CAMDEN, N.J. (Feb. 22, 2023) – Cameron Downs (Pemberton, NJ/Pemberton) not only completed one of the finest freshman seasons in the history of the Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball program, he also proved to be the best newcomer in the New Jersey Athletic Conference this season.
 
Downs was named as the NJAC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year when the conference announced its all-star teams today. Downs, who was a unanimous Rookie of the Year in voting by the NJAC's opposing coaches, also added recognition as an All-NJAC Honorable Mention player.
 
Cameron Downs photo gallery
 
Downs becomes only the second NJAC Rookie of the Year for the men's basketball program and the first player to win it outright. Wayne Smalls was named the NJAC Co-Rookie of the Year during the 2005-06 season.
 
Downs played in 24 of the 25 Rutgers-Camden games this season, starting all 24, while leading the team in scoring (15.4 ppg) and blocked shots (13). He finished second in rebounding (5.9 rpg) and third in both steals (24) and assists (32). He shot 132-for-244 (54.1 percent) from the floor, including 26-for-62 (41.9) from three-point range, and was 80-for-104 (76.9) from the foul line.
 
Downs displayed his talent from the start, notching a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds in the Scarlet Raptors' season opener against Cabrini University (Nov. 9). He ended up adding three more double-doubles during the season, including a 26-point, career-high 15 rebound game at William Paterson University (Feb. 11).
 
Downs scored in double figures on 19 occasions during the season, including a career-high 29 points at Kean University on Jan. 4. He scored 20 or more points on seven occasions, including 22 points and his career high of six assists at Rowan University (Feb. 1).
 
Downs was named the NJAC Rookie of the Week three times (Nov. 28, Jan. 16 and Feb. 13). He also received three honors as Rutgers-Camden's Raptor of the Week (Nov. 28, Jan. 9 and Jan. 16).
 
A Business major at Rutgers-Camden, Downs was a scholastic star at Pemberton Township High School, where he was a 1,000-point scorer and earned All-Conference First Team honors.
 
2022-23 All-NJAC Men's Basketball Team, Release