MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference recognizes sixteen men's basketball student-athletes as All-SSC in 2024-25. Nova Southeastern’s MJ Iraldi and Jim Crutchfield are named Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively. Alex Steen of Florida Southern repeats as Defensive Player of the Year, while Saint Leo’s Jaylan McElroy earns Freshman of the Year.
All-SSC History: SSC Players and Coaches of the Year | All-SSC Teams
Iraldi, a 6-6 senior guard/forward, averaged a league-leading 24.4 points per game in 27.5 minutes per game to garner Player of the Year honors. The West Deptford, New Jersey native also led the league in total scoring with 684 points across his 28 games played. Iraldi finished the regular season Top-5 in SSC steals per game (2.0), field-goal percentage (.588), three-point field-goal percentage (.411), and free throw percentage (.847). He is the third NSU athlete to win Player of the Year honors in men's basketball, the first since 2022-23
1.
Steen, a 6-8 junior forward from Panama City Beach, Florida, collects Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year. He tallied 6.7 defensive rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.1 steals, and 28.6 minutes per game across his 30 contests to remain the third Moccasin to win the award
2. Steen finished the regular season Top-3 in SSC total rebounds (315), rebounds per game (10.5), defensive rebounds per game, total points (571), field goal percentage (.571), blocks (78), and blocks per game. He is the third athlete to win the award twice since league coaches established it in 2007-08
3.
McElroy, a 6-7 forward from Saint Leo, is awarded SSC Freshman of the Year by conference coaches. The Chicagoan played in 28 games for the Lions this season, starting 23 times. McElroy averaged 12.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks in his 31.8 minutes per game. He is the fourth Saint Leo athlete to be named Freshman of the Year in men's basketball, the first since 2010-11
4.
NSU's Jim Crutchfield has been recognized as the SSC Coach of the Year by his peers for the fourth time
5, following a 27-1 regular season and 19-1 conference record. Crutchfield and the Sharks captured the program's fifth SSC title, fourth consecutive, by averaging 105.0 points per game and recording a turnover margin of +24.6, both NCAA Division II bests. The Sharks are also NCAA D2 Top-5 in field goal percentage (.525), rebounds per game (42.7), and assist/turnover ratio (2.26).
Steen highlights the repeat All-SSC selections for 2024-25. The two-time league Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defensive Team performer earns First Team accolades this season following Second Team honors in 2023-24. Embry-Riddle's Dru Nickson moves to the Second Team after Third Team honors in 2024-25, while FSC's Jadin Booth returns to the First Team after a year hiatus. Tampa's Bryan Williams garners Third Team honors this season; previously, he was named to the All-Newcomer team in 2020-21.
All-conference selections and individual award winners are determined by a vote of Sunshine State Conference head coaches with oversight and approval from member institution Athletic Directors.
Player of the Year: MJ Iraldi, Nova Southeastern
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Steen, Florida Southern
Freshman of the Year: Jaylan McElroy, Saint Leo
Coach of the Year: Jim Crutchfield, Nova Southeastern
2024-25 Men's Basketball All-SSC First Team
|
|
|
|
|
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| G/F |
MJ Iraldi |
Nova Southeastern |
Sr. |
West Deptford, New Jersey |
| G |
Jadin Booth^ |
Florida Southern |
Gr. |
Omaha, Nebraska |
| F |
Alex Steen* |
Florida Southern |
Jr. |
Panama City Beach, Florida |
| G |
Dallas Graziani |
Nova Southeastern |
Jr. |
Pembroke Pines, Florida |
| F |
Leo Beath |
Lynn |
Jr. |
Malibu, California |
|
|
|
|
|
2024-25 Men's Basketball All-SSC Second Team
|
|
|
|
|
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| F |
Ryker Cisarik |
Nova Southeastern |
Sr. |
Highlands Ranch, Colorado |
| G |
Dru Nickson~ |
Embry-Riddle |
Sr. |
Melbourne, Florida |
| G |
Carson Smith |
Lynn |
Gr. |
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |
| G |
Joshua Ward |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
Jr. |
Memphis, Tennessee |
| F |
Tyson Leitao |
Tampa |
Sr. |
Chicago, Illinois |
|
|
|
|
|
2024-25 Men's Basketball All-SSC Third Team
|
|
|
|
|
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| G |
Isaiah Placide |
Eckerd |
Sr. |
Hampton, Georgia |
| G |
Bryan Williams† |
Tampa |
Sr. |
West Palm Beach, Florida |
| G |
Emilis Butkus |
Rollins |
Jr. |
Vilnuis, Lithuania |
| F |
Jimel Lane |
Barry |
Jr. |
Miami, Florida |
| G |
Beau Frericks |
Rollins |
Gr. |
Cary, Illinois |
|
|
|
|
|
2024-25 Men's Basketball All-SSC Defensive Team
|
|
|
|
|
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| F |
Alex Steen* |
Florida Southern |
Jr. |
Panama City Beach, Florida |
| G |
Dallas Graziani |
Nova Southeastern |
Jr. |
Pembroke Pines, Florida |
| F |
Ryker Cisarik |
Nova Southeastern |
Sr. |
Highlands Ranch, Colorado |
| F |
Peyton Gerald |
Florida Southern |
Sr. |
Charlotte, North Carolina |
| G |
Joshua Ward |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
Jr. |
Memphis, Tennessee |
* = 2023-24 All-SSC Second Team, All-Defensive Team, Defensive Player of the Year
^ = 2022-23 All-SSC First Team
~ = 2023-24 All-SSC Third Team
† = 2021-22 All-Newcomer Team
1 NSU Players of the Year: Sekou Sylla (2021-22), RJ Sunahara (2022-23)
2 FSC Defensive Players of the Year: Jarel Spellman (2016-17), Jalyn Hinton (2019-20 & 2020-21), Alex Steen (2023-24 & 2024-25)
3 2+ Defensive Player of the Year: Corbin Jackson, Florida Tech (2013-14, 2014-15, & 2015-16); Jalyn Hinton (2019-20 & 2020-21)
4 Saint Leo Freshmen of the Year: Marquis McCullogh (2004-05), Jordan Prais (2006-07), Nate Johnson (2010-11).
5 Crutchfield was previously named Coach of the Year in 2018-19, 2021-22, & 2022-23