February 27, 2008
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

USA South Men's Basketball Awards Announced

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for men's basketball. A total of 20 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams for men's basketball. Jeremiah Lawrence of Shenandoah University was chosen as the Player of the Year, Derek Mitchell from Ferrum College was named the Rookie of the Year while his coach Bill Tharp collected Coach of the Year honors.

Lawrence, a senior forward from Forestville, Maryland, averaged a double-double this season for the Hornets. His 20.3 points per game average was second in the league while his 11.2 rebounds per game mark and 18 total double-doubles led the conference. Lawrence led Shenandoah with 44 blocks and was third with 29 steals. Lawrence, who also was named First Team All-Conference, collects his third such honor in as many seasons. Finally, Lawrence was named the league's player of the week four times this season.  

A freshman forward Newport News, Virginia, Mitchell had a stand-out year for the Panthers. He averaged a double-double of 12.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. His scoring averaged was 15th in the league while his rebounding total and amount of double-doubles were good for second. Mitchell's other conference rankings were fifth in field goal shooting percentage, eighth in blocks per game and 15th in steals per game. Mitchell led the Panthers in minutes played, field goal shooting percentage, rebounds and blocks. For his efforts, Mitchell earned Second Team All-Conference honors while also being selected as the league's rookie of the week six times.

In his third year at the helm of the Panthers, Ferrum's Tharp collects his first coach of the year honor. Tharp guided Ferrum to a share of its first Regular Season USA South Championship since the 1994-95 season. The Panthers, who were picked to finish last in the USA South Preseason Coaches poll, concluded the regular season with an overall record of 14-11 and a conference mark of 8-4 to tie Methodist.

Player of the Year                                                                
Jeremiah Lawrence - Shenandoah                                                             

Rookie of the Year                                                                 
Derek Mitchell - Ferrum                                                         

Coach of the Year                                                                  
Bill Tharp - Ferrum                                                           

The 2008 USA South Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team	Second Team	Honorable Mention
Davon Barton - Christopher Newport Jeremiah Lawrence - Shenandoah Billy McDade - Methodist Adam Nicholson - Greensboro Jonathan Rumley - Averett	Keith Crump - Ferrum Lenny Hall - N.C. Wesleyan Derek Mitchell - Ferrum LeuMichael Smith - Methodist Thomas Whinnett - Christopher Newport	Jarmel Arrington - N.C. Wesleyan Jon Godsey - Ferrum Cory McDaniel - Averett Onyie Onunaku - Shenandoah Antwin Shuford - Methodist
	All-Sportsmanship Team
	Cory McDaniel - Averett Davon Barton - Christopher Newport Ed Robinson - Ferrum Theo Tamini - Greensboro Tyler Sigman - Methodist Adam Coleman - N.C. Wesleyan Kenny Cooke - Shenandoah