2025 ACAC Men's Basketball Rookies of The Year
Edmonton, AB (February 26, 2025) –
North Male Rookie of the Year | PETER-ALUK DENG | NAIT Ooks:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Peter-Aluk Deng of the NAIT Ooks has been selected as the 2025 ACAC North Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year.
Peter-Aluk Deng has had an impressive first season with the NAIT Ooks. Deng quickly established himself as a key contributor, playing in all 20 regular-season games and earning 12 starts while proving to be a dynamic force on the court.
Throughout the season, Deng logged 539 minutes, showcasing his versatility with 270 points, 43 steals, 76 rebounds, and 39 assists. His ability to attack the basket, shoot from beyond the arc, and read the game at a high level made him an essential part of the Ooks' success, helping the team secure a second-place finish in the ACAC North Division.
NAIT head coach Adika Peter-McNeilly praised Deng's development and impact, stating, "I have been very pleased with Peter-Aluk's growth as a basketball player and human being since his arrival this past summer. Peter is such a unique player that can drive to the basket or shoot from the three-point line. For a first-year athlete, he has shown the ability to read the game as a point guard, and after every game, he has gotten better. He plays with such passion that it rubs off on the other players, which ultimately helped us toward being second in ACAC North. I am truly excited that Peter-Aluk can be recognized as the North Rookie of the Year, and I know this is only the beginning for him."
The first-year business administration student has already made his mark on the ACAC. His talent, work ethic, and leadership will undoubtedly make him a key player for the Ooks in the years to come.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2025 ACAC Men’s Basketball Championship hosted by the Briercrest Clippers in Caronport, Saskatchewan from February 27 - March 1, 2025.
The Player of the Year award is proudly sponsored by Vereburn Medical Supplies.
South Male Rookie of the Year | JAROM WALTON | Ambrose Lions:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Jarom Walton of the Ambrose Lions has been selected as the 2025 ACAC South Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year.
Jarom Walton has been the hardest working men’s basketball player at Ambrose University since the first day he walked through the doors of the Lions Den. Not only does he consistently show up for himself and his team, he showed improvement day in and day out. His stoic demeanor helped him find focus and keep him competitive regardless of the scoreboard.
In his first university season, the rookie was able to put up 284 points, leading his entire team. Not only was he a powerhouse offensively, but he also managed to grab 74 rebounds and 34 steals. This level demonstrates his consistency and versatility, and his confidence as a two-way player. Walton was nothing short of a threat on the floor.
The 6’5 wing wasn’t just a leader among the Lions, he finished the regular season first in 3-point percentage and found himself in the top 20 for total points, points per game and steals made.
"Jarom has been a leader on our team this year through his consistent compete in practices and games,” said head coach, Neil Nystrom. “He led our team in minutes as a true rookie out of high school not only because of his skill set, but also because of his unrivaled dedication to consistent improvement. He has been a pleasure to coach this year and will be more of a problem for opponents in the future."
Walton joined the Lions from Crescent Heights high school in Calgary, AB, and is now studying Business Administration at Ambrose.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2025 ACAC Men’s Basketball Championship hosted by the Briercrest Clippers in Caronport, Saskatchewan from February 27 - March 1, 2025.
The Player of the Year award is proudly sponsored by Vereburn Medical Supplies.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Kayla Beers, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
kaylab@acac.ab.ca