williams claimed a spot on the Atlantic 10 Third Team. It’s the first All-Conference honor for Williams, who increased his scoring to 10.6 points (from 4.2) and 5.1 rebounds (from 2.8) in 2020-21. The 6-6 forward from Toledo, Ohio is also second on the team in assists with 48 and 3-pointers 41. Williams is shooting .418 (41-of-98) from long range this season.

 

Ward’s shot-blocking ability earned him a place on the league’s All-Defensive Team. The St. Thomas, Barbados native is averaging 2.4 blocks per game, second in the conference. He ranks ninth nationally in block percentage (12.4). The 6-9 forward has also provided 16 steals, and is averaging 6.5 points and 5.2 rebounds, while shooting .580 from the floor.

 

Baldwin has been named to the A-10’s All-Rookie Team. The Baltimore, Md. point guard started all 25 games for the Rams and averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. His 111 assists are the second-most by a freshman in school history. In addition, Baldwin typically draws the opposing team’s best offensive player, and has provided outstanding on-ball defense to the nation’s 11^th-ranked defense, according to KenPom.com.

 

VCU (19-6) will return to the floor on Sunday, March 14 when it meets St. Bonaventure (15-4) in the A-10 Championship Game at Dayton’s UD Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. on CBS. 

-- This report's information was supplied by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.