FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 8, 2016
Texas A&M Men’s Basketball
Kennedy, Jones Highlight Texas A&M’s All-SEC Selections
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Led by Coach of the Year Billy Kennedy and first-teamer Jalen Jones, six members of the Texas A&M basketball program received accolades Tuesday as the SEC’s coaches announced their annual awards.
Joining the Texas A&M contingency on the coaches’ All-SEC list were Alex Caruso and Danuel House on the All-SEC second team as well as rookies Tyler Davis and DJ Hogg on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Caruso, meanwhile, garnered a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team.
The coach of the year honor is the fourth during an 18-year head coaching career for Kennedy, who was also named Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011 as well as the Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 2004. The New Orleans native has the Aggies on track to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 after claiming 24 regular season wins and guiding Texas A&M to a share of the 2016 SEC Championship, the school’s first title since 1986.
Jones, meanwhile, becomes the third Aggie to garner first-team All-SEC recognition following Elston Turner in 2013 and House last season. The Dallas native stood out as one of the league’s most consistent performers this season, ranking among the league leaders by averaging 16.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game during SEC play. Overall this season, Jones has contributed four double-doubles and reached the 20-point plateau on 11 occasions.
Caruso leads the SEC in steals with 65 this season, while ranking fourth in the league with 157 assists. The College Station native enjoyed a milestone season as he became Texas A&M’s career leader in both assists and steals while standing out as the SEC’s active leader in both categories. Offensively, Caruso saw his overall shooting percentage and 3-point shooting percentage rise for a third consecutive campaign while on the defensive end he paced the SEC in total steals for a third consecutive season.
For the second straight season, House was bestowed All-SEC honors after garnering first-team accolades a year ago. The Fresno, Texas, native averages 15.3 points per outing this season, shooting 40.1 percent from the floor while compiling 71 assists, 18 steals and seven blocked shots.
A pair of the Aggies’ impressive rookie class, Davis and Hogg stood out as two of the SEC’s top freshmen while making an immediate impact on the court. Davis started 28 games this season, contributing 11.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest, while leading the Aggies with 30 blocked shots and a 65.4 field goal percentage. Hogg, meanwhile, chipped in 6.5 points and 2.7 boards while playing in 31 games and drawing three starts. The 6-foot-8 swingman shot just under 40 percent from the field while making 42 3-point baskets.
FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Retin Obasohan, Alabama
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Ben Simmons, LSU
Stefan Moody, Ole Miss
Michael Carrera, South Carolina
Jalen Jones, Texas A&M
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Moses Kingsley, Arkansas
Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida
J.J. Frazier, Georgia
Yante Maten, Georgia
Kevin Punter Jr., Tennessee
Alex Caruso, Texas A&M
Danuel House, Texas A&M
Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt
SEC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
KeVaughn Allen, Florida
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Antonio Blakeney, LSU
Ben Simmons, LSU
Quinndary Weatherspoon, Mississippi State
Kevin Puryear, Missouri
Tyler Davis, Texas A&M
DJ Hogg, Texas A&M
SEC ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Retin Obasohan, Alabama
Moses Kingsley, Arkansas
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina
Alex Caruso, Texas A&M
Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt
SEC Coach of the Year: Billy Kennedy, Texas A&M
SEC Player of the Year: Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Retin Obasohan, Alabama
SEC Freshman of the Year: Ben Simmons, LSU
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year:Duane Notice, South Carolina
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
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March 8, 2016
Texas A&M Men’s Basketball
Kennedy, Jones Highlight Texas A&M’s All-SEC Selections
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Led by Coach of the Year Billy Kennedy and first-teamer Jalen Jones, six members of the Texas A&M basketball program received accolades Tuesday as the SEC’s coaches announced their annual awards.
Joining the Texas A&M contingency on the coaches’ All-SEC list were Alex Caruso and Danuel House on the All-SEC second team as well as rookies Tyler Davis and DJ Hogg on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Caruso, meanwhile, garnered a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team.
The coach of the year honor is the fourth during an 18-year head coaching career for Kennedy, who was also named Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011 as well as the Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 2004. The New Orleans native has the Aggies on track to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 after claiming 24 regular season wins and guiding Texas A&M to a share of the 2016 SEC Championship, the school’s first title since 1986.
Jones, meanwhile, becomes the third Aggie to garner first-team All-SEC recognition following Elston Turner in 2013 and House last season. The Dallas native stood out as one of the league’s most consistent performers this season, ranking among the league leaders by averaging 16.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game during SEC play. Overall this season, Jones has contributed four double-doubles and reached the 20-point plateau on 11 occasions.
Caruso leads the SEC in steals with 65 this season, while ranking fourth in the league with 157 assists. The College Station native enjoyed a milestone season as he became Texas A&M’s career leader in both assists and steals while standing out as the SEC’s active leader in both categories. Offensively, Caruso saw his overall shooting percentage and 3-point shooting percentage rise for a third consecutive campaign while on the defensive end he paced the SEC in total steals for a third consecutive season.
For the second straight season, House was bestowed All-SEC honors after garnering first-team accolades a year ago. The Fresno, Texas, native averages 15.3 points per outing this season, shooting 40.1 percent from the floor while compiling 71 assists, 18 steals and seven blocked shots.
A pair of the Aggies’ impressive rookie class, Davis and Hogg stood out as two of the SEC’s top freshmen while making an immediate impact on the court. Davis started 28 games this season, contributing 11.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest, while leading the Aggies with 30 blocked shots and a 65.4 field goal percentage. Hogg, meanwhile, chipped in 6.5 points and 2.7 boards while playing in 31 games and drawing three starts. The 6-foot-8 swingman shot just under 40 percent from the field while making 42 3-point baskets.
FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Retin Obasohan, Alabama
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Ben Simmons, LSU
Stefan Moody, Ole Miss
Michael Carrera, South Carolina
Jalen Jones, Texas A&M
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Moses Kingsley, Arkansas
Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida
J.J. Frazier, Georgia
Yante Maten, Georgia
Kevin Punter Jr., Tennessee
Alex Caruso, Texas A&M
Danuel House, Texas A&M
Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt
SEC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
KeVaughn Allen, Florida
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Antonio Blakeney, LSU
Ben Simmons, LSU
Quinndary Weatherspoon, Mississippi State
Kevin Puryear, Missouri
Tyler Davis, Texas A&M
DJ Hogg, Texas A&M
SEC ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Retin Obasohan, Alabama
Moses Kingsley, Arkansas
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina
Alex Caruso, Texas A&M
Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt
SEC Coach of the Year: Billy Kennedy, Texas A&M
SEC Player of the Year: Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Retin Obasohan, Alabama
SEC Freshman of the Year: Ben Simmons, LSU
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year:Duane Notice, South Carolina
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
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