Mazrimas Named Midwest Conference Player of the Year, Three Earn All-League Honors

GRINNELL, Iowa – Illinois College's Jake Mazrimas was named the 2023-24 Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year and a total of three Blueboys earned all-league honors, the conference announced today.

Along with being named the Player of the Year, Mazrimas was a first team all-conference pick. He was joined on the first team by Buzz Ritzel. Nestor Daboin was selected second team all-conference as well.

Mazrimas is averaging 17 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season. He has dished out 60 assists and hit 59 3pt. field goals. He leads the league in rebounding, is sixth in 3pt. field goals per game, seventh in scoring, eighth in field goal percentage, and 14th in assists.

The senior from Lockport, Ill. has inked his name into the IC record book as well. Mazrimas is the school's all-time leader in 3pt. field goals made with 240. He ranks second all-time at IC in scoring and rebounding with 1,690 points and 946 rebounds respectively and is the only player in school history to score 1,600 points and grab 900 rebounds. This season, Mazrimas was named the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week three times and was selected to the All-Tournament teams at both the Merris Invitational and the Smokey Ballenger Classic.

Ritzel averages 17.3 points and six rebounds with 57 assists and 19 steals. The junior from Nashville, Ill., is second in the league in free throw percentage, fifth in field goal percentage, sixth in scoring, 11th in rebounding, 13th in 3pt. field goal percentage and 15th in assists. In December, Ritzel was named to the All-Tournament team at the Smokey Ballenger Classic.

Daboin leads the league in blocked shots with 48 (2.2 per game) and is third in rebounding, averaging 8.3 boards per contest. The senior from Katy, Texas is fourth all-time at IC with 131 blocked shots and needs five to move into third place. Daboin is also the school's all-time leader in blocked shots per game (2.2).

IC finished the regular season with a 21-4 overall record including a 13-3 slate in conference play. The Blueboys won the regular season conference title and will host the league's postseason tournament Friday and Saturday at Sherman Gymnasium. IC opens play Friday against Ripon at 5:00 p.m.