2025 NAC Men's Basketball Postseason Accolades Released
WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2025 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Men’s Basketball postseason honors have been announced. Awards include Senior Scholar-Athlete, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coaching Staff of the Year, and selections to the First, Second, and Third All-Conference Teams.
Each season, the NAC names a Sportsmanship Team, with one honoree per institution nominated by their head coach. This recognition is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship and positively impact the culture of men’s basketball with integrity beyond the game’s requirements. The 10 NAC Sportsmanship Team honorees are listed below.
VTSU-Lyndon senior guard Gregory Gonyea, Jr. (Dolgeville, N.Y.) has been selected as the 2025 NAC Men’s Basketball Senior Scholar-Athlete, while Husson University senior guard Riles Neff (Camarillo, Calif.) has been named NAC Player of the Year. Maine Maritime Academy senior center Curt Heinz (Stuttgart, Germany) has earned NAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, VTSU-Johnson freshman guard Matthew Carter (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) has been tabbed NAC Rookie of the Year, and the Husson University coaching staff, led by 31st-year Head Coach Warren Caruso, has claimed 2025 NAC Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year accolades.
Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Gregory Gonyea, Jr. (VTSU-Lyndon)
The NAC Senior Scholar-Athlete Award honors one graduating senior per sport who has excelled academically and athletically while serving as a role model in the classroom and on the court. Nominees exemplify the NAC’s core values: excellence, integrity, equity, diversity, inclusion, and well-being.
Gonyea, the 2025 NAC Men’s Basketball Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, has excelled academically, athletically, and as a leader at VTSU-Lyndon. Graduating a year early with a 3.93 GPA in Business Administration, he has earned four President’s List honors, two CSC Academic All-District selections, and recognition from the NABC Honors Court and NAC All-Academic Team. A two-year captain and SAAC Vice President, he also attended the 2023 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. His service efforts include Trunk or Treat, AAU coaching, summer camps, and game operations, earning him the Skip Pound Service to Athletics Award. He has secured an executive-level position with Gehring Tricot Corporation following his internship there.
Also a standout on the court, Gonyea - a 2025 First Team All-Conference honoree - averaged 20.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in 20 contests this season. He leads the NAC in scoring average and ranks among the conference leaders in free throws made (89, 2nd), free throws attempted (122, 2nd), assists per game (5th), total points (415, 6th), and field goals made (148, 7th). Over three years at Lyndon, he amassed 1,101 points, 242 rebounds, 154 assists, and 64 steals in just 65 career games.
Player of the Year – Riles Neff (Husson University)
A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, Neff earns 2025 NAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year honors after averaging 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 49.2% from the field, 43.4% from three-point range, and 80.8% from the free-throw line in 25 games.
As of February 25, he ranks second in the NAC in three-pointers made (56), second in steals per game, third in total steals (49), third in free-throw percentage, fourth in scoring average, fifth in total points (438), sixth in field goals made (151), and seventh in field goal percentage.
A transfer from NCAA DII Menlo College (CA), Neff has accumulated 928 points, 290 rebounds, 222 assists, and 90 steals in 54 games over two seasons with the Eagles. Among active NCAA DIII players, he ranks 33rd in career assists average (4.11) and 43rd in scoring average (17.1 PPG).
Defensive Player of the Year – Curt Heinz (Maine Maritime Academy)
A three-time All-Conference selection, Heinz earns NAC Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight season after averaging 20.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 56.0% from the field, 34.0% from three-point range, and 77.0% from the free-throw line in 24 games.
The five-time NAC Defensive Player of the Week leads the conference in blocks (44), blocks per game, rebounding average, field goal percentage, free throws made and attempted, and minutes per game (35:47). He is one of just two NCAA DIII players to record multiple triple-doubles this season.
Heinz finished the season ranked second in the NAC—and sixth nationally—with 17 double-doubles. He also ranks among the top 10 in NCAA DIII in rebounds per game (13.8, 3rd), offensive rebounding (4.63, 4th), total rebounds (332, 5th), and defensive rebounds per game (9.21, 6th).
Over 94 career games, Heinz has recorded 1,586 points, 1,317 rebounds, 380 assists, 188 blocks, and 100 steals, shooting 52.1% from the field and 75.8% from the free-throw line. His career 14.0 rebounds per game average is the highest among active NCAA Men’s Basketball players (all divisions), and his 69 career double-doubles lead all active NCAA DIII players.
Rookie of the Year – Matthew Carter (VTSU-Johnson)
Carter earns 2025 NAC Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the field, 32.3% from three, and 76.0% from the free-throw line in 27 games.
The December 16 NAC Rookie of the Week ranks among conference leaders in minutes per game (34:18, 2nd), total points (468, 3rd), field goals made (180, 3rd), and scoring average (17.3, 5th). His contributions helped Johnson capture the 2025 NAC West Division Championship and a spot in the NAC Championship at Husson on Saturday.
Coaching Staff of the Year – Husson University
Husson University earns the 2025 NAC Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year award. Led by 31st-year Head Coach Warren Caruso (591-275, .682) and assistant coaches John Clark, Justin Thompson, and Mac Shea, the Eagles posted a 20-7 overall record, including a 12-1 mark in conference play, securing the East Division’s top seed.
Husson, seeking its third conference title in four years, will host NAC West Champion VTSU-Johnson in the 2025 NAC Championship on Saturday at 1:00 PM. The Eagles enter the title game on an eight-game winning streak and have not lost at home in over a month.
2025 NAC Men’s Basketball All-Conference Awards:
Senior Scholar Athlete: Gregory Gonyea, Jr., Sr., G, VTSU-Lyndon
Player of the Year: Riles Neff, Sr., G, Husson University
Defensive Player of the Year: Curt Heinz, Sr., C, Maine Maritime
Rookie of the Year: Matthew Carter, Fr., G, VTSU-Johnson
Coaching Staff of the Year: Husson University
FIRST TEAM
Riles Neff, Sr., G, Husson University
Curt Heinz, Sr., C, Maine Maritime
Raymond Baka, Sr., F, VTSU-Johnson
Akhe McMichael, Jr., G, UMaine-Presque Isle
Gregory Gonyea, Jr., Sr., G, VTSU-Lyndon
SECOND TEAM
Jeremy Moronta, Gr., G, Husson University
Simon Chadbourne, Sr., G, UMaine-Farmington
Isiah Barnes, Sr., G. SUNY Delhi
Jason Baker, Jr., F, VTSU-Johnson
Malachi Howard, Sr., F, Lesley University
THIRD TEAM
Gilbert Jean Mendez, Sr., G, UMaine-Presque Isle
Dylan Griffin, Sr., F, UMaine-Farmington
Scott Lewis, Gr., F, Husson University
Matthew Carter, Fr., G, VTSU-Johnson
Lester McCarthy, Sr., G, SUNY Delhi
SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Hamza Abdulrahman, Husson University
Jacob Bouchard, Thomas College
Dakota Holbrook, VTSU-Lyndon
Cameron Kingsbury, Maine Maritime
Solomon Mason, SUNY Delhi
Patrick McKenney, UMaine-Farmington
Logan Migliori, UMaine-Presque Isle
Jaxon Miles, Lesley University
Ryan Nadje, SUNY Cobleskill
Lukas Sward, VTSU-Johnson