APPRENTICE SCHOOL CAPTURES 2024 USCAA MEN’S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP

PETERSBURG, Va. – Tournament MVP Donovan Means scored 19 points with six rebounds and four assists to lead four in double figures on Wednesday afternoon as top-seeded The Apprentice School captured the USCAA Men’s Division I National Championship with a 73-68 win over Lyon College at Virginia State. 

The title for the Builders was the third one in school history and their first since 2003 when they won consecutive crowns. 

Apprentice School (25-5) held a 33-30 lead at halftime and after some back-and-forth flipping of the lead, they took the lead for good on an Adrion Wall three-pointer with 10:54 left for a 51-49 lead. 

The advantage remained tight for the next four minutes but Means went on a personal 6-0 run starting at the 6:55 mark, scoring two layups and hit two free throws as Apprentice took a 65-58 lead. 

Lyon (18-9) had one more run in them as a Frank Toney 3-ball trimmed the deficit to 70-68 with 3:15 left. Apprentice held the Scots scoreless over the final minutes and hit three free throws to ice the win. 

Wall and Avin Hawkins had 15 points each for Apprentice School, while Karree Smith added 10. Isaiah Jones had eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Builders.

 Toney scored a game-high 25 points for Lyon, while Trenton Bell added 15 and John Paul Morgan chipped in with 10.

2024 USCAA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Bryant & Stratton (Albany) – Devon Smith-Johnson

Lyon – Frank Toney; Nikola SaSaroga

Apprentice School – Adrion Wall, Kyree Smith

Tournament MVP: Apprentice School – Donovan Means