NORFOLK, Va. – Coppin State's
Dejuan Clayton and
Justin Steers have been named to the MEAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Team, it was announced by the league office on Friday afternoon. Clayton received Second Team honors while Steers received All-Rookie Team accolades.
A redshirt sophomore from Bowie, Md., Clayton led the Eagles with 14.1 points, 105 assists and 27 steals, while ranking amongst best in the conference in getting to the free throw line, making 112-150 (74.7%) from the line. Clayton was even better in conference play, scoring 17.3 points on 44.7% shooting along with 4.5 assists per game and 18 steals. He also made 87-of-115 (75.7%) free throws.
Clayton scored in double figures in 22 of the team's 31 games this year, with four games of at least 20 points, including a career-high 30 points at South Carolina State where he made 12-of-18 shots from the floor. The 6-foot-2 guard was named MEAC Player of the Week on January 8 after scoring 23 points in back-to-back wins over Savannah State and Delaware State. Clayton also made 21-of-27 free throws in those two games, sinking over ten in each game.
Clayton was also a consistent distributor of the basketball, tallying at least five assists in ten games which included a career-high eight in games against South Carolina State and Morgan State.
This is the first time that Clayton was named to the All-Conference Team. Clayton was named to the 2016-17 MEAC All-Rookie Team as a freshman, and despite missing most of last year with an injury, he was named Preseason All-MEAC coming into this season.
Steers averaged 5.6 points and 3.0 rebounds for the season while blocking 19 shots to rank second on the team. His 50.0% field goal percentage was also tops on the team. A 6-foot-6 wing from Philadelphia, Pa., Steers reached double figures in scoring four times and set season-highs in scoring (17) and rebounds (7) in a 95-91 victory over Bethune-Cookman. Steers also blocked a season-high three shots at Notre Dame.
