OKLAHOMA CITY – After completing its sixth decade of competition, the Mid-America Christian University Athletic Department is proud to announce the 2010s Team of the Decade for the men's basketball program.
After carefully evaluating each player's personal, statistical and team accomplishments, the MACU athletic administration tasked with compiling the list selected 10 standouts to the All-Decade Team, with the inclusion of a "Player of the Decade."
For a player to be eligible for the Team of the Decade list, he or she must have graduated from Mid-America Christian with at least a Bachelor's Degree between 2010-2019 and competed for at least one season between the 2009-10 and 2018-19 academic years. Any student-athletes that competed during the last decade that graduated in 2020 or later will be eligible for the 2019-2029 Team of the Decade list.
Listed below are the 10 student-athletes that were selected to the All-Decade Team, as well as seven honorable mention players who were strongly considered or did not entirely meet the required criteria.
MACU Team of the Decade | Men's Basketball
Charlie Shorter (PLAYER OF THE DECADE)
Position: Guard
Years Competed: 2008-13 (four seasons)
One of most skilled offensive players to ever compete at Mid-America Christian, Charlie Shorter has been selected as the MACU Men's Basketball Player of the Decade. A four-year starter with the program, Shorter ended his illustrious MACU career as the program's second all-time leading scorer with 2271 points (17.7 ppg), joining 1980s Player of the Decade Dale Neace (2632), 1970s Player of the Decade Steve Chiles (2102) and DeAngelo Irvin (2053) as the only players in program history to eclipse the 2000-point plateau. During the 2012-13 season, Shorter scored a career-high 750 points (23.4 ppg) to set the program's NAIA era (2007-present) record for most points in a season to ultimately capture the program's first ever NCCAA Player of the Year award as well as the first ever NAIA First Team All-American honor. The Garland, Texas product is one of the best three-point shooters to ever compete at MACU as he is the only player in the history of the program to ever make more 200 career triples. His 249 made threes surpassed Irvin (1992-95) in the all-time record book, who holds the second-best mark of 199. Shorter is also the program's all-time leading free throw shooter, eclipsing Tony O'Brien's (384, 1982-86) with 414 career conversions. Despite being a 6-0 guard, Shorter was also an immaculate rebounder, ripping down MACU's NAIA era record 540 career boards. Shorter is the only player in the program since joining the SAC to score more than 40 points in a game on multiple occasions. In a matchup against John Brown on Feb. 23, 2013, Shorter poured in a career-high 42 points to set the squad's NAIA single game record, only to top it with a 44-point performance to lead the Evangels to an 89-87 win over Oklahoma Christian in the 2013 NCCAA Central Region Semifinal. Shorter helped lead MACU to its first NCCAA Division I National Championship appearance since the 2009-10 season and by dropping 32 points in a 91-69 win over Roberts Wesleyan, guided MACU to its first win at the national tourney since moving up the Division I level prior to the start of the 2007-08 season. Shorter led MACU with 17 points in its 74-68 win over Spring Arbor (Mich.) to lock up a fifth-place finish at the National Championships in his final game as an Evangel. At the conclusion of the season, Shorter was selected as MACU's first ever NCCAA Player of the Year at the Division I or II level as well as the Evangels' first ever NAIA First Team All-American after finishing as the nation's second-most prolific scorer. Shorter was also selected as the SAC Player of the Year and is still currently the only one of two Evangels players to be named to the All-SAC Team three times in his career, collecting First Team honors in 2012-13, Second Team in 2011-12 and Third Team accolades in 2009-10.
"I'm very honored to receive such an amazing award," said Charlie Shorter. "As much as I'd like to attribute this achievement to the hard work and dedication I've put into the game of basketball, I believe there were other factors that played a part in getting me to this point. Without the teammates, classmates, friends, coaches, professors and staff that continuously supported me, I wouldn't be the man I am today."
"Charlie was the most talented offensive player I've ever coached in 42 years at Mid-America Christian," said former MACU Head Coach Willie Holley. "The way he played the game was uncanny and he had an innate ability to uplift the team with his play. His physical abilities were downright incredible and he was someone who always wanted the basketball in his hands, even in high pressure situations. He was a great player and is definitely deserving of this honor."
Brandon Williams
Position: Guard
Years Competed: 2008-12 (four seasons)
In his four seasons with the Mid-America Christian men's basketball program, Williams was one of the best all-around players to compete during the decade. The Dallas, Texas native recorded the second-most career points during the NAIA era with 1675 (13.2 ppg) to join the list of 20 players since 1973 to reach the 1000-career point plateau while ranking seventh on MACU's all-time scoring list. Williams wrapped up his playing career with 188 made threes, the third-most ever by an Evangels player while also playing in the fifth-most games all-time. Williams was able to convert 267 free throws with the Evangels, the third-highest mark by any player in the NAIA era while his 77.6 percent conversion rate is the ninth-best all-time in the program. Defensively, Williams played at an elite level, setting the program's NAIA era record for career steals with 223 while also ranking the program's third leading rebounder with 491 boards in the same time frame. Williams is the only player in the last 12 years to notch three of the top 10 spots for steals in a season, coming away with a 64 during his freshman year in 2008-09 for the sixth-best mark in the NAIA era record book. Williams played a pivotal role on MACU's 2010 NCCAA Central Region Championship team. Williams was the team's leading scorer in the regional quarterfinal with 20 points in a 110-101 win over Central Christian before unloading a career-high 34 points in a 99-83 win over Colorado Christian in the regional semifinal. Williams just missed a double-double with 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals in a 77-69 regional final victory over top-seeded Southwestern Assemblies of God to claim the program's first NCCAA Central Region Championship at the Division I level. On Jan. 15, 2009 in a home game against John Brown, Williams came away with a career-high seven steals, which still holds up as MACU's single game record 11 years later. Williams was Mid-America Christian's first NAIA and NCCAA Division I All-American, collecting Honorable Mention accolades at both levels following the 2010-11 season. Williams was the first MACU player in the history of the program to be selected to the All-Sooner Athletic Conference Team three times, collecting Second Team honors in 2010 and 2011 before wrapping up his senior year with an Honorable Mention accolade.
Olajuwon Garner
Position: Guard
Years Competed: 2016-17 (one season)
Despite playing just one season with the Evangels, Olajuwon Garner put together the most prolific three-point shooting season in the 50-plus year history of the MACU men's basketball program. While being the team's leading scorer with 474 points (14.8 ppg), a bulk of the Pittsburgh, California product's scoring came from beyond the arc when he made a MACU record 109 three-point baskets, which also ranks as the 10th-most career three-pointers in the program record book. The 6-2 guard currently ranks as the program's sharpest three-point shooter, as his 45.6 percent clip is nearly five points higher than D'von Moore (40.8 percent). In a 98-78 win over Northern New Mexico at the NNMC Classic on Nov. 25, 2016, Garner knocked down 9-of-11 from beyond the arc to match Semar Farris' program record for most three-pointers made in a game while finishing the contest with a career-high 30 points, matching his 30-point career-best output set in a 105-100 win against Haskell (Kan.) the previous week. After the season, Garner was tabbed with NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors to become the fourth different Evangels player to garner an NAIA All-American accolade while also being selected to the All-SAC Second Team.
Angelo Lewis
Position: Forward
Years Competed: 2012-14 (two seasons)
After competing for two years with the MACU men's basketball team, Angelo Lewis was one of the most efficient rebounders in the history of program. His 470 career rebounds rank as the fifth-most of all the players to compete in the NAIA era as well as the most of any player to play only two years while his 7.4 career rebounding average is the seventh-highest all-time. Competing in 65 games, Lewis averaged 15.3 points per game for the Evangels with his best season coming in 2013-14 when he scored 526 points (15.9 ppg), the ninth-most in a single season since joining the Sooner Athletic Conference. During the 2012-13 season, Lewis ripped down the second-most rebounds in a single year during the NAIA era with 261 (8.2 rpg). In a Jan. 10, 2013 matchup against Wayland Baptist, Lewis ripped down 15 rebounds, the fifth-most in a single game since joining the SAC before topping it a month later with 16 in a 76-72 upset of Rogers State on Feb. 7. Lewis played a crucial role in MACU's NCCAA Central Region Championship victory and run at the national meet. In the central region semi against Oklahoma Christian, Lewis recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 boards to lead MACU past the Eagles in the 89-87 victory. Lewis followed it up with a 20-point performance against McMurry to pull off the 68-66 regional final victory. The following season, Lewis tied Charlie Shorter's single game field goal record with 15 made buckets on Nov. 14, 2013 to score a career-high 39 points to match Shorter's fourth-highest single game scoring mark since 2007. Lewis was an All-SAC honoree in both seasons with the program, scoring Second Team honors in 2012-13 while also being named the SAC Newcomer of the Year and was a Third Team selection for the 2013-14 campaign.
Devonse Reed
Position: Forward
Years Competed: 2015-17 (two seasons)
A 6-4 forward from Dallas, Texas, Devonse Reed was Mid-America Christian's leading scorer during MACU's NAIA National Championship season with 584 points (16.2 ppg), the fifth-most scored in a single season during the NAIA era. Earning the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player Award in the NAIA Tournament, Reed helped pave the way by scoring 20 or more points in four of the five tournament games, including a career-high 30-point output in the 93-89 win against Campbellsville (Ky.) in the semifinal round. Reed followed it up with a 25-point performance in MACU's 100-99 win over Georgetown (Ky.) in the national championship game. Reed closed out his two-year career as the program's sixth-leading scorer in the NAIA era (979 points, 15.1 ppg) while also finishing fifth in made field goals (346), sixth in made free throws (192) and ninth in made three-pointers (95). During his junior campaign, Reed was selected as an All-Sooner Athletic Conference Third Team honoree.
Bryon Miller
Position: Forward
Years Competed: 2015-16 (one season)
Even though Bryon Miller played just one season with the Evangels, he played a critical role in helping lead the Mid-America Christian men's basketball team to its first ever NAIA national title. During that 2015-16 campaign, Miller finished third on the team in scoring (489 points, 13.6 ppg) while being the team's top three-point shooter with 90 makes, the second-most in a season during the NAIA era. Miller also finished second on the team in rebounding with 212, ranking eighth on the team in the NAIA era record book. The 6-5 sharpshooting forward from Mesquite, Texas scored 20 or more points seven times during the championship campaign, notching a career-best 29 in a 102-88 victory over Bacone (Okla.) on Jan. 28, 2016. Miller made his presence felt late in the season, scoring 16 or more points in all five of MACU's games during its NAIA Tournament run. In the first round matchup against Park (Mo.) on Mar. 16, Miller paved the way for the Evangels' 88-86 win with a team-leading 26 points and followed it up with a 21-point performance against top-seeded Biola (Calif.) in the second round game. Miller turned in double-doubles for MACU in the quarterfinal and semifinal matchups, coming up with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the 77-73 win over Cumberlands (Ky.) as well as 16 points and 12 boards in the 93-89 victory against Campbellsville (Ky.). At the conclusion of the tournament, Miller joined Devonse Reed on the NAIA All-Tournament Team. In his lone season at MACU, Miller was also tabbed as an All-SAC Third Team honoree.
Malcolm Mann
Position: Guard
Years Competed: 2015-17 (two seasons)
One of the best point guards in program history, Malcolm Mann was a key piece of the MACU's NAIA National Championship team. In his two years with the Evangels, the 6-3 guard from Plano, Texas recorded 338 assists, the third-most in the NAIA and the 10th-most in the 50-plus year history of the men's basketball program. His 184 assists during the 2015-16 season is still the most ever recorded in a season since joining the Sooner Athletic Conference in 2007. On top of being a top-tier distributor, Mann was also an efficient shooter and defender, as his 51.5 field goal percentage ranks fourth in MACU's NAIA era career record book, his 80.2 percent free throw percentage ranks as the fourth-best in the NAIA era and the fifth-best in MACU's all-time record book and his 66 steals during the 2015-16 season is the fifth-most in one season during the NAIA era. In MACU's 102-88 win over Bacone (Okla.) on Jan. 28, 2015, Mann tied Semar Farris' record for most assists in a single game with 13 dimes. However, what Mann is most known for is his performance in the NAIA National Championship game that produced one of the biggest moments in the history of the tournament. In that matchup with Georgetown (Ky.), Mann scored a career-high 23 points, but his biggest shot came with time winding down in overtime. With just seconds remaining, Mann drove down the right side and hit a floating jumper at the buzzer to seal MACU's 100-99 victory over the Tigers for the program's first ever NAIA title. At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, Mann was tabbed as an All-Sooner Athletic Conference Third Team honoree while also receiving the NCCAA Game Plan 4 Life Award.
Jerrick Massenburge
Position: Forward
Years Competed: 2014-16 (two seasons)
Jerrick Massenburge was an important contributor to a pair of championship teams, leading the Evangels to their first Sooner Athletic Conference title during the 2014-15 season and following it up with an NAIA Championship in 2015-16. A 6-6 forward from Kilgore, Texas, Massenburge was one of the best three-point shooters in the history of the program. His 141 made three-pointers is the sixth-most by an Evangels player since the program became NCCAA affiliated in 1973 while his 37.1 percent shooting clip from behind the arc is also the seventh-best all-time in program history. Massenburge was also one of the program's best ever free throw shooters as his 80.2 percent rate is tied with Malcolm Mann for the fifth-best in MACU history. Massenburge scored 787 points (10.8 ppg) in his two seasons at MACU, the ninth-most of any player since the start of the NAIA era and was one of the team's best shot blockers with 37 career blocks. Massenburge recorded five 20-point games in his 72 contests with the Evangels, notching a career-high 23 in the win over Bacone (Okla.) on Jan. 28, 2016. One of Massenburge's biggest shots came in a top-25 showdown with No. 20 Philander Smith, as he nailed the go-ahead three with 1:57 remaining to help propel No. 10 MACU to a 101-95 victory on Nov. 14, 2015. At the conclusion of conference play during his senior campaign, Massenburge was named an All-SAC Honorable Mention selection.
Chris Runnels
Position: Forward
Years Competed: 2014-16 (two seasons)
A 6-6 forward from Kilgore, Texas, Chris Runnels was the centerpiece of MACU's first ever SAC Championship (2015) and NAIA National Championship (2016). In his two seasons with the program, Runnels set the program's all-time career blocks (109) and single season blocks (60, 2015-16) records. Runnels was also one of the most efficient shooters to ever wear the Red and White, as his 55.2 percent career field goal shooting clip is the second-best during the NAIA era. On the glass, Runnels was one of the best for MACU since joining the Sooner Athletic Conference as his 216 boards (6.0 rpg) is the sixth-most in a single season and his 409 career rebounds (5.7 rpg) is the eighth-best mark in that timeframe. In the Evangels' win over No. 20 Philander Smith on Nov. 14, 2015, Runnels came up with six blocked shots to notch MACU's single game record during the NAIA era. Over the course of the season, Runnels ended up setting three of the top five marks with five blocks apiece recorded in back-to-back games against Haskell (Kan.) on Jan. 5 and John Brown on Jan. 7, 2016. In MACU's first round win over Park (Mo.) in the NAIA Tournament, Runnels recorded a double-double with 12 points and ripped down a career-best 15 rebounds to match the fifth-most in a single game during the NAIA era. Overall, Runnels recorded six double-doubles in his MACU career, five of which came during the 2015-16 campaign. Offensively, Runnels scored 719 points (10 ppg) over his 72 games at MACU while scoring a career-best 408 (11.3 ppg) in his senior season. In that 93-75 win over John Brown on Jan. 7, 2016, Runnels poured in a career-high 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting to go with eight rebounds.
Justin Bogle
Position: Forward
Years Competed: 2017-19 (two seasons)
One of the best defensive forwards in the history of the MACU men's basketball program, Justin Bogle was one of the cornerstones of the 2018-19 team that not only secured the program's third ever trip to the NAIA National Championship Tournament, but also helped lead MACU's upset of No. 1 seed Tougaloo (Miss.) in the tourney. The 6-8 forward from Brooklyn, New York is the second all-time leading shot blocker in the 50-plus year history of the men's basketball program, recording 90 during his two seasons with the program. Bogle statistically is one of the best three-point shooters to ever play in the program. His 103 made three-pointers is the seventh-most converted by a MACU player during the NAIA era while his 35.2 percent conversion rate is tied with Charlie Shorter for the 10th-best percentage all-time at MACU. While Bogle put together a solid junior season that saw him score 283 points (8.6 ppg) and rip down 142 rebounds (4.3 rpg) to go with 43 blocked shots, he shined even brighter in his senior campaign when he scored a career-best 350 points (10.3 ppg), ripped down the fourth-most rebounds in the NAIA era with 224 (6.6 rpg) and blocked 51 shots, tying Robert McCleary (1993-94) for the second-most all-time in a single season. In a 107-61 win over Ecclesia (Ark.) on Dec. 5, 2018, Bogle ripped down a career-best 17 rebounds to set the program's single game record during the NAIA era. In MACU's 73-64 win over Tougaloo in the first round of the NAIA Tournament, Bogle blocked four shots and scored 14 points to propel MACU to the second round. In his senior season, Bogle received All-SAC Honorable Mention accolades.
Honorable Mention
(Were strongly considered through the nomination process or did not completely meet the requirements)
Semar Farris (2013-15)*
Nick Tate (2015-16)*
Jarius Wilson (2011-15)
Camilo Valencia (2010-13)
George Haynes (2009-12)
Reggie Davis (2011-15)
Donell Lewis (2007-11)
*- did not meet criteria
