Prairie View A&M’s Thomas and Jackson State’s Easley receive top honors.
Candace Thomas of Prairie View A&M University was selected as the 2008 Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year, while Carena Easley of Jackson State University was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Year. The all-conference selections were chosen by votes submitted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Thomas, (5’9, So., G, Waco, Texas) was also named Most Valuable Player in the 2007 SWAC Tournament, after leading her team to their first SWAC tournament title ever. She ranks second in the conference in scoring (15.2 ppg.) and field-goal percentage. (52.8). She is also fourth in the conference in steals (2.3 spg.) and fifth in assists (3.17 apg.)
Easley (5’10., Sr. G, Romulus, Mich.) lead the SWAC and eight in the nation with 3.43 steals per game. and was ranked eighth in the nation. She was also fifth in field-goal percentage (44.3) and fourth in minutes played (32.43 per game). She had two double-double performance on the season.
Chari Smith of Prairie View A&M was picked as the conference’s newcomer of the year. The 6-foot-3 forward from Los Angeles, Calif. was ranked second in the SWAC in blocked shots (1.85 bpg.) and fourth in offensive rebounds (2.48). She had five double-double performances during the season. She was named SWAC Player of the Week twice and SWAC Newcomer of the Week a league-high five times.
Freda Allen of Southern University was selected as Freshman of the Year. The 6-foot-1 forward from Lake Providence, Louisiana led the conference in rebounding averaging 9.6 per game (26th in the nation). She was also sixth in steals (2.24) and seventh in blocked shots (1.04 bpg.). She also had four double-double performances in the 2007-08 season and 14 games with 10 or more rebounds.
Joining Thomas and Smith in first team honors are LaSharee Christian of Jackson State, Shawntawnee Collins of Alcorn State, Gaati Werema of Prairie View A&M and Chari Smith of Prairie View A&M.
Christian was ranked third in the SWAC in assists (4.36 apg.) and fifth in steals (2.29 pg). Collins led the conference in field-goal percentage (58.4) and was ranked 11th in the nation. Werema led the conference in defensive rebounds (5.67 pg.) and was second in total rebounding in the SWAC (7.9 rpg.).
Prairie View A&M led all schools with three all-conference selections. Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State and Southern University all had one selection each.
Women – 1st Team
LaSharee Christian Jackson State 5’6 Sr. G Bellflower, Calif.
Candice Thomas Prairie View A&M 5’9 So. G Waco, Texas
Shawntawnee Collins Alcorn State 6’1 Sr. F Denver, Colo.
Gaati Werema Prairie View A&M 6’0 So. F Miami, Fla.
Chari Smith Prairie View A&M 6’3 Jr. C Los Angeles, Calif.
Women – 2nd Team
Shantae Robinson Alabama State 5’2 Sr. G Chicago, Ill.
Delores Hughley Arkansas-Pine Bluff 5’6 Sr. G Flint, Mich.
Portia Wilson Miss. Valley State 5’10 Sr. F Dallas, Texas
Freda Allen Southern Univ. 6’1 Fr. F Lake Providence, La.
Felecia Drummond Alabama A&M 5’11 Sr. C Cuba, Ala.
Freshman of the Year
Freda Allen Southern Univ. 6’1 Fr. F Lake Providence, La.
Newcomer of the Year
Chari Smith Prairie View A&M 6’3 Jr. C Los Angeles, Calif.
Defensive Player of the Year
Carena Easley Jackson State 5’10 Sr. G Romulus, Mich.
Player of the Year
Candice Thomas Prairie View A&M 5’9 So. G Waco, Texas
All-Academic Team
Name School GPA Major
Nyasha Chambwe Jackson State 3.98 Biology
Latasha Williams Miss. Valley State 3.83 Physical Education
Ashleonte Samuel Alabama A&M 3.75 Mathematics
Kourtney Sherman Grambling State 3.73 Chemistry
Fredrieka Lewis Southern Univ. 3.60 Mass Communications
Kenisha Daniels Alcorn State 3.33 Masters of Arts in Teaching
Camille Parks Texas Southern 3.07 General Studies
Dominiquea Holman Prairie View A&M 3.00 Architecture
Here again JSU player gets robbed.
How is it that Carena Easly is defensive player of the year but is not good enough to make 1st or second team All SWAC.