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Contact: Kevin Zeise
Nov. 7, 2003
CLEVELAND - Throughout the 2003 Horizon League season, the league's coaches have had one thought on their minds before facing Cleveland State: slowing down junior forward Stephen Ademolu (Windsor, Ont., Can./Herman). That respect has resulted in Ademolu being named on Friday as the 2003 Horizon League Player of the Year.
"This award is absolutely deserved, as Stephen's effort and determination in even the most trying of times has been nothing short of exemplary," head coach Pete Curtis said. "The threat he has posed has kept even the best of teams on their toes trying to slow him down. I cannot think of a more worthy candidate for such an honor."
Ademolu leads the Vikings in scoring with 27 points on 12 goals and three assists. He twice recorded a hat trick, the first coming against Robert Morris on Sept. 3, leading the Vikings to a 3-2 win over the Colonials. He performed the feat again two weeks later, scoring three goals and collecting a pair of assists in CSU's thrilling come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win against UIC on Sept. 20. He finished the season ranked second in the Horizon League in scoring, averaging 1.69 points per game. He also ranks 17th in the nation in goals per game and is 25th in the country in points per game.
Ademolu becomes Cleveland State's first player to earn the honor in the Horizon League, and it marks just the third time a Viking has earned top honors in any league. The last player to earn league player of the year honors was Nick Stavrou, who was named player of the year in the Mid-Continent Conference in 1989 and 1990.
Joining Ademolu in receiving all-league honors are Spencer Lappin (Pepper Pike, Ohio/Orange) on the Horizon League second team, and David Prentice (North Curl Curl, Australia/St. Pius X) and Nic Ademolu (Windsor, Ont., Can./Herman) on the Horizon League's All-Newcomer team.
Lappin scored 15 points on the season on five goals and five assists. His 15 points rank him 10th in the Horizon League in points, while his five assists tie him with three other players for fourth place in the league. The two players named to the all-newcomer team, Prentice and Nic Ademolu, finished tied for third on the team in scoring with seven points each. Ademolu had three goals and an assist, while Prentice had a pair of goals and three helpers.
Cleveland State opens Horizon League tournament play on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Detroit. The league quarterfinal matchup will begin at 1 p.m., with the winner advancing to the semifinals, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 14, at the highest remaining seed.
