College of the Canyons men's basketball players Zach Phipps and Joel Carrillo, members of the 2019-20 Academic All State Team.

Phipps and Carrillo Earn CCCMBCA Academic All-State Honors

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

College of the Canyons men's basketball players Joel Carrillo and Zach Phipps have earned California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCMBCA) Academic All-State Team honors for the 2019-20 season.

To be named Academic All-State student-athletes must have participated in at least one season of competition and completed a minimum of 24 units while earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

This year's team includes 38 players representing 20 schools. Canyons is one of just seven programs to have more than one Academic All-State Team selection.

A full list of honorees is included here:

"The many successes Zach and Joel have experienced on and off the court are a testament to their dedication," said Canyons men's basketball head coach Howard Fisher. "They're both tremendous young men and have exhibited the characteristics needed to be successful in all the areas a student-athlete is meant to be."

Phipps, who recently graduated with cum laude honors as a member of the college's 50th Anniversary class, is a two-time Academic All-State Team selection having previously earned the same honor following the 2018-19 season. 

A two-year starter for the Cougars, Phipps finished his sophomore campaign with an average of 15.9 points per game with 4.4 rebounds each night across 24 starts to earn All-WSC Honorable Mention accolades. Phipps, who attended Saugus High School, was also one of just three student-athletes from across the state to be awarded a CCCMBCA scholarship for the 2020-21 year.

Earlier this summer Phipps committed to the University of California, Merced men's basketball program.

Carrillo appeared in all 26 games for the Cougars, and recorded 11 starts, while playing nearly 22 minutes each night out.

The young guard out of Granada Hills Charter High School finished his freshman campaign with averages of 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

Carrillo also led the squad with an 86.4 percent mark from the foul line and averaged a steal per game on the defensive end.

"Joel and Zach are outstanding representations of our basketball program, our athletic department and its continued partnership with the The Learning Center and the many college departments providing students with key support services," said Fisher.

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