University of New Hampshire Athletics
Lester Highlights America East Annual Awards
3/5/2020 11:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Chris Lester Named to All-Defensive Team and All-Academic Team; Nick Guadarrama and Sean Sutherlin Make All-Conference Third Team
BOSTON – Chris Lester (Barrington, Ill.) received two accolades to highlight a total of four honors received by the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team when the America East conference announced its 2019-20 annual award winners Friday.
Lester was selected to both the All-Defensive Team and All-Academic Team, while teammates Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) and Sean Sutherlin (New Brighton, Minn.) were named to the All-Conference Third Team. Guadarrama was voted the America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year on Thursday.
Lester, a graduate student and team captain, has been reliable on both sides of the court this season. Lester is a versatile defender as he primarily plays the center position at a height of 6-foot-6. Although undersized at the position, he has the ability to cover post-up centers. His excellent defensive positioning allows him guard all types of players, give strong help defense and draw charges.
Lester, who has 20 starts in 27 games played, ranks second on the team and eighth in the conference in offensive rebounding (2.0 per game). He's fourth on the squad in rebounding (5.0 rpg) and also averages 7.7 points per game. Lester has also proven to be a threat from long range, where he's made 34 of 107 3-pointers.
Lester also stands out because he excels in school. He graduated with a Business Administration: Finance degree in just three years with a 3.79 GPA. And now Lester has a 3.97 GPA while pursuing a business administration degree as a grad student. He's been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court twice and to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll three times.
Guadarrama, a sophomore forward who was named America East Player of the Week on Dec. 23, excelled in his second year as a Wildcat. He leads the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), field goal percentage (.484), offensive rebounding (2.4 per game) and free throws made (62), while he is second in rebounding (7.2 rpg), field goals made (132), 3-pointers made (40) and 3-point field goal percentage (.374).
Also of note, he ranked third in assists (69; 2.5 per game) and fourth in steals (19). Guadarrama posted four 20-point games and six double-doubles this season. He's been the top 'Cat in scoring seven times, including a career-high 28 points against Holy Cross, and top rebounder six times with a personal best of 18 vs. Curry College; he was the leader in both stats four times.
Guadarrama ranks in the Top 15 in seven categories on the America East leaderboards: offensive rebounding (4), rebounding (6), field goal percentage (6), defensive rebounding (11), scoring (14), assists (14), and minutes (15).
Sutherlin, a junior guard, has made a big impact for the Wildcats in his first year since transferring from Sheridan College (Sheridan, Wyo.). He leads the team in rebounding (9.1 rpg), defensive rebounding (7.5 per game), field goals made (136) and attempted (313), free throw attempts (115), steals (28), minutes (33.6 per game). Additionally, Sutherlin ranks second in scoring (12.6 ppg), field goal percentage (.435), assists (2.6 apg), free throws made (61) and blocks (12).
He ranks in the America East Top 15 in seven categories: rebounding (2), defensive rebounding (2), minutes (9), field goal percentage (11), assists (12), offensive rebounding (14), and scoring (15).
Sutherlin's highlight of the season was when he posted 21 points and 20 rebounds Nov. 26 vs. Bryant, which was one of his team- and conference-leading 10 double-doubles this season. He has led the 'Cats in scoring seven times, including a career-high 22 points against Dartmouth, and rebounding 14 times; Sutherlin has led in both of those stats five times.
New Hampshire travels to Maryland for a Hercules Tires America East Championships quarterfinal game against UMBC on Saturday, March 7. Game time on ESPN+ is 1 p.m. Click here to visit the tourney central page.
Lester was selected to both the All-Defensive Team and All-Academic Team, while teammates Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) and Sean Sutherlin (New Brighton, Minn.) were named to the All-Conference Third Team. Guadarrama was voted the America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year on Thursday.
Lester, a graduate student and team captain, has been reliable on both sides of the court this season. Lester is a versatile defender as he primarily plays the center position at a height of 6-foot-6. Although undersized at the position, he has the ability to cover post-up centers. His excellent defensive positioning allows him guard all types of players, give strong help defense and draw charges.
Lester, who has 20 starts in 27 games played, ranks second on the team and eighth in the conference in offensive rebounding (2.0 per game). He's fourth on the squad in rebounding (5.0 rpg) and also averages 7.7 points per game. Lester has also proven to be a threat from long range, where he's made 34 of 107 3-pointers.
Lester also stands out because he excels in school. He graduated with a Business Administration: Finance degree in just three years with a 3.79 GPA. And now Lester has a 3.97 GPA while pursuing a business administration degree as a grad student. He's been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court twice and to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll three times.
Guadarrama, a sophomore forward who was named America East Player of the Week on Dec. 23, excelled in his second year as a Wildcat. He leads the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), field goal percentage (.484), offensive rebounding (2.4 per game) and free throws made (62), while he is second in rebounding (7.2 rpg), field goals made (132), 3-pointers made (40) and 3-point field goal percentage (.374).
Also of note, he ranked third in assists (69; 2.5 per game) and fourth in steals (19). Guadarrama posted four 20-point games and six double-doubles this season. He's been the top 'Cat in scoring seven times, including a career-high 28 points against Holy Cross, and top rebounder six times with a personal best of 18 vs. Curry College; he was the leader in both stats four times.
Guadarrama ranks in the Top 15 in seven categories on the America East leaderboards: offensive rebounding (4), rebounding (6), field goal percentage (6), defensive rebounding (11), scoring (14), assists (14), and minutes (15).
Sutherlin, a junior guard, has made a big impact for the Wildcats in his first year since transferring from Sheridan College (Sheridan, Wyo.). He leads the team in rebounding (9.1 rpg), defensive rebounding (7.5 per game), field goals made (136) and attempted (313), free throw attempts (115), steals (28), minutes (33.6 per game). Additionally, Sutherlin ranks second in scoring (12.6 ppg), field goal percentage (.435), assists (2.6 apg), free throws made (61) and blocks (12).
He ranks in the America East Top 15 in seven categories: rebounding (2), defensive rebounding (2), minutes (9), field goal percentage (11), assists (12), offensive rebounding (14), and scoring (15).
Sutherlin's highlight of the season was when he posted 21 points and 20 rebounds Nov. 26 vs. Bryant, which was one of his team- and conference-leading 10 double-doubles this season. He has led the 'Cats in scoring seven times, including a career-high 22 points against Dartmouth, and rebounding 14 times; Sutherlin has led in both of those stats five times.
New Hampshire travels to Maryland for a Hercules Tires America East Championships quarterfinal game against UMBC on Saturday, March 7. Game time on ESPN+ is 1 p.m. Click here to visit the tourney central page.
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