Best of Kent: Best Male Athlete
April 18, 2018
First place – Jaylin Walker
Despite a down year shooting, Jaylin Walker made the All-MAC Third Team after averaging 16.6 points per game on 38 percent shooting.
Walker’s scoring output was good for seventh in the conference, and he was ninth in free throw shooting (78.8 percent) and fourth in three-point field goals made (84). Walker exploded for 27 points on 7-for-12 three-point shooting during the Flashes’ 78-68 win over Wagon Wheel rivals Akron on Feb. 17.
Walker broke out during last season’s MAC Tournament, averaging 20 points over the four games, including 30 in the championship game, to lead the Flashes to a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Second place – Kyle Conel
Kyle Conel’s unlikely journey from unseeded to all-American was inspirational and well-documented from media sources all around the country.
After taking a year off from wrestling due to personal issues, Conel entered the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland as an afterthought. However, he beat the No. 1 wrestler in the country, Ohio State’s Kollin Moore, twice to secure a third-place finish, Kent State’s highest since Dustin Kilgore.
Because of that year off, Conel will most likely still have two more years of competition.
Third place – Brad Hamilton
Kent State baseball player Brad Hamilton is quickly establishing himself as one of the best power hitters in the MAC.
His eight home runs not only lead Kent State, but are tied for third in the MAC. The son of legendary Cleveland Indians play-by-play announcer Tom Hamilton, Brad is also hitting .303 with four doubles and 24 RBI.
Cameron Hoover is the sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].