BOSTON - Tariq Francis was rewarded for his tremendous freshman season on Thursday as the NJIT men's basketball standout was named the America East Conference's Rookie of the Year.

Joining Francis on the All-Rookie Team was classmate Levi Lawal, while Kjell de Graaf was selected to the All-Academic Team for the second-straight season.

Francis, who was named America East Rookie of the Week eight times this season, led all America East freshmen and finished ninth overall in scoring, averaging 14.8 ppg. In conference games, Francis was fifth overall in scoring with an average of 18.7 ppg. Francis scored 20+ points on eight different occasions, including a season-high 31 in the Highlanders' upset victory over Vermont on February 8, the Catamounts only America East loss of the season. 

Lawal's production improved as the season went on as he averaged 6.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg in 24 games played (19 starts). In America East action, the Laurel, MD, native pulled down 7.1 rebounds per game, tops among freshmen in the league and seventh overall. Lawal's double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) vs. New Hampshire on Jan. 18 was one of just two by an America East freshman this season. 

de Graaf's season was cut short in early February after he suffered a season-ending knee injury. Prior to the injury, he was playing the best basketball of his six-year NJIT career with averages of 10.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg. The Netherlands native scored 18 points, all after halftime, in the Highlanders 22-point comeback win at UMBC on Jan. 27 and his tip-in in the final seconds proved to be the difference in the Highlanders' one-point win over the Retrievers. de Graaf has already completed two chemical engineering degrees at NJIT and is working on a third degree in material engineering. 

Francis and Lawal make it three out of four seasons at least one NJIT player was named to the America East All-Rookie Team. de Graaf was one of three student-athletes named to the America East's All-Academic Team for the second year in a row, joining fellow graduate students Dan Petcash (Binghamton) and Matt Veretto (Vermont). 

A full list of the America East's postseason award winners can be found here.