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Press release courtesy of John Schild, Culver-Stockton Athletics

CANTON, Mo. --- Culver-Stockton senior Marshawn Norris (Jackson, Mich. / Napoleon HS / Quincy University) was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year for his play during the 2012-13 season the league office announced Thursday.

Norris, in his one and only season with the Wildcats, was also tabbed as the league’s Newcomer of the Year and earned first team honors. Norris leads the Wildcats in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game, and is among the nation’s leaders in assists, averaging 6.8 assists per contest. He set single-season school records for 3-pointers (102) and assists (203, and a single-game record for assists with 14 against Benedictine College (Kan.) on Feb. 7. In addition, Norris is averaging 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. He has scored 528 points to date, becoming just the 12^th player in school history to net 500 points in a season.

In addition to Norris, fellow guard CJ Adams (Jackson, Mich. / Napoleon HS / Jackson CC) was named Defensive Player of the Year and Head Coach Jack Schrader was named Coach of the Year.

Senior guard Austin Keaton (Turlock, Calif. / Pitman HS / Modesto JC) was named to the all-conference second team, while junior forward James Johnson (Saginaw, Mich. / Heritage HS / Jackson CC) was named to the third team.

Adams, a 6-foot-2 junior, has been an all-around contributor for the Wildcats all season. He is averaging a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game and is second on the team in assists (3.1) and steals (1.5). Adams is also averaging 6.6 points per game and was an honorable mention selection to the all-conference team.

Keaton is third on the team in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game. He is shooting 45 percent from the floor, including 39 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, and a team-best 79 percent from the foul line. Keaton is also averaging 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and one steals per game.

Johnson, the Wildcats’ sixth man, is second in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game. He is shooting 42 percent from the field and 33 percent from outside the arc. He made 86 3-pointers during the regular season, including a school-record eight treys against Central Methodist on Jan. 21. In addition, Johnson is averaging 4.5 rebounds per game.

Schrader earned the coaching honor after guiding the Wildcats to a school-record tying 23 victories during the regular season and a tie for second place in the HAAC with a 14-4 league mark. This comes on the heels of the Wildcats finishing 4-24 and 1-17 in league play last season. This is the third time Schrader has earned a coach of the year honor. He was honored twice by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during his time at Truman State University.

The Wildcats return to action tonight (Thursday, Feb. 28) against Avila University in a HAAC Tournament quarterfinal game at Charles Field House. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.