The Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its All-Conference awards on Monday evening, and Berkeley College's men's and women's basketball teams were well represented. On the women's side, standouts Amal Mahmoud and Zanya Henderson were tabbed to the All-Conference team, while on the team's side, Karranja Bright was voted the Rookie of the Year, as well as an All-Conference selection, along with Marc Combs, Jihadu Brunner, and Tahshon Moore.

Senior Amal Mahmoud put forth a stellar final campaign for Berkeley College in 2022-2023. In 27 games, Mahmoud averaged 15.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 3.1 steals, registering an incredible 15 double-doubles, and establishing herself as one of the most dangerous players in the USCAA and the HVIAC. In her final nine games as a Knight, Mahmoud scored 209 points and snatched 115 rebounds, averaging 23.2 points and collecting 12.7 rebounds during that span. Mahmoud led the HVIAC in minutes played (807), points (423), field goals (174), total rebounds (329), and steals (85),

Mahmoud scored a whopping 50 points in Berkeley's HVIAC semifinal round victory over Word of Life that helped push the Knights to the Regional conference title game for the second straight season.

In addition to her statistical prowess, Mahmoud exemplified leadership this season, taking a young team under her belt and teaching her teammates what is expected of them on and off the court. She grew into a superstar off the court as well, maintaining a 3.7 GPA since starting at Berkeley College prior to the 2021-2022 campaign.

Sophomore Zanya Henderson further established herself as one of Head Coach Candice DeRisi's mainstays this season, playing and starting in 26 games, and averaging 8.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. She also registered four double-doubles this season, including two in the 2022-2023 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. Henderson, the proud owner of a 3.82 cumulative GPA, is expected to return to the team next season as one of the team's workhorses and leaders.

On the men's side, Karranja Bright earned the HVIAC Rookie of the Year award. The first-year Knight has been stellar for the 2022-2023 HVIAC Champions, averaging 10.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. His 13 blocked shots are good for second-best on the squad, and he is fourth on the Knights in steals with 32.

All-Conference standout Marc Combs has had an incredible impact on the program in his first and only season as a Knight, as he's led the squad with a scoring average of 17.9 points per game, while also pulling down 4.7 rebounds per contest, as well as a team-leading 2.6 steals per night. Combs dominated the HVIAC this year, as his 17.9 points per game average is second amongst all players, and he currently leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (41.6 percent) and steals per contest (2.6). His 77.5 percent conversion rate on his free throws currently place him fourth amongst all players in the HVIAC.

He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, averaging 17 points per game while shooting 60 percent from the floor in those contests (12-20), as the Knights won their eighth consecutive HVIAC crown.

Jihadu Brunner has had a fantastic year for Berkeley College in his first season with the program. He's averaging 16.1 points per game, placing him second behind Combs. He also averages 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals, establishing himself as an extremely versatile player. Brunner has scored 20 points or more seven times, and eclipsed 30 points or more twice. He's also registered two double-doubles, and has pulled down seven rebounds or more five times.

Brunner has sized up against the rest of the HVIAC very well, currently placing third in the conference in total points (355), third in trifectas made (36), third in three-point percentage (37.1 percent), third in free throw percentage (78.2 percent), and fourth in points per game (16.1).

Berkeley's final honoree was first year standout Tahshon Moore. Moore averages 11.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Knights. His 3.2 assists per contest leads the team, and he's also swiped two steals per contest. Moore has scored 13 points or more 10 times for the Knights.

Within the HVIAC, Moore is currently third in the conference in assists per game with 3.2, third in total assists with 71, third in steals with 44, and second in the conference in conversion rate from downtown, as the standout knocked down 38.2 percent of his trifectas.

The Berkeley College men's basketball team has received an automatic bid to the 2022-2023 USCAA Division II National Men's Basketball Tournament. Berkeley College will have an opportunity to win its first National crown since the 2017-2018 season. The Knights will learn who their opponent/potential opponents will be during the USCAA Division II selection show, which will air on Sunday, March 5th, at 5:30pm. For the latest information on Berkeley College's quest for another USCAA championship, keep it posted to berkeleycollegeknights.com and/or theuscaa.com.