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Arkansas Pine Bluff Basketball: In-depth look at senior guard Martaveous McKnight

By Bryan Mauro

AMES, IA - DECEMBER 13: Head coach George Ivory of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions coaches from the bench in the second half of play against the Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum on December 13, 2015 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 78-64. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - DECEMBER 13: Head coach George Ivory of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions coaches from the bench in the second half of play against the Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum on December 13, 2015 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 78-64. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
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AMES, IA – DECEMBER 13: Head coach George Ivory of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions coaches from the bench as Monte Morris #11 of the Iowa State Cyclones takes the ball down the court in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on December 13, 2015 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 78-64. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – DECEMBER 13: Head coach George Ivory of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions coaches from the bench as Monte Morris #11 of the Iowa State Cyclones takes the ball down the court in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on December 13, 2015 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 78-64. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

Why You Should Know McKnight

A player like McKnight would have had the opportunity to play for a power six team, and potentially for a national championship had he transferred. The guard showed his loyalty in the offseason and stuck with the Golden Lions to try for one more shot at the NCAA tournament. The senior is the reigning SWAC Player of the Year and potentially could have a better year this coming season.

McKnight found his way to Arkansas Pine Bluff by way of Itawamba Community College. He averaged 18 ppg last season, good for second in the SWAC. The 45% field goal percentage was good for seventh in the conference. One of the more underrated aspects of the senior’s game was his ability to knock down shots from deep. He rained in 2 three-pointers per game and made 37% of the three-point shots he attempted.

The senior guard was in the top 10 for virtually every scoring category in the SWAC conference a season ago. To go along with the Conference Player of the Year, McKnight also took home the Conference Newcomer of the Year. When watching the Golden Lions play, or any SWAC team the best player on the floor stands out every time. That player is almost always the senior guard. Arkansas Pine Bluff needs McKnight to repeat his season. If the senior guard can repeat his season he will take home the player of the year hardware again, but it still may not be enough to carry this team to the NCAA tournament.