 There
were a number of deserving candidates, but one of the smallest
stood above the rest. Georgia Southern’s 5-foot-8 senior Elton
Nesbitt, who helped the Eagles to the Southern Conference
regular season championship, is the recipient of the
CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Most Valuable Player.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the top guards
in America,” says Georgia Southern head coach Jeff Price.
“Unfortunately he doesn’t get nearly the recognition he
deserves. Being named Mid-Major MVP is a well-deserved honor.
It’s great for Elton and it’s great for our program.”
Nesbitt might be small in stature, but he certainly puts up big
numbers. The first Georgia Southern player to be named Southern
Conference Player of the Year, Nesbitt became the only Eagle in
school history to record 600 points in more than one season.
On five occasions this season he tallied 30 or more points, with
a season-best 36 in a win over UNC-Greensboro. Twice he made
seven three-point baskets in a game and on Feb. 8 he made eight
three-pointers at Chattanooga.
He is the only Eagle to ever record 100 three-pointers in a
single season.
“It’s a shame most people have no clue who he is,” says
CollegeInsider.com’s editor-in-chief Joe Dwyer. “What’s so
impressive is the fact that the team’s best player is also the
team’s hardest worker. He can beat you from the perimeter and he
can beat you with the dribble. He does a great job of getting to
the free-throw line.”
Nesbitt put together quite a career, finishing as the school’s
all-time leader in free throws (353). He is also first in career
three-pointers made (259), second in steals (193), fifth in
scoring (1721) and is third on the all-time list in three-point
field goal percentage (.374).
“His teammates followed his lead,” says Price. “When the best
player in the league works so hard, everyone else follows. I
wish people could see how hard he works every day in practice.”
Nesbitt is just the seventh player in school history to reach
1,500 career points, which he eclipsed on Jan. 28 with his
36-point performance against. |
