Bucknell Men’s Basketball Team Awards Announced at Annual Backcourt Club Banquet
4/14/2025 5:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Seniors Josh Bascoe, Elvin Edmonds IV, Ian Motta, and Pip Ajayi all took home awards as the Bucknell men's basketball team celebrated a championship season at the annual Backcourt Club Banquet on Sunday afternoon.
Bascoe captured the Benton A. Kribbs Award as the team's Most Valuable Player; Motta received the Malcolm E. Musser Award for Leadership; Ajayi earned the Thomas A. Thompson Award for "spirit, intensity, and outstanding defensive play"; and Edmonds received the Coaches' Award for outstanding contributions to the program.
Bucknell finished 13-5 in the Patriot League in 2024-25. The Bison shared the regular-season title with American and earned the No. 1 seed for the Patriot League Tournament for the 10th time. The collective leadership of the senior quartet played a large role in the team's success.
Bascoe came a long way during his Bucknell tenure, and he capped it off with a sensational senior campaign. The Milton, Ontario native earned First Team All-Patriot League honors after leading the league in assists (4.4 per game) and ranking fifth in scoring (15.8 ppg). Bascoe scored in double figures in 28 of 33 games, including eight 20-point games and a career-best 30-point outburst against Army. His 73 made 3-pointers were tied for 10th-most in a season in Bucknell history, and he broke the school record for minutes played in a season with 1,211.
Motta was off to the best start of his career when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opening minutes of the Maryland game on Nov. 27. He matched his career high with 18 points in an opening-night win at Delaware, and he scored a team-high 18 again at Kentucky two games later. Motta was averaging 11.8 points over his first six games before the injury. Despite the premature end to his senior season, Motta never missed a practice and stood out in a leadership role.
Edmonds appeared in 119 career games with 97 starts in the Bison backcourt. He averaged 8.1 points per game and reached double figures 11 times in 2024-25. Edmonds shot a career-best 37.9 percent from 3-point range this season, including an 18-for-31 hot spell down the stretch. In Patriot League play, he shot 60.7 percent from the field, a league-best 53.2 percent from the arc, and 80.0 percent from the foul line.
Ajayi transferred to Bucknell from Mercyhurst prior to his junior year and played an important role as an energetic frontcourt reserve during his two seasons with the Bison. The Calgary native played in every game and shot 65.5 percent from the field. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds while playing 12.9 minutes per game. Ajayi was also a defensive stalwart, and his 21 blocked shots were 12th-most in the Patriot League despite the limited minutes.
Kribbs Award
(Team MVP)
1974-75 Gerald Purnell
1975-76 Sam Stettler
1976-77 Bob Barry
1977-78 Bob Barry
1978-79 Bob Barry, Al Leslie
1979-80 Bob Barry, Al Leslie
1980-81 Al Leslie
1981-82 Jay Wright
1982-83 Jaye Andrews
1983-84 Jaye Andrews
1984-85 Jaye Andrews
1985-86 Chris Seneca
1986-87 Mark Atkinson, Chris Seneca
1987-88 Mike Butts
1988-89 Mike Butts
1989-90 Mike Joseph, Greg Leggett
1990-91 Bill Courtney
1991-92 Patrick King
1992-93 Mike Bright
1993-94 Brian Anderson, Chris Simpson
1994-95 Sekou Hamer
1995-96 Kihlon Golden
1996-97 J.R. Holden
1997-98 J.R. Holden
1998-99 Dan Bowen
1999-00 Dan Bowen
2000-01 Bryan Bailey
2001-02 Bryan Bailey, Boakai Lalugba
2002-03 Boakai Lalugba
2003-04 Kevin Bettencourt, Chris McNaughton
2004-05 Chris McNaughton
2005-06 Kevin Bettencourt, Charles Lee
2006-07 Donald Brown, Chris McNaughton
2007-08 John Griffin
2008-09 Patrick Behan
2009-10 Darryl Shazier
2010-11 Mike Muscala, Darryl Shazier
2011-12 Mike Muscala
2012-13 Mike Muscala
2013-14 Cameron Ayers
2014-15 Chris Hass
2015-16 Chris Hass
2016-17 Nana Foulland, Zach Thomas
2017-18 Stephen Brown, Nana Foulland, Zach Thomas
2018-19 Kimbal Mackenzie
2019-20 Not Awarded
2020-21 John Meeks
2021-22 Andrew Funk
2022-23 Xander Rice
2023-24 Jack Forrest
2024-25 Josh Bascoe
Musser Award
1978-79 Pat Flannery, Len Klebanoff
1979-80 Bob Barry, Pat Flannery
1980-81 Al Leslie
1981-82 Ray Moss, Deb Okorodudu
1982-83 Ray Moss, Jay Wright
1983-84 Cal Puriefoy, Ed Sigl
1984-85 Jaye Andrews, Eric Hegedus
1985-86 Steve Schrader
1986-87 Mark Allsteadt, Steve Schrader, Chris Seneca
1987-88 John Watson
1988-89 Mike Butts, John Watson
1989-90 Mike Joseph, Greg Leggett
1990-91 Keith Fenton, Bill Courtney
1991-92 Bill Courtney, Patrick King
1992-93 Mike Bright, Russell Peyton, Paul Olkowski
1993-94 Chris Simpson, Raymond Brown
1994-95 Kevin Wenk
1995-96 Kevin Wenk
1996-97 Mark Treiber, Tom Welch
1997-98 J.R. Holden
1998-99 Willie Callahan, Max Wetzel
1999-00 Shaun Asbury
2000-01 Mike Seek
2001-02 Bryan Bailey, Dan Blankenship
2002-03 Dan Blankenship, Jordan Hardenbergh
2003-04 Matt Quinn, Roland Webber
2004-05 Kevin Bettencourt, Charles Lee
2005-06 Kevin Bettencourt, Charles Lee
2006-07 Abe Badmus, Donald Brown, Chris McNaughton
2007-08 John Griffin, Darren Mastropaolo, Rob Thomas
2008-09 Darryl Shazier
2009-10 Stephen Tyree
2010-11 Stephen Tyree
2011-12 Bryson Johnson
2012-13 Bryson Johnson
2013-14 Cameron Ayers
2014-15 Joshea Singleton
2015-16 Ryan Frazier
2016-17 Stephen Brown
2017-18 Kimbal Mackenzie
2018-19 Nate Sestina
2019-20 Not Awarded
2020-21 Andrew Funk
2021-22 Andrew Funk
2022-23 Alex Timmerman
2023-24 Alek Delev
2024-25 Ian Motta
Thompson Award
1996-97 Martin Gilliard
1997-98 Martin Gilliard
1998-99 Martin Gillard, Brian Muckle
1999-00 Brian Muckle
2000-01 Dan Blankenship
2001-02 Dan Blankenship
2002-03 Dan Blankenship
2003-04 Davorin Skornik
2004-05 Abe Badmus
2005-06 Abe Badmus, Darren Mastropaolo
2006-07 Abe Badmus, Darren Mastropaolo
2007-08 Stephen Tyree
2008-09 Bryan Cohen
2009-10 Bryan Cohen
2010-11 Bryan Cohen
2011-12 Bryan Cohen
2012-13 Mike Muscala
2013-14 Ryan Frazier
2014-15 Steven Kaspar
2015-16 Stephen Brown
2016-17 Kimbal Mackenzie
2017-18 Nate Sestina
2018-19 Bruce Moore
2019-20 Not Awarded
2020-21 Xander Rice
2021-22 Alex Timmerman
2022-23 Elvin Edmonds IV
2023-24 Josh Adoh
2024-25 Pip Ajayi
Coaches' Award
2000-01 Boakai Lalugba
2001-02 Chris Rodgers
2002-03 Davorin Skornik
2003-04 Charles Lee
2004-05 Chris Niesz
2005-06 Donald Brown, Chris McNaughton
2006-07 Justin Castleberry, John Griffin
2007-08 Darren Mastropaolo
2008-09 Justin Castleberry, Jason Vegotsky
2009-10 Patrick Behan
2010-11 G.W. Boon
2011-12 Cameron Ayers
2012-13 Joe Willman
2013-14 Cory Starkey
2014-15 Cory Starkey
2015-16 Dom Hoffman
2016-17 Ben Oberfeld
2017-18 Nate Jones
2018-19 Nate Jones, Matt O'Reilly
2019-20 Not Awarded
2020-21 Paul Newman, Jordan Sechan
2021-22 Xander Rice
2022-23 Jake van der Heijden
2023-24 Noah Williamson
2024-25 Elvin Edmonds IV
Bascoe captured the Benton A. Kribbs Award as the team's Most Valuable Player; Motta received the Malcolm E. Musser Award for Leadership; Ajayi earned the Thomas A. Thompson Award for "spirit, intensity, and outstanding defensive play"; and Edmonds received the Coaches' Award for outstanding contributions to the program.
Bucknell finished 13-5 in the Patriot League in 2024-25. The Bison shared the regular-season title with American and earned the No. 1 seed for the Patriot League Tournament for the 10th time. The collective leadership of the senior quartet played a large role in the team's success.
Bascoe came a long way during his Bucknell tenure, and he capped it off with a sensational senior campaign. The Milton, Ontario native earned First Team All-Patriot League honors after leading the league in assists (4.4 per game) and ranking fifth in scoring (15.8 ppg). Bascoe scored in double figures in 28 of 33 games, including eight 20-point games and a career-best 30-point outburst against Army. His 73 made 3-pointers were tied for 10th-most in a season in Bucknell history, and he broke the school record for minutes played in a season with 1,211.
Motta was off to the best start of his career when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opening minutes of the Maryland game on Nov. 27. He matched his career high with 18 points in an opening-night win at Delaware, and he scored a team-high 18 again at Kentucky two games later. Motta was averaging 11.8 points over his first six games before the injury. Despite the premature end to his senior season, Motta never missed a practice and stood out in a leadership role.
Edmonds appeared in 119 career games with 97 starts in the Bison backcourt. He averaged 8.1 points per game and reached double figures 11 times in 2024-25. Edmonds shot a career-best 37.9 percent from 3-point range this season, including an 18-for-31 hot spell down the stretch. In Patriot League play, he shot 60.7 percent from the field, a league-best 53.2 percent from the arc, and 80.0 percent from the foul line.
Ajayi transferred to Bucknell from Mercyhurst prior to his junior year and played an important role as an energetic frontcourt reserve during his two seasons with the Bison. The Calgary native played in every game and shot 65.5 percent from the field. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds while playing 12.9 minutes per game. Ajayi was also a defensive stalwart, and his 21 blocked shots were 12th-most in the Patriot League despite the limited minutes.
Kribbs Award
(Team MVP)
1974-75 Gerald Purnell
1975-76 Sam Stettler
1976-77 Bob Barry
1977-78 Bob Barry
1978-79 Bob Barry, Al Leslie
1979-80 Bob Barry, Al Leslie
1980-81 Al Leslie
1981-82 Jay Wright
1982-83 Jaye Andrews
1983-84 Jaye Andrews
1984-85 Jaye Andrews
1985-86 Chris Seneca
1986-87 Mark Atkinson, Chris Seneca
1987-88 Mike Butts
1988-89 Mike Butts
1989-90 Mike Joseph, Greg Leggett
1990-91 Bill Courtney
1991-92 Patrick King
1992-93 Mike Bright
1993-94 Brian Anderson, Chris Simpson
1994-95 Sekou Hamer
1995-96 Kihlon Golden
1996-97 J.R. Holden
1997-98 J.R. Holden
1998-99 Dan Bowen
1999-00 Dan Bowen
2000-01 Bryan Bailey
2001-02 Bryan Bailey, Boakai Lalugba
2002-03 Boakai Lalugba
2003-04 Kevin Bettencourt, Chris McNaughton
2004-05 Chris McNaughton
2005-06 Kevin Bettencourt, Charles Lee
2006-07 Donald Brown, Chris McNaughton
2007-08 John Griffin
2008-09 Patrick Behan
2009-10 Darryl Shazier
2010-11 Mike Muscala, Darryl Shazier
2011-12 Mike Muscala
2012-13 Mike Muscala
2013-14 Cameron Ayers
2014-15 Chris Hass
2015-16 Chris Hass
2016-17 Nana Foulland, Zach Thomas
2017-18 Stephen Brown, Nana Foulland, Zach Thomas
2018-19 Kimbal Mackenzie
2019-20 Not Awarded
2020-21 John Meeks
2021-22 Andrew Funk
2022-23 Xander Rice
2023-24 Jack Forrest
2024-25 Josh Bascoe
Musser Award
1978-79 Pat Flannery, Len Klebanoff
1979-80 Bob Barry, Pat Flannery
1980-81 Al Leslie
1981-82 Ray Moss, Deb Okorodudu
1982-83 Ray Moss, Jay Wright
1983-84 Cal Puriefoy, Ed Sigl
1984-85 Jaye Andrews, Eric Hegedus
1985-86 Steve Schrader
1986-87 Mark Allsteadt, Steve Schrader, Chris Seneca
1987-88 John Watson
1988-89 Mike Butts, John Watson
1989-90 Mike Joseph, Greg Leggett
1990-91 Keith Fenton, Bill Courtney
1991-92 Bill Courtney, Patrick King
1992-93 Mike Bright, Russell Peyton, Paul Olkowski
1993-94 Chris Simpson, Raymond Brown
1994-95 Kevin Wenk
1995-96 Kevin Wenk
1996-97 Mark Treiber, Tom Welch
1997-98 J.R. Holden
1998-99 Willie Callahan, Max Wetzel
1999-00 Shaun Asbury
2000-01 Mike Seek
2001-02 Bryan Bailey, Dan Blankenship
2002-03 Dan Blankenship, Jordan Hardenbergh
2003-04 Matt Quinn, Roland Webber
2004-05 Kevin Bettencourt, Charles Lee
2005-06 Kevin Bettencourt, Charles Lee
2006-07 Abe Badmus, Donald Brown, Chris McNaughton
2007-08 John Griffin, Darren Mastropaolo, Rob Thomas
2008-09 Darryl Shazier
2009-10 Stephen Tyree
2010-11 Stephen Tyree
2011-12 Bryson Johnson
2012-13 Bryson Johnson
2013-14 Cameron Ayers
2014-15 Joshea Singleton
2015-16 Ryan Frazier
2016-17 Stephen Brown
2017-18 Kimbal Mackenzie
2018-19 Nate Sestina
2019-20 Not Awarded
2020-21 Andrew Funk
2021-22 Andrew Funk
2022-23 Alex Timmerman
2023-24 Alek Delev
2024-25 Ian Motta
Thompson Award
1996-97 Martin Gilliard
1997-98 Martin Gilliard
1998-99 Martin Gillard, Brian Muckle
1999-00 Brian Muckle
2000-01 Dan Blankenship
2001-02 Dan Blankenship
2002-03 Dan Blankenship
2003-04 Davorin Skornik
2004-05 Abe Badmus
2005-06 Abe Badmus, Darren Mastropaolo
2006-07 Abe Badmus, Darren Mastropaolo
2007-08 Stephen Tyree
2008-09 Bryan Cohen
2009-10 Bryan Cohen
2010-11 Bryan Cohen
2011-12 Bryan Cohen
2012-13 Mike Muscala
2013-14 Ryan Frazier
2014-15 Steven Kaspar
2015-16 Stephen Brown
2016-17 Kimbal Mackenzie
2017-18 Nate Sestina
2018-19 Bruce Moore
2019-20 Not Awarded
2020-21 Xander Rice
2021-22 Alex Timmerman
2022-23 Elvin Edmonds IV
2023-24 Josh Adoh
2024-25 Pip Ajayi
Coaches' Award
2000-01 Boakai Lalugba
2001-02 Chris Rodgers
2002-03 Davorin Skornik
2003-04 Charles Lee
2004-05 Chris Niesz
2005-06 Donald Brown, Chris McNaughton
2006-07 Justin Castleberry, John Griffin
2007-08 Darren Mastropaolo
2008-09 Justin Castleberry, Jason Vegotsky
2009-10 Patrick Behan
2010-11 G.W. Boon
2011-12 Cameron Ayers
2012-13 Joe Willman
2013-14 Cory Starkey
2014-15 Cory Starkey
2015-16 Dom Hoffman
2016-17 Ben Oberfeld
2017-18 Nate Jones
2018-19 Nate Jones, Matt O'Reilly
2019-20 Not Awarded
2020-21 Paul Newman, Jordan Sechan
2021-22 Xander Rice
2022-23 Jake van der Heijden
2023-24 Noah Williamson
2024-25 Elvin Edmonds IV
Players Mentioned
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