By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
March 5, 2020
RANDOLPH, NJ—Manor College sophomore forward/center Robert Tucker (Philadelphia, PA/Paul Robeson) was voted 2019-2020 NJCAA All-Region XIX Men's Basketball Division II First Team.
Tucker was the fifth Blue Jay to be voted All-Region and the first since guard Kuante Sargent (Second Team) in 2016-2017. Tucker was also the first Blue Jay voted All-Region First Team since guard Thomas Farrior, Jr. in 2015-2016. Altogether, three Manor Men's Basketball players have been voted to the First Team since the Blue Jays joined the NJCAA for the 2008-2009 season.
In 23 games (21 starts) this season, Tucker averaged 18.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. He leads Manor in points (415), rebounds (258), and blocked shots (46) overall and per game. Tucker also paces the Blue Jays with a 56.3 field goal percentage, and field goals (180) and attempts (320). He leads Manor in scoring in double-figures in 21 games and pulling down double-digit rebounds in 16 games. Tucker also paces Manor with 16 "double-doubles" (points and rebounds) this season. He has led (or shared) the team lead in scoring in a game 14 times this season. Tucker has paced (or shared) the Blue Jays' lead in rebounding in a game 15 times this season.
In 11 NJCAA Region XIX Division II games this season (10 starts), Tucker scored 196 points (17.8 per game), pulled down 129 rebounds (11.7), and blocked 18 shots (1.6). He also shot 84 out of 146 from the field (57.5%).
As of games played through March 4, Tucker is tied for 25th in NJCAA Division II in offensive rebounds, 49th in defensive rebounds, and tied for 31st in overall rebounds. He is seventh in overall rebounds per game. Tucker is tied for 20th in blocks per game. He is tied for 37th in blocked shots.
Tucker contributed in 47 games (43 starts) for Manor: 852 points (18.1 per game), 528 overall rebounds (11.2), and 103 blocked shots (2.2). He shot 57.1% (361/632) from the field. Tucker holds Blue Jay NJCAA career records in rebounds and blocked shots. His 264 rebounds and 12.1 per game in 2018-2019 are Manor single-season and overall and NJCAA school records.
Tucker was named Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) Player of the Year. He was also named NJCAA Men's Basketball Division II Player of the Week (February 3-9, 2020). Tucker was also previously named EPAC Athlete of the Week for the period November 11-November 17, 2019.
Second-year Head Coach Dave Ellerbee on Tucker: "More proof Rob had a dominant basketball season and had a great semester in class. His hard work and dedication has led to a very tough decision of where he will continue studies and an already decorated career."
Under Ellerbee, Manor finished its 30th season (12th in the NJCAA) 12-14 overall (9-5 in NJCAA Region XIX Division II). They clinched a berth in the NJCAA Region XIX Division II Postseason Tournament for the first time since 2018 and the fifth time in six years and seventh overall. The Blue Jays also reached the Region XIX Division II Postseason Tournament Semifinals for the third time.