Men's Basketball Awards Announced

February 23, 2005 – The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for men's basketball and Methodist, Christopher Newport and Shenandoah all lead the way with three members each.  MC's Sam Porter is the Player of the Year.  Kenny Johnson from Ferrum has been chosen the Rookie of the Year.  First year Averett coach Jimmy Allen is the 2005 Coach of the Year. 

Porter, a senior from Bamberg, SC, led the Monarchs to a regular season title after finishing 10-2 in the Conference and 18-7 overall.  He averaged 13.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.48 steals per game.  Porter was eighth in the USA South in points, second in rebounds and third in steals per game.  This is the second straight year Porter has been named First Team All-Conference.

A freshman from Beaver Falls, PA, Johnson had a stand-out year for the Panthers.  He averaged 15.6 points, 6.48 assists and 2.44 steals per game.  Johnson was ranked sixth in points, second in assists and fourth in steals per game.  The Panthers finished the regular season sixth in the Conference after going 4-8 in the USA South and 7-18 overall. 

In his first year at the helm of the Cougars, Allen has completely turned the team around from last year.  After finishing 2004 0-25 overall and 0-14 in the Conference, AU ended the 2005 regular season third in the USA South.  The team posted a 12-13 record overall and was 6-6 in the Conference.  Allen now looks to lead his team into the USA South tournament as the third seed. 

The 2005 USA South Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team	Second Team	Honorable Mention
Rodney Blackstock - GC Roderic Carey - CNU Sam Porter - MC Chris Rhone - SU Seth Thomas - MC	Blake Brookman - CNU Lenny Hall - NCWC Kenny Johnson - FC Onyie Onunaku - SU Sterling Williams - AU	Eugene Grant - MC Kenneth Purnell - SU Jeremy Romeo - CNU Ramone Spears - NCWC Daron Williams - GC