Western Nebraska Community College’s Hauns Brereton had one of the finest seasons in Cougar men’s basketball history this past year and the 6-foot-7 sophomore capped off his stellar career earning NJCAA third team all-American honors.
Brereton becomes the first men’s basketball since 1999 to earn an NJCAA all-American honor. The last one was Arturas Javtokas, who earned a first team honor in 1999.
Brereton and Gillette College’s Ryan Aaron were the top Region IX players to earn all-American honors, capturing third team distinctions. Northeastern Junior College’s Widget Washington earned honorable mention honors. The All-American honors were released Tuesday afternoon.
WNCC coach Russ Beck said the honor is a testament to Brereton’s hard work. Brereton transferred to WNCC this year after spending a year at the University of Northern Colorado.
“I think it is a great compliment to Hauns. He has worked very hard this year and he has accomplished those purposes that he came here to accomplish,” Beck said. “He was a part of a team that won a bunch of ball games, wanted to increase his recruitment, and wanted to be an all-American when he came in. He conducted himself great on and off the floor and he has been really fun to coach. I am excited for him and it represents our program in that we bring in some high-caliber student athletes. We want to continue to go out and find more guys like Hauns that come in and balance a 3.8 GPA with also being an all-American.” Brereton helped the Cougars to an 18-14 record before the team fell in the quarterfinals of the regional tournament. The Memphis, Tenn., native finished the season with 588 points. He averaged 20.3 points and 7.1 rebounds a game, and connected on 41 3-pointers this season. Brereton really picked up is scoring in the second semester where he finished the season scoring in double figures the last 16 games of the season.
Brereton also scored 30 or more points in five games during February. He had a 39-point performance against Eastern Wyoming College on Feb. 3 when he connected on five 3-pointers. He also had 35 points in wins against Northeastern Junior College and Northeast (Neb.) Community College. In both games, Brereton was red-hot from the free throw line. He made 15 of 22 charity shots against NJC and was 10 of 11 against Northeast Nebraska.
At the Region IX tournament, Brereton got the better of Aaron, who also was third-team all-American, as the Cougars topped Gillette College 84-81. Brereton finished with 28 points in the win, while Aaron had 19. Aaron led Region IX and was one of the top scorers in the nation this past year.
Beck said Brereton did great this season.
“He picked up everything really fast and as the season went along, we figured out ways to put him in a position to help us win, to score and help our team,” he said. “He did great. He adjusted well. I am really happy for him and all the good things that come his way.”
Brereton now has one of the toughest decisions awaiting him in deciding which four-year college to go to. Beck said Brereton has over 20 Division I offers, He already has visited Hawaii, Tulane and most recently Santa Clara. BYU, Pepperdine, and Nebraska has inquired about his services.
“Sometimes it is hard to be patient and he has a bunch of things to think about,” Beck said. “He has some great schools and he is a great kid. He will take all those into consideration and find a place that is the best fit for him. Hopefully, we will get a chance to watch him play on TV and say that is a guy that was a Western Nebraska Cougar.”
NJCAA Men’s Basketball All-Americans
First Team – Jeff Early, Monroe College; Carlos Emory, Howard College; Chris Evans, Wabash Valley College; Carl Hall, Northwest Florida; Lonnie Hayes, Missouri State-West Plains; Marsell Holden, San Jacinto; Pierre Jackson, College of Southern Idaho; Larry McCaughey, Lawson State; Tyrus McGee, Cowley County; and Tavares Speaks, Cape Fear.
Second Team – Quintorius Bivins, Atlanta Metropolitan; Xavier Blount-Johnson, Cochise College; Tyler Brown, Marshalltown; Raymond Cintron, Mississippi Gulf Coast; Monterale Clark, Highland C.C.; Michael Hall, North Idaho; Anthony Hubbard, Prederick C.C.; Philip Jurick, Chattanooga State; Blake Nash, Williston State; and Corey Wilford, Connors State.
Third Team – Ryan Aaron, Gillette College, Hauns Brereton, Western Nebraska; Kevin Foster, Central Florida; Paris Gulley, Southeastern Iowa; Deangelo Haley, Kankakee C.C.; Jeremy Jones, Seward County; Malcolm Moore, Tyler J.C.; D’Angelo Scott, Arizona Western; Taylor Smith, McLennan C.C.; and Corbin Thomas, Southwestern Illinois.
Honorable Mention – Deonte Alexander, East Mississippi; Darrell Armstrong, Allegany College of Maryland; Charles Ashford, Vincennes; Spencer Coleman, Eastern Arizona; Robert Crawford, Connors State; Justin Edwards, Hollsborough; Freddie Goldstein, Motlow State; Jayson Guerner, Alabama Southern; Marcus Hooten, Copiah-Lincoln; Alfonzo Hubbard, Salt Lake C.C.; Elliott Johnson, Highland C.C.-Illinois; Reco Lewis, Waycross Colllege; Cheikin Moodj, Grayson County; Joe Mitchell, Hutchinson; Hanif Nixon-Hughes, North Dakota State College of Science; Quinton Pippen, Missouri State-West Plains; Orlando Sanchez, Monrow College; Dylan Talley, Blinn College; Alan Michael Thompson, Brunswick C.C.; and Widgett Washington, Northeastern Junior College.
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