On the night of Feb. 27, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) unveiled their all-league teams and annual awards, including first-year guard Che Hanks as rookie of the year. Hanks becomes the first Rookie of the Year in program history and the third Laser to receive one of the GNAC’s top honors, joining EJ Day ‘23 and Jose Guitan, who each won the GNAC player of the year.
“Winning this award means everything,” Hanks said. “This award just solidifies all the work I have been putting in, and I feel like I proved everyone who doubted me wrong. This is something nobody can take from me.”
Hanks was second on the Lasers’ squad in scoring this season, averaging 11.5 points per game in 26 games, 22 of which he was placed in the starting lineup. To get there, Hanks shot at a clip of 39.6 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.1 percent from the free throw line.
He provided further productivity to the Lasers, averaging 2.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and one steal.
Early in the season, Hanks was in and out of the starting lineup, scoring 14 points off the bench with a perfect shooting percentage in an 87-63 win against Gordon College, all while shooting a perfect five for five from the field. He returned to the starting lineup three games later and remained, consistently accruing more playing time along the way.
“I knew from the start that I was ready and could have a really good season, but after the first couple games I started to get comfortable and started to learn more and more every game,” Hanks said. “While learning and gaining my confidence each and every game, stuff was starting to click, and I started to have the season I imagined myself doing.”
Hanks’ talent shined bright in a 74-65 win at Rivier on January 24. He shot 10 for 13 from the field and scored a season-high 28 points. Hanks added three rebounds, an assist, and a steal to his box score in the win. He also showed flashes as a playmaker in victories against Husson and Dean College, setting and tying his career-high seven assists in the victories.
In the playoff fall to Norwich, Hanks contributed 40 minutes of work for the Lasers, scoring 11 points with three rebounds and five assists in the heartbreaking loss.
“I'm now ready to shoot for bigger goals, and nothing changes, just going to keep working harder,” Hanks said.
The GNAC also gave Andy Madesko the nod to join Hanks on the all-rookie team. Madesko and Hanks were joined by Mitchell’s Elijah Miller, Emmanuel’s Cameron Snowden, and Saint Joseph’s (Maine) Remijo Wani, making the Lasers the only team given two representatives. Additionally, junior guard Marcus Lewis was placed on the all-conference second team, and senior Demerrick Warren was selected for the all-sportsmanship team.
With returns for athletes like Hanks, Madesko, and Lewis on the horizon, the future for the Lasers’ program is bright.