CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Senior forward Kayla Yoegel and senior guard Danny Cooper from the Moravian University basketball teams have been selected to the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Team of the Year by the LVSCB Organization at its final luncheon of the 2021-22 season at DeSales University.
The Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Organization is made up of the six small college schools in the Lehigh Valley including NCAA Division II schools East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and NCAA Division III schools Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Moravian University and Muhlenberg College.
Yoegel has helped lead the Greyhounds to a 7-16 overall record and a 5-7 Landmark Conference record with Moravian still in the hunt for a postseason berth. This winter, Cooper is averaging 14.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game to go along with 22 assists, 21 steals, 22 blocked shots and 19 three-pointers. Yoegel, who has three career double-doubles, has 666 points, 311 rebounds, 73 blocked shots, 63 assists, 61 steals and 48 three-pointers in 76 career games with 56 starts.
"This is a most deserving honor for Kayla as she has had a very good season," stated Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "As the only senior, she has led this team all year through adversity and victories. Kayla often gets double teamed and garners a lot of attention on the court. She has remained solid and steady through it all. Kayla's work ethic has been the key to her success on and off the court. I am confident success will follow her. Congratulations to Kayla."
Joining Yoegel on the Team of the Year were Ashley Wilson of Cedar Crest, Averi Jordan of DeSales, Ryan Weise of East Stroudsburg, Rylee Derr of Kutztown and Margaux Eripret of Muhlenberg. Derr was named the Peter Nevins Women's Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season by the LVSCB Organization.
Cooper is an on-court leader for the Blue and Grey, who are 9-14 overall and 4-8 in Landmark Conference action. Cooper, who is in his first season as a collegiate basketball player, is averaging 15.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest this winter, and he has also contributed 87 assists, 38 three-pointers and 26 assists in his debut season. He has played a team-high 734 minutes with just 48 turnovers, and Cooper is shooting 89.3 percent (50-of-56) at the foul line, 51.6 percent (129-of-250) from the field and 43.2 percent (38-of-88) beyond the three-point arc.
"Danny Cooper exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete at Moravian University," commented Interim Head Coach Mike Frew. "He is hard working, responsible, trustworthy, and competitive. Danny is an energy giver who motivates those around him. We are privileged to have him represent our men's basketball program. Danny Cooper is a driving force behind the many successes our team has experienced both on and off the court during the 2021-22 basketball season."
Joining Cooper on the Team of the Year were Matt Kachelries of DeSales, Carlos Pepin of East Stroudsburg, Jalen Bryant of Kutztown and Dan Gaines of Muhlenberg. Kachelries was named the Peter Nevins Men's Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season by the LVSCB Organization.
