Texas
A&M-Corpus Christi junior guard Kevin Palmer has been named the
Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year as well as first-team
All-Southland Conference in men's basketball the league announced
on Tuesday. Sophomore Justin Palmer was named honorable mention
All-SLC.
Palmer led the
Southland Conference in scoring both in overall games and the SLC
action earning NABC All-District 23 first-team honors. On the year,
the transfer from
Cecil Community College in Maryland averaged 17.8 points a game
overall, while upping his average to 19.2 points a game in league
play. His 551 total points led the Southland Conference.
Palmer was
second in the league and tenth in the nation with 2.7 steals a game
shattering the single-season steal mark with 82. The previous mark
was 56. He finished second on the team in rebounding at 5.2
rebounds. Palmer's 80.8% free-throw shooting was third in the
league.
Reynolds was
named honorable mention All-SLC. He was third on the team in
scoring with 8.4 points a game, while shooting a team-best 46.9% on
the season. His 4.6 rebounds a game were third on the team.
Other
superlative winners were SLC Player of the Year Matt Kingsley of
Stephen F. Austin and Freshman of the Year Fred Hunter of Nicholls.
Hunter's head coach J.P. Piper was the SLC Coach of the Year.
Kingsley was
the only player in the league to finish in the top five in points,
rebounds, and shooting percentage. The fifth-year senior finished
with 15.9 points a game and 7.5 rebounds to lead SFA to the
regular-season title. He also shot 55.2%.
Hunter helped
turnaround the Colonels starting 28-of-29 games. He average 11 points a game in
SLC play as Nicholls placed second in thee regular season with a
12-4 mark. His 55.5%
shooting percentage was fourth in the league and he added 105
rebounds.
Piper in his
fifth season at Nicholls led the team to a nine 19-10 mark overall
and a 12-4 record in the league. The Colonels placed second in the
regular season earning their first trip to the SLC tournament
since. 2001. Piper is one of 10 finalists for the Hugh Durham
National Coach of the Year Award.
2008-09 Men's
Basketball All-Southland Conference Teams
First Team
School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Matt Kingsley
Stephen F. Austin C Sr. Houston, Texas
Kevin Palmer
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
G/F Jr. Baltimore, Md.
Anthony Vereen
UT Arlington F Sr. Houston, Texas
Ryan Bathie
Nicholls State F Sr. Melton, Australia
Corey Allmond
Sam Houston State
G Jr. Oxon Hill, Md.
Second Team
Marquez Haynes
UT Arlington F/G Jr. Irving, Texas
Ashton Mitchell
Sam Houston State
G Jr. New Orleans, La.
Josh Alexander
Stephen F. Austin
G Sr. Shreveport, La.
Brandon Bush
Texas State F Sr. Houston, Texas
Kenny Dawkins
Lamar G
Sr. Holly Springs, Miss.
Third Team
Anatoly Bose
Nicholls State
F So. Sydney, Australia
Travis
Gabbidon UTSA
G Sr. Phoenix,
Ariz.
Devin Gibson
UTSA G So. Houston, Texas
Roge'r Guignard
UT Arlington G Jr. Mesquite, Texas
Jay Brown Lamar F
Sr. Griffin, Ga.
Honorable
Mention
John Pichon,
McNeese State; Patrick Sullivan, Southeastern Louisiana; Omar
Johnson, UTSA; Kleon Penn, McNeese State; Brandon McThay, Lamar;
Brent Benson, Texas State; Marcus Pillow, Central Arkansas; Barkley
Falkner, Sam Houston State; Justin Reynolds, Texas A&M-Corpus
Christi; Corey Jefferson, Texas State.
Player of the
Year: Matt Kingsley, Stephen F. Austin
Newcomer of the
Year: Kevin Palmer, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Freshman of the
Year: Fred Hunter, Nicholls State
