ATHERTON, Calif. - A pair of Menlo College men's basketball players were honored when the All-California Pacific Conference Team was announced on Thursday evening, giving the Oaks something to hang their hat on in addition to their advancement through the postseason. Junior guard Julian Harris was an All-Cal Pac selection while senior guard Tim Kees earned Honorable Mention.
The Oaks (11-15) advanced to the Cal Pac Tournament semifinals with a 57-49 victory over Pacific Union (5-17) on Thursday. Menlo travels to face top-seeded Cal Maritime (18-10) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Napa Valley College. In each of the teams' two previous meetings this season, the Oaks have lost by a single point.
Harris has been Menlo's go-to scorer for the last two seasons thanks to a quick release and a hot hand from beyond the arc. The sweet-shooting lefty led the Oaks with 15.4 points per outing - fourth best in the conference - and shot a blistering 47.1 percent on 3-pointers during the regular season, good for second in the Cal Pac. Harris has scored 20-plus points in eight games, 10-plus points 22 times, made a 3-pointer in 23 games, and made two-plus from long range in 19 contests.
This season Harris has moved into the top 10 in six different Oaks single-season record categories, including points and 3-pointers made. He also joined the ranks of the top 10 in a number of career categories.
Kees has been the obvious heart of the team all season long. The fifth-year senior finished the regular season second on the team with a 10.2 scoring average and is one of conference's top defenders. Kees also averaged 4.3 rebounds despite standing an even six feet tall and dished out 1.7 assists per game. His grit has often led Kees to the free throw line where he has made 71.6 percent of his attempts this season, the fifth best number in the conference. Kees ranks in the top 10 on the Oaks career list for free throws made and attempted.