Justin Scott, head coach of Arcadia University’s men’s basketball team, was named MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year by his peers in the league on Feb. 22. Scott led the Knights to a 16-11 record and to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament after being picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll. In addition, senior Khalief Trawick was named to the Commonwealth Second Team, while Joe Brown and Travis Saltus were Commonwealth Honorable Mention selections.

Scott just completed his first season as head coach of the Knights. The team went to the postseason for the first time since 2006, won a playoff game for the first time since 2000, and won 16 games for the first time since 2005-06. The Knights were also ranked in the initial NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Rankings for the first time in more than a decade.

Trawick had a great senior season, leading the team in scoring with 13.4 ppg while grabbing 4.4 rpg. He also joined the 1,000-point club in the team’s final regular season game at Widener University. Brown scored 13.4 ppg and led the team with 7.0 rpg. Unfortunately, Brown missed the Knights’ final three games of the season due to illness. Saltus, MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year in 2012, was third on the team in scoring with 11.4 ppg.

The Knights are already looking forward to next season. The team will return three of the five starters, including Brown, Saltus and Aaron Lee-Webb, who scored more than 10 ppg. Key contributors John Landro, Jose Figueroa and Rashon Brock will fight for spots in the starting line-up, and a strong recruiting class will help put the Knights in the upper echelon of the MAC Commonwealth Conference for 2013-14.

Scott is the second Arcadia University coach to be honored during the 2012-13 academic year. In the fall, field hockey coach Erin Livingston won the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year award after leading the Knights to a 14-5 season and playoff appearance.

Photos by Josh Blustein