Eastern New Mexico University Athletic Director Dr. Greg Waggoner has announced the list of the 2016-17 Academic Athletes of the Year for the winter season. Both basketball teams were represented. Both athletes contributed to their respective programs, both in competition and in the classroom.

“Both Mikaehla and Andre are fine representatives of this honor,” said Waggoner. “Their leadership, reliability, consistency, resiliency, and skills on the court, in the classroom, and in the community represent what Greyhound Athletics is about.”
Mikaehla Connor, a biology major with an emphasis in pre-medical sciences, was one of five players chosen to the LSC Women’s Basketball All-Academic Team. She also was named first team all-conference and to the LSC All-Defensive Team. Connor was a driving force for the Greyhounds on both ends of the court this season. Her performance led to the program’s first conference title, the top seed in the league tournament, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. She garnered three LSC Player of the Week awards, two for her offense, and the other for defense. With the second-best assist/turnover ratio in the league, she perpetually facilitated the Greyhound offense. Connor also was feared on the defensive end as a tenacious rebounder, shot blocker, and one of five ENMU players with at least 20 steals. In an overtime win over co-LSC champion Angelo State, she scored a career-high 25 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked a shot. IN the overtime session, she scored nine of ENMU’s 15 points. Connor also had a 19-point outing in the Hounds’ first road victory over West Texas A&M since 1981.
Andre Hughes, a physical education major, started all 27 of the Greyhounds games this year and was a key contributor with 8.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, along with 17 steals. His performance helped ENMU win five of their last six games, with a tournament opportunity coming down to the final seconds of the season. Hughes scored a season-high 15 points in a victory over a West Texas A&M team, which reached the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship Game. He shot a sizzling .636 from the floor in that game.
ENMU Basketball Academic Athletes of the Year
Men’s Basketball
2013-14
Kyle Lantz
Men’s Basketball
2014-15
Seth Bailey
Men’s Basketball
2015-16
Kevin Saiz
Men’s Basketball
2016-17
Andre Hughes
Women’s Basketball
2013-14
Jaylyn Cooper
Women’s Basketball
2014-15
Jaylyn Cooper
Women’s Basketball
2015-16
Jordyn Cooper
Women’s Basketball
2016-17
Mikaehla Connor