Hawks' Bembry A-10 Player of the Year

BEFORE TUESDAY, four Saint Joseph's basketball players had won the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year award.

Now there's a handful.

Junior forward DeAndre' Bembry joined Maurice Martin (1985-86), Jameer Nelson (2003-04), Pat Carroll (co-winner in 2004-05) and Ahmad Nivins (2008-09) as Hawks who have been so honored.

Good company.

Bembry averaged 17 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals for a team that's 24-7 and seeded fourth heading into the conference tournament that starts Wednesday night in Brooklyn. The Hawks do not play until Friday's quarterfinals.

Bembry, a first-team selection for the second straight season, also made the all-defensive team.

"It's a great achievement and I wouldn't have done it without my teammates," he said. "We've had a great season so far and I know the guys are happy for me. Right now I'm just trying to focus on some more wins."

"It's not an individual award, it's not an award he sought," said coach Phil Martelli. "He sought a regular-season championship and we came up short. So for him to be acknowledged for his versatile play all year long is special for him but it's special for us because his teammates enjoy his success."

Isaiah Miles, a senior forward who made second team, was voted Most Improved Player. He's the first Hawk since Delonte West (2002-03) to win that. St. Joe's only other recipient was Rashid Bey (1996-97).

"It's interesting because Isaiah and I spoke in the summer and he asked me what I thought was a realistic goal for him and I said I would target Most Improved Player," Martelli said. "Because that means that every day you put yourself out there to be measured. He's done that.

"Really, there's not five guys in the league that had a better year than him. The players who made first team are wonderful players and have had great success. But Isaiah is an all-league player (too)."

Miles averaged 18 points and eight boards, shooting 52 percent from the field, 38 from the arc and 87 at the foul line.

Lamarr Kimble, a guard from Neumann-Goretti, made all-rookie.

kernm@phillynews.com

@mikekerndn

ATLANTIC 10 HONORS

Full list: Page 34

Player of the Year: DeAndre' Bembry, Saint Joseph's

Rookie of the Year: Joseph Chartouny, Fordham

Defensive Player of the Year: Hassan Martin, Rhode Island

Chris Daniels Most Improved Player: Isaiah Miles, Saint Joseph's

Co-Sixth Man of the Year: Jabarie Hinds, Massachusetts; Denzel Gregg, St. Bonaventure

Coach of the Year: Mark Schmidt, St. Bonaventure