Rode Voted ASUN Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2/27/2023 3:00:54 PM | Men's Basketball
Liberty men’s basketball Kyle Rode has been voted the 2022-23 ASUN Conference Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Rode is the first player in program history to be named ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year and only the second player in school history to earn a scholar-athlete of the year distinction. Ten years ago in 2013, John-Caleb Sanders received Big South Scholar of the Year recognition. Rode has also been named to the ASUN All-Academic team for the first time in his career.
Rode is maintaining a 3.84 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) while pursuing a master’s degree in executive leadership. The forward from Lexington, Ky. is a three-time ASUN Academic Honor Roll recipient and was named to the 2022-23 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Men’s Basketball Team®, last week.
Rode is the team’s second-leading scorer at 10.7 points per game and is second on the squad at 3.7 assists per contest and fourth in rebounding (3.6 rpg). A 2022-23 Preseason All-ASUN honoree, Rode as tabbed to the ASUN All-Conference second team a season ago and was a 2021 ASUN All-Tournament team honoree.
Rode is only 19 points away (981) from 1,000 career points and is tied for 31st on the program’s all-time scoring list. He is No. 7 in school history for career assists (378) and ranks 28th in rebounding with 456 career boards.
Rode and the No. 2 seed Flames (24-7, 15-3 ASUN) are gearing up the 2023 ASUN Men’s Basketball Championship. Liberty will face the winner of the first round matchup between No. 7 seed North Florida (14-16, 9-9 ASUN) and No. 8 seed Bellarmine (14-17, 9-9 ASUN). The Flames will begin their journey in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round at Liberty Arena at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
