University of North Georgia men’s basketball players Ephraim Tshimanga and KJ Jenkins won major awards at the Peach Belt Conference Awards Banquet, held at Lander on Friday, March 6, prior to the semifinals Saturday, March 7.

Ephraim Tshimanga

In addition to being named third team All-Conference, Tshimanga was named the Defensive Player of the Year, while Jenkins was tabbed as the Freshman of the Year for UNG.

Tshimanga led the PBC in steals this season as UNG finished ranked among the PBC’s top five in scoring defense and steals. A senior guard from Acworth, Georgia, his 84 swipes this year is the 13th highest single-season total in PBC history. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds, 11.6 points and 5.5 assists per game. Tshimanga passed the 1,000-point plateau for his career and his 261 career steals is fourth all-time in PBC history. He becomes the first Nighthawk to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

KJ Jenkins

Jenkins played the final 20 games of this season to begin his collegiate career and made a huge impact with 14.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. The redshirt guard from Canton, Georgia, scored 14.5 against league opponents, 12th in the PBC. He scored a career-best 23 in a win over Lander on February 15 and matched it three games later at Georgia College. He scored 20 or more three times during the season with a double-double at Columbus State. He led the PBC in free throw percentage and is 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Jenkins is the first UNG men’s basketball player to be named the PBC Freshman of the Year.