February 28, 2008
.JPG)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - For the second consecutive season, Hartwick's
Jan Cocozziello (Scotch Plains, N.J.) has received second team all-Empire 8 Conference men's basketball accolades, as the end of the season awards were release by the league office.
During the 2007-08 campaign, Cocozziello posted 22.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists per game as the Hawks registered a 10-15 overall mark. The junior currently ranks first in the league in scoring, tied for 10th in rebounds per game and 10th in free throw percentage (.730). Cocozziello holds a 0.4-point per game average over Nazareth's Joe Canori for the league lead. Canori's season isn't over yet.
In his 25 appearances, he tallied 20 or more points 16 times, including doing so in his last eight contests. On December 7, he led Hartwick back from a 25-point deficit with 13 minutes left with a career-high 43 points in an 84-80 victory over RIT. Cocozziello also notched four double doubles on the season. On November 20, he set a school record for free throw makes (24) and attempts (26) in a single game in an overtime victory over Keuka.
"Jan had an exceptional season," said Hartwick head coach Paul Culpo. "When you look at his statistics, they are truly astounding. He has been burdened by carrying the team and did it within the context of our offense."
Cocozziello posted one of the best single-seasons recorded in Hartwick's storied history. In his 25 outings, he accumulated 553 points, which ranks sixth on the all-time single-season list. On January 4, 2008, Cocozziello became the 27th player in the program's history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. He will enter his final year of eligibility ranking seventh overall with 1,374 points, 10 behind Jerry Fulmer for sixth. Cocozziello also moved into the top 10 at Hartwick for career steals with 97, which ranks eighth.
Joining him on the league's second team were Canori, Justin Beigel (St. John Fisher), Mark Carson (RIT), and Virgil Gray (Stevens Tech.) Player of the Year Sean Burton (Ithaca) headed the first team which also consists of Jeff Bostic (Ithaca), Waleed Farid (Stevens Tech), Doug Herring (Utica), and Corey McAdam (Nazareth).
Greg Bankowski (Guilderland, N.Y.) was Hartwick's sportsman of the Year for men's basketball. This honor goes to the student-athlete that displays leadership and sportsmanship throughout the season.
