NWAC named Clark’s 6-foot-2-inch sophomore guard Bryan Berg the Baden Men’s Basketball Player of the Year for 2015-2016 on Tuesday afternoon.
Hailing from Tigard High School, Berg is the first basketball player and third student athlete from Clark to win the award.
Averaging nearly 18 points per game and shooting 56 percent from the field this year, Berg was a key component in the Penguins’ backcourt as he led the team to a fifth-place finish at the NWAC tournament in Everett, Washington. Berg was also part of the Clark team that won the NWAC Championship in 2015.
Berg put up 207 points while shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc—contributing to the Penguins’ overall season record of 23-9. In his two seasons with Clark, Berg saw a record of 48-15.
“When you look at his body of work, it would be hard not to give this honor to him,” said head coach Alex Kirk. All NWAC head coaches vote on one male and female player to earn the award. “He did it the right way.”
Berg placed second in three-pointers, third in free throws (averaging 85 percent) and in the top 20 for scoring, steals and field goals during the 2015-16 season.
“I think I earned this award, but I couldn’t have done it without my brothers pushing me through practice and workout so I can play to my best every game,” Berg said.
Berg also said he wants to use this award to improve his player stock while courting NCAA Division I schools like Marist College, James Madison University and University of San Diego.
Clark College President Bob Knight, who regularly attends Clark’s basketball games, said he sees no weaknesses in Berg’s game. “If I were to design a male student-athlete from scratch, it would look and act like Bryan,” Knight said.
Berg and Clackamas Community College’s sophomore guard Jo Pain will receive their awards for Player of the Year at the NWAC Banquet at the Bellevue Red Lion on June 2.
