Texas Southern’s Jones earns Player of the Year honors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its men’s basketball all-conference teams Monday heading into this week’s 2011 Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament in Garland, Texas. The league recognized 19 individual honors including first, second, and third team honors, along with Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Freshman of the Year. The awards are selected by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Player of the Year – Texas Southern’s Trevele Jones earned Player of the Year after leading the Tigers to the regular season title and a 16-2 record in SWAC play. Jones averaged 17.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 18 conference games. His season averages were 16.0 points and 6.9 rebounds in 22 games. Jones was named the league’s preseason player of the year.
Defensive Player of the Year – Alabama State’s Chris Duncan averaged nearly two blocks per game in leading the SWAC’s second ranked scoring defense for the Hornets. Duncan also averaged 7.0 points and 5.2 rebounds after being named the league’s preseason defensive player of the year.
Newcomer of the Year – Texas Southern’s Kevin Galloway led the SWAC in assists and steals averaging 6.2 and 1.8 per game, respectively. His assist average is currently 7th in the NCAA. He also finished 14th in scoring at 11.1 points per game and 2nd in rebounding at 6.8 rebounds per game.
Freshman of the Year – Texas Southern’s Lawrence Johnson-Danner helped lead the Tigers to the regular season title averaging 13.2 points and 1.2 steals per game. He shot 40 percent from behind the 3-point arc, good for 2nd in the conference and made 55 three-pointers on the season. He also shot 84.4 percent from the freethrow line.
1st Team All-SWAC
• Guard Kevin Galloway, Texas Southern – 6-7, 215, Sr., Sacramento, Calif.
• Guard D’Angelo Jackson, Mississippi Valley State – 6-1, 170, Sr., Milwaukee, Wisc.
• Forward Trevele Jones, Texas Southern – 6-8, 205, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.
• Forward Grant Maxey, Jackson State – 6-7, 200, Sr., Toledo, Ohio
• Center Paul Crosby, Mississippi Valley State – 6-8, 240, Jr., Lansing, Mich.
2nd Team All-SWAC
• Guard Cornelius Hester, Alabama A&M – 6-3, 175, Sr., Mobile, Ala.
• Guard Jenirro Bush, Jackson State – 6-8, 190, Jr., Starkville, Miss.
• Forward Casey Cantey, Alabama A&M – 6-6, 205, Jr., Demopolis, Ala.
• Forward Justin Patton, Grambling State – 6-7, 200, Jr., Bossier City, La.
• Center Brandon Webb, Prairie View A&M – 6-7, 245, Jr., Terrell, Texas
3rd Team All-SWAC
• Guard Marquiz Baker, Alcorn State – 6-2, 195, Jr., Austin, Texas
• Guard Trant Simpson, Prairie View A&M – 5-10, 160, Sr., Huntsville, Ala.
• Forward Ivory White, Alabama State – 6-4, 185, Jr., Greensboro, Ala.
• Forward Tyrone Hanson, Jackson State – 6-7, 200, Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Center Chris Duncan, Alabama State – 6-8, 200, Sr., Louisville, Ky.
