Ball State University Athletics
Sparks Named MAC Freshman of the Year, Sellers Joins All-Freshmen Team
March 09, 2022 | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference announced its yearly postseason accolades on Wednesday. Ball State's Payton Sparks was named the MAC Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-MAC Third Team as well as the MAC All-Freshman Team. Jaylin Sellers joined Sparks on the MAC All-Freshman Team.
Sparks has a team-best 13.3 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Sparks has tallied 398 points this season and is currently third as a freshman in all-time scoring, behind Bonzi Wells (474) and Ray McCallum (463). Sparks has attempted 192 free throws this season, which is tied for 14th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. He has attempted more free throws than any other freshman in the NCAA. Sparks is second on the team with 15 blocks. He recorded 11 double-doubles on the season to lead all freshmen and finished second in the MAC. Sparks finished the regular season with 23 games scoring double figures and 12 games with double-digit rebounds. Sparks' 8.27 rebounds per game is fourth in the MAC, while his 13.27 points per game are 18th in the conference.
Sellers picked up an All-Freshman Team nod after a strong conference portion of the season. He has collected double-digit points in six games on the year. He has produced double-digit points in three of the last four, including a career-best 16 points in the season finale at Western Michigan. He has accumulated 200 points. Sellers is averaging 6.7 points per game, 1.8 rebounds per game, 23 steals, 16 assists, and six blocks.
This is the 14th time the MAC has seen a team where two or more freshmen have made the MAC All-Freshman Team. For just the second time, Ball State has seen multiple players make the all-freshman team with Sparks' and Sellers' nod this season. The last time BSU was represented by more than one freshman on the all-freshman team was in 1991 when David Broz, Tod Jones, and Jeermal Sylvester were all named to the MAC All-Freshman Team. That was the only time a school has been represented by three players. Teams that have been represented by multiple players on the MAC All-Freshman Team have gone on to have postseason success. After the BSU trio cracked the MAC All-Freshman Team, in 1993 Ball State went on to win a MAC Tournament title. Ohio's Jason Preston and Ben Vander Plas were the last two in 2019 and the Bobcats went on to win the MAC title last season.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"I want to congratulate Payton Sparks on receiving the well-deserved MAC Freshman of the Year award, and Jaylin Sellers for the equally deserving spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team. From the moment these two stepped on campus, their work ethic and determination has set them apart from the traditional college players. They have earned the respect of their peers in the Mid-American Conference, while representing themselves, our program, and the entire university in a first-class manner everywhere they go."
2021-22 MAC Men's Basketball Postseason Awards
Coach of the Year: Rob Senderoff, Kent State
Player of the Year: Sincere Carry, R-Jr., G, Kent State
Freshman of the Year: Payton Sparks, Fr., C, Ball State
Defensive Player of the Year: Enrique Freeman, So., F, Akron
Sixth Man of the Year: Justyn Hamilton, R-Sr., F, Kent State
All-MAC First Team
Jeenathan Williams, Sr., F, Buffalo
Sincere Carry, R-Jr., G, Kent State
Mark Sears, So., G, Ohio
Ben Vander Plas, R-Sr., F, Ohio
Ryan Rollins, So., G, Toledo
All-MAC Second Team
Ali Ali, So., F, Akron
Enrique Freeman, So., F, Akron
Josh Mballa, Sr., F, Buffalo
Ronaldo Segu, Sr., G, Buffalo
JT Shumate, Jr., F, Toledo
All-MAC Third Team
Payton Sparks, Fr., C, Ball State
Daeqwon Plowden, 5th-Sr., G/F, Bowling Green
Jason Carter, 5th-Sr., F, Ohio
Setric Millner Jr., Jr., F, Toledo
Lamar Norman Jr., Jr., G, Western Michigan
Honorable Mention
Xavier Castaneda, Jr., G, Akron
Kevin Miller, Fr., G, Central Michigan
Malique Jacobs, R-Jr., F, Kent State
Dae Dae Grant, Jr., G, Miami
Keshawn Williams, So., G, Northern Illinois
All-Freshman Team
Payton Sparks, C, Ball State
Jaylin Sellers, G, Ball State
Kevin Miller, G, Central Michigan
Mo Njie, C, Eastern Michigan
Ra'Heim Moss, G, Toledo
All-Defensive Team
Enrique Freeman, So., F, Akron
Daeqwon Plowden, 5th-Sr., G/F, Bowling Green
Josh Mballa, Sr., F, Buffalo
Malique Jacobs, R-Jr., F, Kent State
Sincere Carry, R-Jr., G, Kent State
Follow the Cardinals
Twitter
Instagram
Sparks has a team-best 13.3 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Sparks has tallied 398 points this season and is currently third as a freshman in all-time scoring, behind Bonzi Wells (474) and Ray McCallum (463). Sparks has attempted 192 free throws this season, which is tied for 14th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. He has attempted more free throws than any other freshman in the NCAA. Sparks is second on the team with 15 blocks. He recorded 11 double-doubles on the season to lead all freshmen and finished second in the MAC. Sparks finished the regular season with 23 games scoring double figures and 12 games with double-digit rebounds. Sparks' 8.27 rebounds per game is fourth in the MAC, while his 13.27 points per game are 18th in the conference.
Sellers picked up an All-Freshman Team nod after a strong conference portion of the season. He has collected double-digit points in six games on the year. He has produced double-digit points in three of the last four, including a career-best 16 points in the season finale at Western Michigan. He has accumulated 200 points. Sellers is averaging 6.7 points per game, 1.8 rebounds per game, 23 steals, 16 assists, and six blocks.
This is the 14th time the MAC has seen a team where two or more freshmen have made the MAC All-Freshman Team. For just the second time, Ball State has seen multiple players make the all-freshman team with Sparks' and Sellers' nod this season. The last time BSU was represented by more than one freshman on the all-freshman team was in 1991 when David Broz, Tod Jones, and Jeermal Sylvester were all named to the MAC All-Freshman Team. That was the only time a school has been represented by three players. Teams that have been represented by multiple players on the MAC All-Freshman Team have gone on to have postseason success. After the BSU trio cracked the MAC All-Freshman Team, in 1993 Ball State went on to win a MAC Tournament title. Ohio's Jason Preston and Ben Vander Plas were the last two in 2019 and the Bobcats went on to win the MAC title last season.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"I want to congratulate Payton Sparks on receiving the well-deserved MAC Freshman of the Year award, and Jaylin Sellers for the equally deserving spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team. From the moment these two stepped on campus, their work ethic and determination has set them apart from the traditional college players. They have earned the respect of their peers in the Mid-American Conference, while representing themselves, our program, and the entire university in a first-class manner everywhere they go."
2021-22 MAC Men's Basketball Postseason Awards
Coach of the Year: Rob Senderoff, Kent State
Player of the Year: Sincere Carry, R-Jr., G, Kent State
Freshman of the Year: Payton Sparks, Fr., C, Ball State
Defensive Player of the Year: Enrique Freeman, So., F, Akron
Sixth Man of the Year: Justyn Hamilton, R-Sr., F, Kent State
All-MAC First Team
Jeenathan Williams, Sr., F, Buffalo
Sincere Carry, R-Jr., G, Kent State
Mark Sears, So., G, Ohio
Ben Vander Plas, R-Sr., F, Ohio
Ryan Rollins, So., G, Toledo
All-MAC Second Team
Ali Ali, So., F, Akron
Enrique Freeman, So., F, Akron
Josh Mballa, Sr., F, Buffalo
Ronaldo Segu, Sr., G, Buffalo
JT Shumate, Jr., F, Toledo
All-MAC Third Team
Payton Sparks, Fr., C, Ball State
Daeqwon Plowden, 5th-Sr., G/F, Bowling Green
Jason Carter, 5th-Sr., F, Ohio
Setric Millner Jr., Jr., F, Toledo
Lamar Norman Jr., Jr., G, Western Michigan
Honorable Mention
Xavier Castaneda, Jr., G, Akron
Kevin Miller, Fr., G, Central Michigan
Malique Jacobs, R-Jr., F, Kent State
Dae Dae Grant, Jr., G, Miami
Keshawn Williams, So., G, Northern Illinois
All-Freshman Team
Payton Sparks, C, Ball State
Jaylin Sellers, G, Ball State
Kevin Miller, G, Central Michigan
Mo Njie, C, Eastern Michigan
Ra'Heim Moss, G, Toledo
All-Defensive Team
Enrique Freeman, So., F, Akron
Daeqwon Plowden, 5th-Sr., G/F, Bowling Green
Josh Mballa, Sr., F, Buffalo
Malique Jacobs, R-Jr., F, Kent State
Sincere Carry, R-Jr., G, Kent State
Follow the Cardinals
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballThis Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Guests: Adrian Wheatley and Jeff Mitchell
Thursday, December 11
Men's Basketball // Post Game Press Conference vs South Dakota State
Wednesday, December 10
Men's Basketball // Post Game Press Conference at Evansville
Thursday, December 04
Men's Basketball // Locker Room Celebration vs. Le Moyne
Tuesday, December 02