The Shippensburg University men's basketball team earned three of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)'s four major divisional awards Thursday as the 2019-20 All-PSAC teams were announced by the league office.

Junior point guard Jake Biss was named the 2019-20 PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year, senior guard Lamar Talley was named the 2019-20 PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Year, and Chris Fite was named the 2019-20 PSAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year.
 
Additionally, Biss and senior forward John Castello were named to the All-PSAC First Team. It is the second consecutive year that Shippensburg has had multiple players in the same season selected to an All-PSAC First Team; the Raiders never achieved the feat prior to last season.
 
Voting is conducted by the head coaches in the Eastern Division. The awards are based on performance in the regular season, and statistics listed therein do not reflect the postseason.
 
Biss is the third Raider in school history to be named a PSAC Athlete of the Year, joining Dustin Sleva (2017-18, 2016-17) and Chuck Davis (2005-06). Talley is the first Raider ever named a PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year; the award was first issued in 2011-12. Fite earned his second PSAC East Coach of the Year award.
 
Biss, the Raider point guard, leads the Raiders in scoring (16.5) and ranks fourth in the PSAC in averaging 4.5 assists per game. He is shooting 42.4 percent from three-point range – the second-best rate in the conference. Biss has posted double figures in scoring in 23 games this season, including 10 games of 20 or more points and a season-high 32 points in the season opener against Virginia Union. He has recorded four or more assists in 18 games, including eight games of six or more assists.
 
"Jake's been a pillar for us the last couple of years, but this year in particular he has really taken huge strides as far as being as assertive as he is offensively, his leadership, and embracing that role as a go-to guy for us," Fite said. "He's not afraid to take a big shot – he takes tough shots and makes them. He's always in attack mode, which we need him to be in, but he's also very unselfish and willing to defer as necessary. You couldn't ask more from your point guard."
 
Talley, a senior guard and captain, is handed Shippensburg's top defensive assignment each game. He is the linchpin of the Eastern Division's top defense – a unit that has held opponents under 70 points in 20-of-28 games.
 
"One of the keys to our success over the last five years is our defense and the focus on that end of the court," Fite said. "Lamar takes that to a whole different level as far as, we really pride ourselves as a team in terms of preparation and taking teams out of what they do, but then Lamar is one guy that we all rely on to take the best player from the other team out of the game. He's been through a lot in his four years, a lot of big games and a lot of big situations. He's really stepped in the second half this year and led this group."
 
On numerous occasions, Talley has used his length, quickness and hustle to limit premier scorers from opposing teams. From a statistical standpoint, Talley averages 2.5 defensive rebounds per game and has totaled 12 blocks and six steals while committing just 23 turnovers in more than 725 minutes on the court this season.
 
"He has really embraced that role over the last couple of years and it's great to see him get some recognition for that this year," Fite said. "He truly deserves it. I feel as though I don't believe there's a better defender out there in the league than Lamar."
 
Castello earns his first All-PSAC First Team classification and becomes a three-time All-PSAC performer in his career (2017-18 Second Team, 2018-19 Second Team). He is the PSAC's leading rebounder this season (9.3) and ranks among the Top 25 players in the nation in both rebounds per game and offensive rebounds per game (3.4). Castello has reached double figures in 21 games this season, including seven games of 20 or more points, and posted a career-high 11 double-doubles. In 17 games since the calendar turned to 2020, Castello has averaged a double-double (14.1 PPG, 10.4 RPG) while shooting 48 percent from the field, 42 percent from the three-point range and 81 percent at the free-throw line.
 
Fite has directed Shippensburg to its first Eastern Division championship in school history and just its third divisional championship overall (SU won the PSAC Western Division in 2005-06 and 1988-89). Shippensburg has now recorded its fifth straight 20-win season under Fite after totaling just two 20-win seasons in its 62 previous seasons. The Raiders lead the PSAC in free-throw percentage and rebound margin and have consistently maintained the Eastern Division's top scoring defense this season (68.1 PPG).
 
"This is not an individual award, it's a staff award," Fite said. "I couldn't do this without them, especially (coach) Jaren (Gembe), and all that he does for me on and off the court for this program. Our other coaches, Dave Miller, Justin McCarthur and Chris Bupp, volunteer their time and really have a lot of input in what we do, and so I'm happy for all of us that we've been recognized."