Finally, others took notice.

Lucas Alves has been putting up big numbers in his three seasons on the Brigham Young-Hawai'i men's basketball team. This year, the 6-foot-9 junior forward from Casa Branca, Brazil, was named the Daktronics NCAA Division II National Player of the Year.

Alves, who was also chosen to the first team, is the first player from the North Shore school to earn the national honor. The award was voted upon by Division II sports information directors from around the nation.

"A lot of the stuff depends on who knows you, where you are," said BYUH coach and athletic director Ken Wagner. "Last year, everyone learned about him. As we played well (this) year, I'm sure people gained some respect for his skill level. Probably being around for a little while and being successful was helpful.

"It is a great honor. To be voted the best in your division in college basketball is an amazing feat."

Also named to the first team were Le Moyne's (N.Y.) Laurence Ekperigin, Wisconsin-Parkside's LaVontay Ferguson, Findlay's (Ohio) Josh Bostic and Nick Kohs of Christian Brothers (Tenn.). Bostic was a second-team selection last year.

Yesterday, Alves was also named the Pacific West Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year. Joining him on the All-PacWest first team are Chaminade's Joel Smith and Mohamed Tangara, Hawai'i-Hilo's Jay DeMaestri and John Smith, Dixie State's Ryan Sanchez and Grand Canyon's Engen Nurumbi. BYUH's Jet Chang was named Freshman of the Year.

Alves averaged 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and shot 52.7 percent from the field this year in leading the Seasiders to a 27-2 record and a No. 3 national ranking. BYUH was upset last week in the regional final by Cal Poly Pomona and denied a chance to advance to the Elite Eight.

In three seasons, Alves has amassed more than 1,500 points and 600 rebounds.

"This is really a team award," Alves said in a BYUH release. "If the team had not done so well, it would not have happened. I thank my teammates for this honor."

Earlier this month, Alves was named the NCAA Division II West Region Player of the Year and was named to the region's all-academic first team. Alves was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II All-America Team on Tuesday.

"He's just a great young man with a great work ethic," Wagner said. "He works on his own, he's a good example that way.

"He's really unselfish. Most players like him would cry if they don't score 30 points a game. He just goes about his business."

Alves' all-around play made it difficult for opponents. He made 25 3-pointers this season and blocked 40 shots.

"A lot of big people don't like to go outside," Wagner said. "A lot of the time, Lucas will hit the outside shot and they'll go out and he'll drive by them."

Named to the Daktronics second team were Matt Rogers of Southwest Baptist (Mo.), Ted Scott of West Virginia State, Thad McFadden of Fairmont State (W.Va), Stan Hall of Alderson & Broaddus (W.Va.) and Kevin Ratzch of Northern State (S.D).