McGhee and Rode Tabbed to All-District Teams
3/15/2023 2:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Flames’ Darius McGhee and Kyle Rode have both been selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District team.
McGhee is a NABC District 3 first team selection for the third straight year, the first player in program history to be a three-time all-district recipient. Meanwhile, Kyle Rode has been selected to an all-district squad for the first time in his career, being named to the NABC District 3 second team.
This is the fifth straight season that Liberty has had representation on the NABC All-District teams. The honors are voted on by NABC member coaches from across Division I.
McGhee was also selected to another all-district team. The senior was tabbed to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) District III All-District team. The USBWA has selected All-District teams since the 1956-67 season, its founding year, based on voting from its national membership. The District III team is comprised of players from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland.
Darius McGhee | NABC District 3 first team & USBWA District III All-District team | Redshirt Senior | Guard | Roxboro, N.C.
• 2022-23 Associated Press All-America men’s basketball honorable mention
• Finalist for both the 2022-23 Lute Olson National Player of the Year and Lou Henson National Player of the Year awards
• Back-to-back-to-back ASUN Player of the Year (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23)
• Four-time ASUN Player of the Week this season, nine honors for his career
• Set the Liberty and ASUN all-time scoring record, up to 2,654 career points
• No. 2 in NCAA history with 524 career three-pointers made
• Currently ranks second nationally in total three-pointers (158), threes per game (4.51) and total points (790), fourth in the country in scoring average at 22.6 points per game and eighth in total field goals (264)
• Has totaled 20 or more points 23 times this year, including a season-best 43 points at Kennesaw State for his fourth career 40-point game
• Named to 2022-23 John R. Wooden Award® presented Wendy’s® Preseason Top 50 Watch List, 2022-23 Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award Watch List and 2023 Bob Cousy Award Watch List
• 2022 Cancun Challenge All-Tournament team
• Named game MVP in the victory over Bryant at the 2022 Hall of Fame Classic
Kyle Rode | NABC District 3 second team | Senior | Forward | Lexington, Ky.
• ASUN All-Conference second team
• 2022-23 ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• Second on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg), second in assists (3.5 apg) and fourth in rebounding (3.5 rpg)
• No. 42 in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (2.43)
• Ranks seventh in school history in career assists (386), tied for 24th rebounds (467) and 29th in points (1,028)
• Scored season-high 23 points in ASUN title game at Kennesaw State
• 2022-23 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Men’s Basketball Team®
About the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Located in Kansas City, Mo., the NABC was founded in 1927 by Phog Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kanas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men’s basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today’s student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC and its programs and membership can be found at www.nabc.com.
About the U.S. Basketball Writers Association
The 2022-23 season is the 67th year for the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, founded in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA executive Director Walter Byers. The primary goal of the USBWA has remained constant since its inception: to serve the interests of journalists who cover college basketball.
The USBWA annually selects a national player, coach and freshman of the year in college basketball and All-America teams for both men and women. The men’s player of the year award is named in honor of former Cincinnati and NBA legend Oscar Robertson, who was the first recipient of the USBWA award in 1959. The women’s award is named for UCLA legend Ann Meyers Drysdale.
The USBWA’s men’s coach of the year award is named for the legendary college and Olympic coaching great Henry Iba, while the freshman of the year awards honors the late Oklahoma All-American Wayman Tisdale and Tennessee great Tamika Catchings.
The USBWA awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in sports journalism and to the sons or daughters of current members. Past and present members are also inducted each year into the USBWA Hall of Fame, honoring those who have made significant contributions to the USBWA and to the sports journalism profession.
In addition, the USBWA presents Most Courageous Awards in honor of Perry Wallace and Pat Summitt to those in college basketball who demonstrate extraordinary courage. The USBWA also honors individuals in college basketball with the Katha Quinn Award for men and the Mary Jo Haverbeck Award for women for service to the media or for the inspiration they provide to those in the sports journalism profession.
Graphic at Top of Story: Darius McGhee (left) and Kyle Rode (right)