DENVER - The Western Athletic Conference men's basketball postseason award winners as selected by the league's nine head coaches were announced today.
The first team is led by Utah State senior guard Jaycee Carroll who was also voted the WAC's Player of the Year. Carroll is the first Aggie to earn Player of the Year honors since Eric Franson earned Big West Player of the Year honors in 1995. In conference games only, Carroll led the WAC in scoring, averaging 24.5 points per game, and free throw percentage (.913). The senior led the Aggies to a share of their first WAC regular season crown. Boise State's Reggie Larry, Nevada's Marcelus Kemp, New Mexico State's Justin Hawkins and Fresno State's Kevin Bell were also first team selections.
Carroll, Kemp and Hawkins were the only repeat all-WAC honorees from last season. All-three were named to the first team last year. Carroll earned all-WAC honors all three seasons that he played in the WAC.
The all-WAC second-teamers this year were Matt Nelson, Boise State; Matt Gibson, Hawai'i; Jordan Brooks, Idaho; JaVale McGee, Nevada and Gary Wilkinson, Utah State. Brooks is the first Vandal to earn all-WAC honors since Idaho joined the league during the 2005-06 season. All five are new to the all-WAC team this season. Nelson was named to the all-Newcomer team last season.
Nevada guard Armon Johnson became the first Wolf Pack player to earn the WAC's Freshman of the Year award since Ramon Sessions in 2005. In 16 conference games, Johnson averaged 14.1 points per contest, and 4.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.0 percent from the field.
Boise State head coach Greg Graham earned his first Don Haskins Coach of the Year honor by leading the Broncos to a share of their first WAC title. In his sixth year with Boise State, Graham led the Broncos to a 12-4 conference record. Boise State was much improved after ending last season with an 8-8 conference record and finishing tied for fifth.
The 2008 WAC Basketball Tournament is this week at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. The men's teams will compete March 11, 13-15, with the women's competition March 11-12 and 14-15. ESPN FullCourt will carry the men's quarterfinal and semifinal games while ESPN2 will show the men's championship game on Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. (MT). All of the games will also be on WAC.tv except for the men's title game.
2007-08 WAC Men's Basketball Postseason Award Winners
All-Conference
First Team
Reggie Larry, Boise State, F, 6-6, 222, Sr., Newark, N.J. (College of Southern Idaho)
Kevin Bell, Fresno State, G, 5-10, 165, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Fairfax HS)
Marcelus Kemp, Nevada, G, 6-5, 210, Sr., Seattle, Wash. (Garfield HS)
Justin Hawkins, New Mexico State, F, 6-7, 205, Sr., Anaheim, Calif. (Utah)
Jaycee Carroll, Utah State, G, 6-2, 175, Sr., Evanston, Wyo. (Evanston HS)
Second Team
Matt Nelson, Boise State, F, 6-9, 233, Sr., Issaquah, Wash. (Eastern Washington)
Matt Gibson, Hawai'i, G, 6-5, 180, Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla. (Three Rivers CC)
Jordan Brooks, Idaho, F, 6-3, 195, Jr., Houston, Texas (Midland College)
JaVale McGee, Nevada, F, 6-11, 235, So., Flint, Mich. (Hales Franciscan HS)
Gary Wilkinson, Utah State, F, 6-9, 240, Jr., South Jordan, Utah (Salt Lake CC)
Player of the Year: Jaycee Carroll, Utah State
Freshman of the Year: Armon Johnson, Nevada, G, 6-3, 190, Reno, Nev. (Hug HS)
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Greg Graham, Boise State
All-Newcomer Team
Jordan Brooks, Idaho, F, 6-3, 195, Jr., Houston, Texas (Midland College)
Armon Johnson, Nevada, G, 6-3, 190, Fr., Reno, Nev. (Hug HS)
Herb Pope, New Mexico State, F, 6-8, 235, Fr., Aliquippa, Pa. (Aliquippa HS)
C.J. Webster, San Jose State, C, 6-8, 255, So., Missouri City, Texas (Texas State)
Gary Wilkinson, Utah State, F, 6-9, 240, Jr., South Jordan, Utah (Salt Lake CC)
All-Defensive Team
Matt Bauscher, Boise State, G, 6-3, 205, Sr., Caldwell, Idaho (Spokane CC)
Matt Gibson, Hawai'i, G, 6-5, 180, Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla. (Three Rivers CC)
Lyndale Burleson, Nevada, G, 6-3, 190, Jr., Seattle, Wash. (Franklin HS)
JaVale McGee, Nevada, F, 6-11, 235, So., Flint, Mich. (Hales Franciscan HS)
Fred Peete, New Mexico State, G, 6-4, 200, Sr., Memphis, Tenn. (Kansas State)
Nevada Quotes
March 9, 2008
Head Coach Mark Fox on Nevada’s selections to the All-WAC teams:
“When the league’s coaches show an appreciation for our players, it is a very high compliment. These young men have worked very hard to represent our university and our team. In an environment that is all about we,’ I am glad they can and have been recognized individually by the WAC’s coaches.”
Fox on senior Marcelus Kemp:
“Marcelus has had a wonderful year, and his play deserved to be rewarded. His decision to return to school has allowed him to earn a degree, lead a team to a championship and again be honored by the conference's coaches.”
Fox on sophomore JaVale McGee:
“JaVale really improved from his freshman to his sophomore year, and I am happy it’s been recognized. Some talented players don’t listen, but he does, and his honors are a credit to his hard work and commitment to improve.”
Fox on freshman Armon Johnson:
“Armon had a great freshman campaign. I am very proud of how he has grown because I was very hard on him at times. He’d be the first to thank the guys around him - and that is why he’s been such a good lead guard.”
Fox on sophomore Lyndale Burleson:
“Lyndale has continued to bring great defense to our team, and I am very happy the league recognized him. His defense has been a big part of our team.”
Freshman guard Armon Johnson on being named WAC Freshman of the Year:
“I am extremely honored by this award. This would have not been possible without the help of my teammates. There were some really good players in the running for this and that makes it that much more special.”
