Dominez Burnett Named NAIA DII Player of the Year

Burnett joins former Bethel (Ind.) star Rico Swanson as the only Division II men’s basketball player to repeat as National Player of the Year since the awards establishment in 1994

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2015-16 Division II Men's Basketball All-America teams. Dominez Burnett (Flint, Mich.) of Davenport University was named the NABC-NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Player of the Year for the second straight season. The All-America Teams are selected by the NAIA All-America Committee.

Burnett, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, ranked No. 4 in NAIA Division II in scoring (24.8). The defending National Player of the Year scored in double figures in 35-of-36 games this year. He had a streak of 70 straight games in double figures snapped in the NAIA Semifinals. His season-high in points came on Nov. 18, 2015, where he poured in 40 points on 14-of-21 shooting against Michigan-Dearborn. Burnett led the nation in total steals (77) and total scoring (895). Burnett was No. 8 nationally in steals per game averaging 2.1 thefts per contest. Burnett led his team in total rebounds (269), rebounds per game (7.5), assists (111), steals, total points and points per game. The Panthers had their season end in the national semifinals – for the second-straight year – on Monday in a 66-65 loss to Indiana Wesleyan.

Burnett joins former Bethel (Ind.) star Rico Swanson as the only Division II men's basketball player to repeat as National Player of the Year since the awards establishment in 1994. Swanson accomplished the feat in 1997 and 1998. Burnett was also selected as a First Team All-American for the third straight season. He also was selected as Honorable Mention All-American as a freshman.

"He is a fantastic player and without him our program doesn't reach the heights we have," said head coach Burt Paddock. "He is a once-in-a-generation talent and I'm just glad he chose Davenport four years ago. He has grown so much and one thing that exemplifies his impact was that after our loss in the national tournament, he went around the locker room and thanked everybody and tried to lift their spirits. He had another phenomenal year for us and no one else was more deserving."

In addition to the All-American teams, the NAIA announced the Daktronics-NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Scholar-Athletes. 163 players received the honor this season and three Panthers made the list. Connor and Carter Heminger along with Kevin Rich are of junior-eligibility standing and have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 out of 4.0 scale.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Dominez Burnett: Forward; 6' 5"; Senior

#5 Kevin Rich: Forward; 6' 6"; Redshirt Junior

#33 Carter Heminger: Wing; 6' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#2 Dominez Burnett
: 6' 5"; Senior
: Forward

#5 Kevin Rich
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Junior
: Forward

#33 Carter Heminger
: 6' 5"; Junior
: Wing

Players Mentioned

#2 Dominez Burnett

#5 Kevin Rich

#33 Carter Heminger

Players Mentioned

#2 Dominez Burnett

#5 Kevin Rich

#33 Carter Heminger