Samkelo Cele/Men's Basketball | University Of Science & Arts Of Oklahoma
Samkelo Cele/Men's Basketball | University Of Science & Arts Of Oklahoma
On Thursday afternoon, the Sooner Athletic Conference announced that three members of the USAO men's basketball team had earned All-Conference honors for their sensational performances throughout the 2022-23 season. Samkelo Cele earned a spot on the first-team All-SAC, followed by Gerard Makuntae on the third-team, and Langston Gaither as a honorable mention selection.
SAMKELO CELE- All-Conference 1st Team
Samkelo Cele made an immediate impact with the Drovers this season, leading the team in scoring with 20.5 points per game, and that figure also ranked as the third highest scoring average in the SAC. While scoring at a high volume, Cele was also incredibly efficient, shooting 52.4 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three-point range, and 80.7 percent at the free-throw line.
The impressive product out of South Africa managed to deliver 14 twenty-point performances during the regular season, and he scored at least 27 points on eight different occasions.
The transfer averaged 5.2 rebounds per game, along with 1.3 steals per contest.
GERARD MAKUNTAE- All-Conference 3rd Team
Makuntae delivered his best season to date in 2022-23, averaging 15.2 points per game, in addition to 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest.
In his legendary career, Makuntae has tallied 1167 points, 859 rebounds, 210 assists, 105 steals, and 127 blocks.
Makuntae is the ONLY player in program history to have recorded over 1000 points, 800 rebounds, and 200 assists.
Furthermore, G is the program's all-time leading rebounder, and earlier this season he became the 17th member of the program's 1000-point club.
During his time as a Drover, the team has compiled a record of 100-47 (.680), and he has led the program to two SAC Championships, in addition to three trips to the NAIA national tournament so far.
LANGSTON GAITHER- All-Conference Honorable Mention
In 22 games played this season, Gaither has averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per contest.
Gaither was selected as the SAC Player of the Week earlier this season, and he became the first Drover in the last decade+ to record a triple-double, with a 10, 11, 10 performance at Central Christian on January 8.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Drovers head to the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 Southwestern Assemblies of God University at Drover Fieldhouse on Thursday, February 23. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM inside Drover Fieldhouse.
The SAC Tournament semifinals and finals will take place at Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City on February 27-28.
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