PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- Villanova guard Collin Gillespie was announced on Tuesday as Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year, while Temple's Jahlil White was named the Rookie of the Year, and Villanova head coach Jay Wright was chosen as the Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year.
The other major award winners on the men's side include Gillespie, White, and Wright, in addition to Villanova forward Eric Dixon earning the Most Improved Player Award, and Gillespie who also garnered Big 5 Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.
Gillespie was joined on the All-Big 5 first team by a pair of Villanova teammates in forward Jermaine Samuels and guard Justin Moore along with Jordan Dingle of Penn, Jordan Hall from Saint Joseph's and Temple's Damian Dunn.
The All-Big 5 second team featured Villanova's Caleb Daniels, Temple's Jeremiah Williams, Saint Joseph's Taylor Funk and the La Salle duo of Clifton Moore and Jack Clark.
Dingle was recognized as the Big 5 leading scorer averaging 20.8 points per game, while Gillespie shot 90.5 percent (105-116) from the foul line and was the Big 5 leading free throw shooter.
Gillespie averaged 15.6 points per game to go with 113 made three-point field goals and 121 assists. For his efforts in 2021-22, he earned the Bob Cousy Award as the top point guard in the country to go with 3rd Team All-American honors by the USBWA and the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year Award for the second straight season.
In his rookie season, White started 16 of the 29 games he played in and averaged 7.4 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per contest which was good enough to earn him a spot on the All-AAC Freshmen Team. Wright led Villanova to a 30-8 overall record and the program's third Final Four appearance in the last six seasons. Wright also guided the Wildcats to the BIG EAST Tournament title.
Dixon averaged 9.1 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per contest after averaging 3.0 points per game and 1.6 rebounds per contest in 2020-21. He also connected on 17 three-point field goals this season after making just two a season ago.
Philadelphia Big 5 Men's Basketball Award Winners
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Collin Gillespie, Villanova (Grad Student, Guard)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jahlil White, Temple (Freshman, Guard)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jay Wright, Villanova
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Eric Dixon, Villanova (Sophomore, Forward)
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Collin Gillespie, Villanova (Grad Student, Guard)
LEADING SCORER
Jordan Dingle, Penn (Sophomore, Guard) – 20.8 points per game
LEADING FREE THROW SHOOTER
Collin Gillespie, Villanova (Grad Student, Guard) 90.5 percent (105-116)
ALL-BIG 5 FIRST TEAM
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Justin Moore, Villanova
Jermaine Samuels, Villanova
Jordan Hall, Saint Joseph's
Damian Dunn – Temple
Jordan Dingle - Penn
ALL-BIG 5 SECOND TEAM
Caleb Daniels, Villanova
Taylor Funk, Saint Joseph's
Clifton Moore, La Salle
Jack Clark, La Salle
Jeremiah Williams, Temple
