2025-26 Conference USA Postseason Awards | Feathers and Field Goals

Before the season started, we provided a detailed team-by-team Conference USA preview. To tie a bow on the regular season, we will now list our CUSA postseason awards before the conference tournament tips off in just one day in Huntsville, Alabama.

So, let’s jump into our selections below.

Player of the Year: Zach Cleveland, Liberty

Zach was my preseason pick for Player of the Year, and he lived up to all expectations in his final season at Liberty. He does everything on both ends of the court for the Flames, averaging 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game, all career highs excepts for points. All while shooting 62% from the floor, Cleveland set himself at a tier above the others I considered for this choice.

Others Considered: Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, Jacksonville State; Jemel Jones, New Mexico State

Coach of the Year: Ritchie McKay, Liberty

Chris Mudge definitely deserved some recognition for his second 20+ win season in three years after being voted 9th in the preseason poll, but Ritchie McKay won the conference regular season by four games, finishing with the best CUSA win percentage since Florida Atlantic’s 2022-23 Final Four team. Another preseason prediction stamps itself on the postseason list after the Flames won a program-record 15 straight games this winter.

Others Considered: Chris Mudge, Sam Houston

Defensive Player of the Year: Kashie Natt, Sam Houston

As I call him the most underrated player in CUSA, Kashie Natt was the conference’s best on-ball defender this season, averaging 2.0 steals per game. Standing at 6’3″, he also was 3rd in rebounding during conference play at 8.3 per game. These stats jump off the page, but a lot of what Natt does to help the Bearkats on a possession-by-possession basis does not show up in the box score.

Others Considered:

Freshman of the Year: Christian Bliss, Delaware

Christian Bliss, listed as a junior academically, played in his first season of collegiate basketball after redshirt and medical waiver years at Virginia. I would not have thought he was eligible for this award until he received the Freshman of the Week award on December 15th. If he is eligible, this is an easy decision. The floor general kept a decimated Blue Hen roster afloat throughout the year, finishing 4th in CUSA play in scoring at 18.0 points a game and 3rd in assists at 5.7 a game. Bliss led the entire country in minutes played this season.

Others Considered: Jacob Walker, Sam Houston; Eric Dibami, Florida International; Armelo Boone, Western Kentucky

Sixth Player of the Year: Kaden Cooper, Louisiana Tech

For me, this was the most difficult award to select, as many of the players I considered have all filtered in-and-out of starting lineups this season. What pushed Cooper above the rest was how he affected the game on the defensive end, finishing 3rd in steals per game (1.8) and 8th in rebounding (7.2) during conference play.

Others Considered: Ryan Myers, Western Kentucky; Julian Mackey, Florida International; Jacob Walker, Sam Houston

Newcomer of the Year: Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, Jacksonville State

My runner-up for Player of the Year receives the Newcomer of the Year award, as Mostapha led the conference in scoring this year just under 20 points a game. The 6’6″ transfer from Louisiana, who is at his best near the rim and being able to get to the line, is the third straight Gamecock to lead CUSA in scoring.

Others Considered: Jemel Jones, New Mexico State

All-CUSA First Team

Jemel Jones, New Mexico State (Guard)
Teagan Moore, Western Kentucky (Guard)
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, Jacksonville State (Guard)
Keith Palek III, Missouri State (Forward)
Zach Cleveland, Liberty (Forward)

All-CUSA Second Team

Christian Bliss, Delaware (Guard)
RJ Johnson, Kennesaw State (Guard)
Brett Decker Jr., Liberty (Guard)
Kashie Natt, Sam Houston (Guard)
Corey Stephenson, Florida International (Forward/Guard)

All-CUSA Third Team

Po’Boigh King, Sam Houston (Guard)
Kaden Metheny, Liberty (Guard)
Justyn Fernandez, Delaware (Guard)
Torey Alston, Middle Tennessee (Forward)
Jamal West Jr., UTEP (Forward)

Others Considered: DJ Dudley, Louisiana Tech (Guard); Kobi Williams, Missouri State (Guard); Elijah Jones, UTEP (Forward); Michael Osei-Bonsu, Missouri State (Forward); Kamari Lands, Middle Tennessee (Guard)

CUSA All-Defensive Team

Kashie Natt, Sam Houston (Guard)
Zach Cleveland, Liberty (Forward)
Terrion Murdix, Western Kentucky (Guard)
Kaden Cooper, Louisiana Tech (Guard)
Larry OIayinka, Florida International (Forward)

Others Considered: Melian Martinez, Louisiana Tech (Center); Michael Osei-Bonsu, Missouri State (Forward); Eric Dibami, Florida International (Forward)

CUSA All-Freshman Team

Christian Bliss, Delaware (Guard)
Jacob Walker, Sam Houston (Guard)
Eric Dibami, Florida International (Forward)
Armelo Boone, Western Kentucky (Guard)
Jacoby Hill, Jacksonville State (Guard)

Others Considered: Trey Simpson, Kennesaw State (Forward); Trey Williams Jr., Missouri State (Guard); Jacobe Coleman, Sam Houston (Guard)