Four Broncbusters named to the All-Conference team

Garden City, KS-Freshman Buru Naivalurua and sophomore DaJion Humphrey headline four Broncbusters who were named to the Jayhawk All-Conference team on Thursday. 

Naivalurua and Humphrey made the first team, guard Jaborri McGhee was named an honorable mention, and Naivalurua and Larry Olayinka were named to the All-Defensive Team.  

"Our season didn't necessarily end where we wanted it, but we had a great group of guys this year," Head Coach, Rusty Elmore said.  

Humphrey, the transfer from Holly Cross, led the conference in 3-point percentage (43.5 percent), was fourth in 3-pointers made (84), and fifth in points per game (17.2). He scored in double figures 23 times, hitting the 20-point mark 13 times including a season-high 35 vs. Hutchinson in a 117-97 victory on January 14. He set the school record by hitting seven 3s three separate times vs. Cloud, Dodge City, and Northwest Tech. He finished his sophomore campaign averaging 17.2 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field. He was 79 percent from the line.  

"DaJion was one of the best shooters in the league this year," Elmore added. "And he could do it from multiple levels."

Before the season ever started, Naivalurua was the best kept secret in the conference. The freshman, who sat out last year after arriving late from Australia, led the Jayhawk in rebounds (10.2 per game) and blocks (56). He posted 16 double-doubles including an 11-point, 18-rebound performance vs. Coffeyville on Nov. 19. He scored in double figures 23 times, which included a season-high 24 points in a 94-90 overtime victory over Pratt on Feb. 18. He finished the year averaging 14.8 points per game on 62 percent shooting. 

"I can't tell you how excited I was and what a stress relief it was for me when I first took this job and we convinced Buru to stay," Elmore said.  

McGhee, the highly touted freshman, averaged 16 points, 4.6 rebounds, and five assists per game. He shot 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc. He scored a season-best 30 points and nearly helped Garden City overcome a 20-point second-half deficit vs. Coffeyville on Nov. 19. He dished out 10 assists in a 96-88 loss to Dodge City on Dec. 3. 

"Jaborri was arguably one of the most talented players in the league," Elmore said.  

Olayinka finished seventh in the conference in blocks (32) and led the Jayhawk in field goal percentage (67.2 percent). He also posted two double-doubles vs. Seward and Pratt, which included a 20-point, 10-rebound performance vs. the Beavers on Jan. 4. 

"Larry got better as the season went on," Elmore said. "We are excited to have him coming back next season."