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 forward Gary Wilkinson who was also voted the WAC's Player of the Year. Wilkinson is the second consecutive Aggie to earn Player of the Year honors as USU's Jaycee Carroll earned the award last season. Wilkinson led Utah State in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in WAC play. The senior led USU to its second-straight WAC regular season crown. Nevada's Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson, Idaho's Mac Hopson and New Mexico State's Jahmar Young were also first team selections.
Babbitt and Johnson's selections marked the second time since joining the WAC in 2000-01 that Nevada has had two first-team selections. Nick Fazekas and Marcelus Kemp were also both named first-team All-WAC selections in 2007.
Wilkinson was the only repeat all-WAC honoree from last season. Wilkinson earned second team all-WAC honors last year.
The all-WAC second-teamers this year were Boise State's Mark Sanchez, Fresno State's Sylvester Seay, Hawai'i's Roderick Flemings, Louisiana Tech's Kyle Gibson and Utah State's Jared Quayle. All five are new to the all-WAC team this season.
Nevada forward Luke Babbitt became the second straight Wolf Pack player to earn the WAC's Freshman of the Year award and the third in the last five years (Ramon Sessions in 2005 and Armon Johnson in 2008). In 16 conference games, Babbitt averaged 17.3 points per contest and 7.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.6 percent from the field.
Utah State head coach Stew Morrill earned his first Don Haskins Coach of the Year honor by leading the Aggies to a second straight regular season WAC title. In his 11th year with Utah State, Morrill led the Aggies to a 14-2 conference record. He also led his Aggies to a second-straight undefeated season at home, where the team holds the nation's second-best home win streak at 34 games.
Those named to the WAC's all-defensive team were Boise State's Ike Okoye and Anthony Thomas, Hawai'i's Kareem Nitoto, Louisiana Tech's Magnum Rolle and Nevada's Lyndale Burleson. It marks the second year in a row that Burleson has been named one of the league's best defenders.
Selected to the WAC's all-newcomer team were Hawai'i's Flemings, Idaho's Hopson, Louisiana Tech's Rolle, Nevada's Babbitt and Utah State's Quayle.
The 2009 WAC Tournament will be held March 10-14, at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev. The men's teams will compete March 10, 12-14. ESPNU will carry two men's quarterfinal games, including the noon and 2:30 p.m. PT games on Thursday, March 12. ESPN2 will show the men's semifinal game on Friday, March 13 at 9:00 p.m. (PT) and the men's championship game on Saturday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m. PT. All of the games not televised by ESPN will be available on WAC.tv.
2008-09 WAC Men's Basketball Postseason Award Winners
All-Conference
First TeamMac Hopson, Idaho, G, 6-2, 195, Jr., Portland, Ore. (Washington State)
Luke Babbitt, Nevada, F, 6-9, 225, Fr., Reno, Nev. (Galena HS)Armon Johnson, Nevada, G, 6-3, 195, So., Reno, Nev (Hug HS)Jahmar Young, New Mexico State, G, 6-5, 180, So., Baltimore, Md. (Laurinberg Prep)
Gary Wilkinson, Utah State, F, 6-9, 240, Sr., South Jordan, Utah (Salt Lake CC)
Second Team
Mark Sanchez, Boise State, F, 6-7, 235, Sr., Tucson, Ariz. (Pima CC)
Sylvester Seay, Fresno State, Fr, 6-9, 220, Jr., San Bernardino, Calif. (Arizona State)
Roderick Flemings, Hawai'i, F, 6-7, 210, Jr., Dallas, Texas (Weatherford College)
Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-5, 205, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Dorsey HS)
Jared Quayle, Utah State, G, 6-1, 180, Jr., Perry, Utah (Western Wyoming CC)
All-Defensive TeamIke Okoye, Boise State, F, 6-9, 230, Jr., Sacramento, Calif. (Wyoming)
Anthony Thomas, Boise State, G, 6-0, 199, Jr., Masnfield, Texas (Mansfield Summitt HS)
Kareem Nitoto, Hawai'i, G, 6-2, 185, So., Berkley, Calif. (San Leandro HS)
Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech, C/F, 6-11, 220, Jr., Freeport, Bahamas (LSU)
Lyndale Burleson, Nevada, G, 6-3, 190, Sr., Seattle, Wash. (Franklin HS)All-Newcomer TeamRoderick Flemings, Hawai'i, F, 6-7, 210, Jr., Dallas, Texas (Weatherford College)
Mac Hopson, Idaho, G, 6-2, 195, Jr., Portland, Ore. (Washington State)
Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech, C/F, 6-11, 220, Jr., Freeport, Bahamas (LSU)
Luke Babbitt, Nevada, F, 6-9, 225, Fr., Reno, Nev. (Galena HS)
Jared Quayle, Utah State, G, 6-1, 180, Jr., Perry, Utah (Western Wyoming CC)
Player of the Year: Gary Wilkinson, Utah State
Freshman of the Year: Luke Babbitt, NevadaDon Haskins Coach of the Year: Stew Morrill, Utah State
Head Coach Mark Fox on Nevada’s selections to the All-WAC teams: “I’m very happy that our players have been recognized individually by the WAC’s coaches. These young men have worked very hard to represent our university and our team and are very deserving of these honors. It’s great that we can have two local players be among the best in the conference.”
Fox on freshman Luke Babbitt:“Luke has had a great freshman season. We have asked a lot of him and he has continued to work hard and improve all season. Luke has accomplished so much for our team this year, but he is so unselfish and is so committed to helping our team get better and win.”
Fox on sophomore Armon Johnson:“Amon has matured a lot this season and has worked very hard to become a more complete player and leader on our team. We’ve been hard on him at times this year and I am very proud of how he has grown.”
Fox on senior Lyndale Burleson:“I am very happy that the league’s coaches have recognized Lyndale’s efforts again this year. He is such a great person and has meant so much to our program. He has set the standard for how hard you have to work every day and has such a great spirit. That’s why our team has gotten better.”
Freshman forward Luke Babbitt on being named WAC Freshman of the Year:
“It is a great honor to be recognized by the coaches in the WAC, but a lot of credit goes to my teammates because they have helped me out so much all year. I’m also proud to win the same award that Ramon Sessions and Armon Johnson did. Ramon was a great Nevada player and Armon is becoming one so young in his career. Hopefully I can just keep improving.”
Sophomore guard Armon Johnson on being named to the All-WAC first team:“It’s a great individual honor and would not have been possible without the help of my teammates. I just hope that I can continue to help my team win games and championships.”
