The smallest starter for the University of Richmond was voted as the Atlantic 10 Conference's best player.
Junior Kevin Anderson, a 6-foot point guard, was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year on Sunday, becoming the first Spider ever to earn the award.
"It feels unbelievable," Anderson said. "I thought I wasn't going to get it."
Anderson was also selected for the First Team A-10. He became the first Spider to be named to the first team since Richmond moved to the A-10 from the Colonial Athletic Association in 2001.
The league's coaches voted to give Anderson the award after he ended the regular season averaging 17.8 points and 1.8 steals per game while playing more than 36 minutes on average. His 1,482 career points are tied for ninth-most in Spider history. He needs about 400 more points to move into third place on Richmond's scoring list.
Anderson has won a number of games for Richmond with his late-game play. During Richmond's Feb. 20 74-70 victory over George Washington University, Anderson scored or assisted on all of Richmond's last five baskets. Anderson provided late-game heroics again on Saturday when he hit a 3-pointer with six seconds to send the Spiders into overtime against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Richmond would win that game 89-84 and Anderson scored 24 points.
The national media has recently started focusing on Anderson and the Spiders. They have been featured in Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, and the USA Today so far this season.
"We just embrace the attention," Anderson said. "It's nothing negative, so we just embrace it."
Senior David Gonzalvez was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and to the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team. He and Anderson have guided the Spiders to their winningest season in team history.
"I was a little disappointed," Anderson said of Gonzalvez being placed on the second team. "His play is first team [caliber]. His play has been big for us all season."
Anderson was also disappointed to see that senior Ryan Butler was not named to a team. Butler started all 31 games and averaged eight points per game and is third on the team with 52 steals.
"[Butler and Gonzalvez] are the reason why we have been successful this season," Anderson said. "I wish they could have been recognized for their hard work."
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The Spiders, who finished the regular season 24-7 and 13-3 during conference play, will begin the A-10 Tournament as the No. 3 seed this Friday in Atlantic, City, N.J.
"We are just taking it one game at a time," Anderson said. "We are trying to keep our defense strong and go out there and win the conference tournament."
Contact staff writer Reilly Moore at reilly.moore@richmond.edu and staff writer Andrew Prezioso at andrew.prezioso@richmond.edu
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