The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has released its end-of-season awards, which feature a sweep by Howard’s exceptional guard Blake Harper, who won the Freshman and Player of the Year awards.
MEAC Releases End-of-Season Honors
Howard Bison guard Blake Harper has had an incredible freshman season by all measures. Coming in an unranked recruit, hardly anything was publicly expected from the young guard this season. But from the very first game, it was clear he’d make his presence felt.
The Bisons took on the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in their debut game in the 2024-25 season but were blown out by 30 points on the road. Despite the loss, Harper showed no fear in his first collegiate game, scoring a team-high 16 points on six of 10 shooting from the field—the only Bison to score in double figures.
HISTORY MADE
Last night, Blake Harper became the FIRST-EVER player in the 54-year history of the @MEACSports Conference to win Rookie of the Year & Player of the Year in the same season !!!
Anything is possible at #TheDreamFactory .https://t.co/PxbdP06dzT pic.twitter.com/zTPvNpntxg
— Howard Men’s Basketball (@HUMensBB) March 12, 2025
From then on, the Washington, D.C., native has established himself as Howard’s lead guard and one of the best players in the conference. Clearly, voters believed he was the best, naming him the MEAC Player of the Year. It was a no-brainer that he also claimed the MEAC Freshman of the Year award.
In all, Harper is leading the conference in scoring at 19.3 ppg on 44.6% from the field and 40.8% from three-point range. The youngster has notched 11 20-point and five 30-point performances this season, impressive marks for a freshman in any conference.
But it’s not just his scoring that’s leading the Bison; he also pulls down a team-leading 6.3 rpg and dishes out 3.5 apg.
Howard finished with a 7-7 record in conference play, thanks in large part to Harper’s surprising emergence as the conference’s top player.
The MEAC Coach of the Year honors went to South Carolina State Bulldogs head coach Erik Martin, who engineered an 11-3 conference record and claimed a share of the MEAC regular-season title with the Norfolk State Spartans.
KEEP READING: Big 12 Awards — Full List of Winners, First Team, and Standout Performers
Last season, the Bulldogs finished 9-5 and in a three-way tie for second place. They now have one of the best chances to win the MEAC Tournament and potentially advance to the NCAA Tournament.
The MEAC Tournament has already begun, as the quest for an NCAA Tournament bid is all that’s on Harper and Martin’s minds—no matter how impressive the multiple awards the freshman claimed during the regular season were.
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