EUNICE – LSU Eunice point guard Jonathan Cisse and men’s basketball head coach Byron Starks received the top junior college awards from the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches (LABC).
Cisse was named the Junior College Player of the Year, while Starks took home Junior College Coach of the Year honors. It is the first time a Bengal player or coach have received either award since the award began being handed out annually in 1986.
Cisse led all scorers in Region 23 and the LCCAC with 21.8 points per game. The former St. Thomas More star also ranked 11th nationally in free throw percentage (87.5%) while adding 4.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Cisse is LSUE’s all-time leading scorer in program history. The Northwestern State signee has also been named the LCCAC Player of the Year, First Team All-LCCAC, All-Region 23 and the Region 23 All-Tournament team.
Starks led the Bengals to another LCCAC regular season championship after going through the conference schedule a perfect 10-0. The Bengals season ended in the Region 23 Quarterfinals, falling to eventual champion Holmes CC. In his three seasons, the Bengals are 46-22 under Starks, including going 24-1 in LCCAC the last two seasons.