EKU's Cozart Named ASUN Player of the Year; Hamilton Named Coach of the Year
ATLANTA – Eastern Kentucky University senior Isaiah Cozart was chosen as the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year and was the unanimous selection for Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced today from its Atlanta headquarters. Cozart is the first player in conference history to win the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.
In addition, A.W. Hamilton was chosen as the ASUN Coach of the Year. Cozart and Leland Walker were selected First Team All-ASUN. Devontae Blanton was picked to the Third Team All-ASUN. Michael Moreno earned a spot on the Academic All-ASUN Team.
Cozart is just the second player in program history to be chosen as the conference player of the year. Former Colonel James Tillman was picked as the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1979.
The Colonels will play in the ASUN Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday at 7 p.m. EKU will face the winner of the first round game between No. 9 seed Kennesaw State and No. 10 seed Jacksonville, which will be played on Monday at 7 p.m. at Baptist Health Arena.
Fans are encouraged to wear white for Tuesday’s game. EKU students will receive FREE admission, sponsored by E3. There will be FREE Crumbl Cookies and FREE t-shirts for students as well.
Tickets are on sale now and start at $20 each for bleacher seats. Upper chairback seats are $25 each and premium chairbacks are $30 each. Courtside seats are $65 each. Hospitality room access will be available for $15 per person, based on availability. Hospitality room access includes a pregame meal, Coca-Cola products and access to a cash bar. For any questions regarding tickets, hospitality or parking, please contact the EKU Ticket office at 859-622-2122 or by emailing Raymond White at raymond.white@eku.edu.
Cozart averaged 15.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 66 percent from the field this season. He was a three-time selection for ASUN Player of the Week. Cozart leads the ASUN in rebounding, offensive rebounding (3.93), defensive rebounding (5.97), double-doubles and blocks. He is second in field goal percentage, ninth in scoring and 14th in minutes played (31.05).
The Richmond, Kentucky native leads the NCAA in blocks and blocks per game, is fifth in field goal percentage, sixth in offensive rebounds, 21st in rebounding and 22nd in double-doubles (13). He posted EKU's first-ever triple double, finishing with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 blocks against Troy. Cozart’s 113 blocks are the third most in one season in ASUN history. He broke the ASUN and EKU single game records for blocks with 11 against Troy. Those 11 blocks are tied with one other person for the most in an NCAA game this season. Cozart broke the EKU career record for blocks in only 59 games. He broke the EKU single season record for blocks in 2023 and again in 2024. He is now third on the ASUN career blocks list with 207 in just two seasons.
Cozart has 69 more blocks than anyone else in the ASUN. He has 23 more blocks than anyone else in the nation and has more blocks than 240 NCAA teams.
Walker led the ASUN Regular Season Champions in scoring (15.6 ppg) and assists (4.1 apg). He also averaged 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals. The sophomore guard is eighth in conference in scoring, third in free throw percentage (83.2 percent), sixth in assists, seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.66), 12th in field goal percentage (43.4 percent) and 15th in steals. In ASUN games only, Walker averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals while shooting 44 percent.
The Indianapolis, Indiana native had a game-high 20 points and dished out six assists at Alabama. Walker scored a career-best 29 points in the win over North Florida. He had a career-high four 3-pointers and scored 26 points at Stetson. He had 10 assists against Jacksonville and broke the EKU single game record for assists with 16 against Wilberforce.
Blanton averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 42 percent from the field this season. The senior wing is 15th in the ASUN in scoring, 14th in field goal percentage and 17th in rebounding. He is now 13th in program history in scoring (1,460) and 17th in rebounds (613)
The Macedonia, Ohio native scored 14 points with four rebounds, three assists and one steal at No. 1 Purdue. He had 23 points and 11 rebounds in a win at Kennesaw State and 24 points in the win over Florida Gulf Coast. Blanton recorded 23 points and 13 rebounds at Austin Peay and finished with 16 points and five rebounds in the ASUN Championship clinching victory against Central Arkansas.
Moreno has compiled a 3.6 grade-point-average while seeking a master’s in exercise and sport science. He averaged 10.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in ASUN games. The senior forward had 33 assists and 12 turnovers in ASUN games for a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. He is ninth in the ASUN in rebounding (6.4 rpg), fourth in defensive rebounds (5.3 rpg) and 11th in 3-pointers per game (2.2).
The Georgetown, Kentucky native was the first player in program history with 1500 points and 900 rebounds. He ranks first in program history in 3-pointers made and games played, second in rebounding, sixth in scoring and eighth in steals.
Moreno is a two-time ASUN Conference Honor Roll member and has participated in numerous community service projects.
Hamilton earned his second conference coach of the year award. He was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2019-20. This season, Hamilton led the Colonels to their first regular season conference championship since 1978-79. EKU tied the program record for best conference start by winning its first seven ASUN games. In addition to the individual accomplishments above, as a team the Colonels broke the program record for blocks in a season. The team leads the conference in field goal percentage defense, rebounding, blocked shots and offensive rebounds.
Excitement around the program, nurtured by Hamilton, is visible again as EKU led the ASUN in average home attendance for the second straight year. The team is the only one in the league to average more than 3,000 fans per game.
