Today, Major League Lacrosse (MLL) announced Chesapeake Bayhawks midfielder Isaiah Davis-Allen was named 2020 Dave Huntley Man of the Year.
“Isaiah is a great player and a tremendous leader,” said Bayhawks head coach Tom Mariano. “He’s very involved in his community and is leading the way for black men in lacrosse. He really is a great role model for all of us.”
The University of Maryland graduate spent hours before the season took place, visiting nonprofit organizations in Baltimore affected by COVID-19 and participating in countless community service initiatives in the greater Chesapeake Bay area.
Along with fellow African-American players Chad Toliver, Kris Alleyne and Mark Ellis (the latter who were also nominated for the award), Davis-Allen also helped garner attention to social justice issues this season. The four players each peacefully protested racial injustice by standing at the center of the field during the national anthem.
Davis-Allen’s efforts to make the sport of lacrosse more inclusive also extended beyond his playing career. The Bayhawks captain serves as a coach for Nation United Lacrosse, an organization that strives to support participation in lacrosse across ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic boundaries, for the last three years. Davis-Allen also serves as a Clinic Instructor for Next Level Spartans, a lacrosse club prioritizing player development and character formation.
“Getting to share a locker room with IDA for the past four years has been great,” said Bayhawks goaltender and Maryland native Brian Phipps. “He’s dynamic in every sense of the word. Everything that he’s doing for the lacrosse community, the Maryland community, and our team is so impactful, and I don’t think there’s a better choice for this award.”
The Dave Huntley Man of the Year award, named in honor of the late MLL head coach who passed away in 2017, recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship, professionalism and service to his community.
The other five finalists for the award were Kris Alleyne (Connecticut Hammerheads), Mark Ellis (New York Lizards), Mikie Schlosser (Denver Outlaws), Tommy Palasek (Philadelphia Barrage) and Zach Goodrich (Boston Cannons). The announcement also rounds out the MLL’s 2020 season awards, with the following players receiving end-of-the-year honors.
MVP – Bryce Wasserman
Coach of the Year – Sean Quirk
Rookie of the Year – Dan Bucaro
Offensive Player of the Year – Ryan Lee
Defensive Player of the Year / SSDM of the Year – Zach Goodrich
Faceoff Specialist of the Year – Max Adler
LSM of the Year – CJ Costabile
Goalie of the Year – Sean Sconone
Let us know what you think of the 2020 MLL award winners, then check back for Pro Lacrosse Talk’s 2020 All-Pro Team.
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