Derrick Davis | The Valdosta Daily TimesValdosta State men's head coach Mike Helfer smiles as he cuts down the net following a win against Lee on Saturday at The Complex. Helfer was named the Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year on Monday.

VALDOSTA — On the heels of an incredible regular season for the Valdosta State men’s basketball team, the program was rewarded handsomely by the Gulf South Conference with a multitude of postseason awards.

Highlighting the list of honorees, was senior guard Jeremiah Hill , who not only earned First Team All-GSC honors, but also earned recognition as the 2017 Gulf South Conference Player of the Year.

“I am very happy for Jeremiah but just as happy for our team. This award reflects our team success this season,” said men’s head coach Mike Helfer about the first player to win the award under his tutelage since the conference went away from a divisional format. “Jeremiah is a great basketball player but he is really a great ambassador for our program and Valdosta State University. He will graduate and be extremely successful in the next steps of his career.”

Hill’s recognition comes after a season in which he helped lead the Blazers to a first-place finish in GSC play with an average of 19.2 points per game.

In addition, Hill also led the team in assists with 110 and steals with 54, and Saturday, the Savannah native became the newest member of Valdosta State men’s basketball’s 1,000 point club when he hit the mark on senior day against Lee. Hill accomplished the feat in less than three full seasons as a Blazer.

Joining Hill on the list of honorees was Helfer, who was voted on by his peers as the 2017 GSC Coach of the Year.

Valdosta State’s veteran coach has had a historic season in 2016-17, leading the Blazers to an astounding 24-4 overall record and a 19-3 stint in Gulf South Conference play. As such, the program is currently ranked No. 20 in the nation and holds the top position in both the GSC and the South Region.

It’s been a bit of a redemptive season for Helfer, who is back to his winning ways after a five-year span in which the Blazers compiled a 73-67 record and failed to make an appearance in the Division II.

After hitting a low point in 2014-15 with a Blazer team that finished 10th in the GSC at 10-18, Helfer — who turned 50 on Monday — made a decision to return to the high-tempo game he’s had success with in the past. The next year, Valdosta State finished 17-11, and that momentum continued into this season.

“I wouldn’t say it’s my brand of basketball, it’s just kids today like to play fast,” Helfer said after a game against Shorter last Tuesday. “I like to coach fast and it’s been effective throughout my entire career.

“So why I got away from it? I don’t know. I’m just glad we’re back to it.” 

Earlier this season, Helfer recorded his 400th win as a head coach at the collegiate level, and he recently scored his 100th career victory against GSC opponents. He currently stands at 225-123 (.647) at Valdosta State, and 104-84 against conference opponents. 

The award marks the third of Helfer’s career and makes the 12th year coach just the fifth coach in league history to earn the award three times. Helfer previously won the award in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons as the GSC East Coach of the Year.

Finally, Saadiq Muhammad joined the fray as another All-GSC honoree. The senior, who currently leads the GSC in field goal percentage at 61.2 percent (139-of-227), earned Second Team All-GSC honors. The honor marks the first of Muhammad’s career, and comes in recognition of his significant contributions to the successful season of VSU men’s basketball in 2016-17.