Hunter, Brito named to All-American teams for Keene State

The electric Owls duo of Jeff Hunter and Octavio Brito both were named as All-American award winners by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), announced on Wednesday. Keene State was the only school two have two players named between the three teams Hunter was a first-team selection while Brito was selected to the third team.

Hunter, a native of Hudson, Mass., was named to his second NABC First Team All-District team, also hauling in Little East Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was named LEC Player of the Week five times, USBWA National Player of the Week twice, and to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week twice. He will return for his fifth-season at KSC next year.

Hunter led Division III in double-doubles with 24 and in rebounds, averaging 18.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game.

The 6-foot-7 forward also was named a Top 25 finalist for the Bevo Francis Award, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in small school college basketball. Hunter also was named one of 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding men’s and women’s player Division III based on ability, academic prowess, and service to one’s surrounding communities. Keene State head coach Ryan Cain won the award in 2007 as a player at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Brito led the Owls in scoring at 20.4 points per game, with 6.7 rebounds and shot 44.1 percent from three-point range. He was named LEC Player of the Week four times, and to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week twice this season.

“Incredibly proud to have two All-Americans in our program,” Cain said via team release. “It is a credit to their work ethic, talent, and leadership. Jeff and Octavio are both as valuable off the court to our team, campus, and community as they are on the court. Individual awards are also a reflection of the team’s success and Octavio and Jeff were a huge part of that success.”