By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

March 9, 2024

PETERSBURG, VA–Manor College (12-6 overall, 6-2 Eastern States Athletic Conference) guards Manny Roach (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) (freshman, First Team), Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) (junior, Second Team), and Eddie Fortescue Jr (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) (senior, Honorable Mention) were voted to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Men's Basketball All-American Team by the Association's Head Coaches.  Fortescue Jr was named to the USCAA Division I All-Academic Team.

They received their awards at the USCAA Awards Ceremony and Skills Competition held at the Virginia State University Multipurpose Center on the Virginia State campus.

Roach scored in double-figures in a team-leading 17 games this season.  He also leads the Blue Jays this season in the following categories: minutes (626) and per game (34.8), three-point field goal (34.1) and free throw percentage (80.3), points (359) and per game (19.9), defensive rebounds (102) and per game (5.7).  He shares the team lead in free throws made (53).  Roach is second on Manor in overall field goals made (124), free throw attempts (66), assists (60) and per game (3.3), and steals (43) and per game (2.4).  He is also second on Manor this season with seven 20-point games.  Nationally, as of March 9, Roach is first in USCAA Division I in three-point field goals made per game (3.2) and attempts per game (9.4), third in points per game, fourth in minutes per game, seventh in overall field goals made per game (6.9), seventh in free throw percentage, seventh in defensive rebounds per game, 10th in assists per game, ninth in steals per game, 17th in three-point field goal percentage, 17th in total rebounds per game, and tied for 19th in free throws made per game (2.9).

Roach previously won USCAA Division I Men's Basketball Player of the Week (January 30-February 4, 2024) and was named to the Philadelphia Small College Basketball Association (PSCBA) Honor Roll (January 30-February 5, 2024).

Simmons leads Manor this season  in overall field goals made (136) and field goal percentage (52.1), assists (90) and per game (5.0), steals (44) and per game (2.4), and 20-point games (nine).  He led or shared the team lead in assists in a team-best 14 games.  He is second in minutes (617) and per game (34.3), overall field goal attempts (261), and points (328) and per game (18.2). Simmons is also second on Manor, scoring in double-figures in 16 games.  He is third in defensive rebounds (51) and per game (4.6) and total rebounds (77) and per game (5.5).  Nationally, as of March 9, he is third in USCAA Division I in overall field goals made per game (7.6), fifth in minutes per game, fifth in assists per game, sixth in points per game, seventh in steals per game, 15th in overall field goal percentage, and 22nd in defensive rebounds per game.

Simmons was named to the PSCBA Honor Roll three times (February 5-February 11, 2024; January 22-January 28, 2024; and December 4-December 10, 2023).  He was also named 2023 Roadrunner Classic Most Valuable Player, which was hosted by National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX Division III Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester.  .

Fortescue Jr leads Manor this season in free throw attempts (74) and shares the team lead in free throws made (53).  He is second on Manor in three-point field goals made (27) and attempts (93) and free throw and percentage (71.6). He is third on Manor in minutes (586) and per game (32.6), overall field goals made (93) and attempts (207), and points (266) and per game (14.8).  Fortescue Jr scored in double-figures 15 times, including five 20-point games.  Nationally, as of March 9,  he is eighth in USCAA Division I in minutes per game, 19th in free throw percentage, tied for 19th in free throws made in per game (2.9), 20th in points per game, 21st in steals per game (1.7), and 25th in overall field goals made per game (5.2).  Fortescue Jr was named to the PSCBA Honor Roll (February 12-February 18, 2024).   He was also named to the 2023 All-Roadrunner Classic Team.  

Fortescue Jr was named to the USCAA Division I Men's Basketball All-Academic Team for the third straight time.  According to the USCAA web site:"This award recognizes the student-athletes (sophomore or greater) who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or greater."

Roach and Simmons join Fortescue Jr and Rahmaad Dejarnette to be voted USCAA Division I Men's Basketball All-American.  Fortescue Jr was also voted 2022-2023 Honorable Mention All-American.  Dejarnette was voted 2021-2022 First Team All-American.  

Altogether, since the 2008-2009 season, five Blue Jays have been voted All-American.  Thomas Farrior Jr was voted 2015-2016 NJCAA Division II Third Team All-American.

Roach, Simmons, and Fortescue Jr play for third-year Head Coach Leo Mahon.

The seventh-seeded Blue Jays will play the second-seeded Bryant and Stratton College Bobcats (21-9) in the USCAA Division I Men's Basketball Small College National Championship Tournament Quarterfinal on Sunday, March 10 at 5:00 p.m at Richard Bland College of William and Mary (NJCAA Region X Division II) in Petersburg, Virginia. 

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