Air Force Men’s Basketball Announces 2023 Program Awards
5/3/2023 7:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's basketball announced its team award winners for the 2022-23 season at its end-of-the-year team get together at the Eisenhower Golf Course at the Academy. Freshman forward Rytis Petraitis was named the Bob Beckel Most Valuable Player.
Petraitis had a standout rookie campaign, ranking second on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game and first in rebounding at 6.2 boards per game. Petraitis led all conference freshmen with six Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors. His 332 points scored is the most by a Falcon freshman in the Mountain West era and the second most all-time. The Arlington, Texas, native set the school freshman record for three throw makes and attempts (113-for-161) and his 104 free throw attempts in conference play set a new Mountain West freshman record. Petraitis also led all MW freshmen with six double-doubles.
Sophomore forward Beau Becker earned the Cliff Parsons Award for the member of the Falcon basketball team that gives his best every day, in every way. After not appearing in any games as a freshman, Becker had a breakout sophomore season, where he finished third on the team in scoring, averaging 7.4 points per game and third in rebounding at 3.4 boards per game. The Dallas, Texas, native was at his best in conference play, upping his scoring average to 9.2 ppg and rebounding at 3.9 per game. His 20 blocked shots in conference games was the second-most in a MW season at Air Force.
Senior guard Camden Vander Zwaag earned the Bob Spear Award for the member of the Falcon basketball team that demonstrates high achievement in basketball performance, academics and military performance. It is considered one of the highest honors a player can earn. As the team captain, Vander Zwaag had a senior season that saw him average 7.2 points per game. The Johnston, Iowa, native was one of the team's best shooters with offensive splits of .485 from the field, .416 from three and .906 from the free throw line. Vander Zwaag was a perfect 13 of 13 from the free throw line in MW games and did not miss a free throw over his last 21 games. Vander Zwaag was also named the Collegiate Hoops Roadshow Multi-Team Event MVP after averaging 21 points in wins over USC-Upstate and Mississippi Valley State.
Petraitis had a standout rookie campaign, ranking second on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game and first in rebounding at 6.2 boards per game. Petraitis led all conference freshmen with six Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors. His 332 points scored is the most by a Falcon freshman in the Mountain West era and the second most all-time. The Arlington, Texas, native set the school freshman record for three throw makes and attempts (113-for-161) and his 104 free throw attempts in conference play set a new Mountain West freshman record. Petraitis also led all MW freshmen with six double-doubles.
Sophomore forward Beau Becker earned the Cliff Parsons Award for the member of the Falcon basketball team that gives his best every day, in every way. After not appearing in any games as a freshman, Becker had a breakout sophomore season, where he finished third on the team in scoring, averaging 7.4 points per game and third in rebounding at 3.4 boards per game. The Dallas, Texas, native was at his best in conference play, upping his scoring average to 9.2 ppg and rebounding at 3.9 per game. His 20 blocked shots in conference games was the second-most in a MW season at Air Force.
Senior guard Camden Vander Zwaag earned the Bob Spear Award for the member of the Falcon basketball team that demonstrates high achievement in basketball performance, academics and military performance. It is considered one of the highest honors a player can earn. As the team captain, Vander Zwaag had a senior season that saw him average 7.2 points per game. The Johnston, Iowa, native was one of the team's best shooters with offensive splits of .485 from the field, .416 from three and .906 from the free throw line. Vander Zwaag was a perfect 13 of 13 from the free throw line in MW games and did not miss a free throw over his last 21 games. Vander Zwaag was also named the Collegiate Hoops Roadshow Multi-Team Event MVP after averaging 21 points in wins over USC-Upstate and Mississippi Valley State.
Players Mentioned
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