BYU basketball: Nick Emery named NSCA All-American Athlete of the Year

BYU basketball star Nick Emery has more hardware to add to his trophy case after being named the NSCA All-American Athlete of the Year.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association named BYU basketball’s Nick Emery its 2017 All-American Athlete of the Year Award winner.

Erick Schork – BYU basketball strength and conditioning coach – nominated Emery for the award.

Emery averaged just a tad more than 13 points per game last season, along with three rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals.

“Nick’s strong work ethic has proven to be a catalyst for much of the team’s success,” Schork said in a BYU press release. “His teammates respect his level of commitment and sacrifice toward his goals. Nick has been able to transfer his work in the offseason to the court. He set the school record for consecutive games with at least one 3-point field goal. And has also become stronger on the defensive side of the ball, leading the team in steals. Nick has proven himself and exemplary ambassador for Brigham Young University.”

That’s some high praise from Coach Schork.

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Emery was a captain for the Cougars, and there’s no denying he was the team’s leader.

He shot 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range, while adding an 83 percent clip from the free-throw line. Emery tied his career-high with 37 points in BYU’s loss to Utah Valley.

It’s nice to see a little good news for BYU basketball. It seems like most of the headlines have been about players leaving the program recently. Emery, especially if Eric Mika goes to the NBA next season, will be the most important cog on the roster.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.