Lee named MVC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year

Posted on February 28, 2017

By Greg Halbleib

ST. LOUIS – Illinois State senior guard Paris Lee has been named the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Larry Bird Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Lee is the first Redbird in 16 seasons to earn the league’s top individual player honor. He’s also the first Redbird since 2010 to win the Defensive Player of the Year in the conference. Lee led the MVC in steals (2.0), assists (5.1) and 3-pointers (69).

Lee on Tuesday was named picked first team all-conference, while second team mentions go to senior Deontae Hawkins and junior MiKyle McIntosh. Phil Fayne was named to to the All-Newcomer team, and Lee and senior Tony Wills were placed on the All-Defensive team.

The Redbirds play either Indiana State or Evansville at noon Friday in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in St. Louis.

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