WHITEFISH — Jared Samuelson, who was named the Frontier Conference newcomer of the year and a first-team all-conference selection last season, is the league’s preseason player of the year, as voted by the coaches.
Samuelson, a former Billings West High School star, transferred to Rocky from the University of Montana and found immediate success with the Battlin’ Bears last year. He averaged 18.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and scored in double figures 26 times.
Rocky finished the 2017-18 season with an 18-14 overall record and 8-10 mark in the Frontier Conference. The Battlin’ Bears placed fifth in the conference and lost out in the semifinal round of the conference tournament.
Samuelson, a 6-foot-7 forward, is a junior this season.
Defending conference champion Carroll College placed two players on the preseason all-conference team in Match Burnham and Matt Wyman. Burnham is a 6-8 senior forward, while Wyman is a 6-7 senior guard. Montana Western’s Kooper Kidgell, a 6-4 senior guard, was also selected.
Lewis-Clark State’s tandem of Race Martin, a 6-6 senior guard, and Andre McCowan, a 6-4 senior guard, round out the preseason all-conference team.
Preseason player of the year
Jared Samuelson, Rocky Mountain College, 6-7, junior forward
Preseason all-conference team
Match Burnham, Carroll College, 6-8, senior forward
Kooper Kidgell, Montana Western, 6-4, senior guard
Race Martin, Lewis-Clark State, 6-6, senior guard
Andre McCowan, Lewis-Clark State, 6-4, senior guard
Matt Wyman, Carroll College, 6-7, senior guard
