GSC Announces 2012 All-Conference Men's Basketball Honors

3/1/2012 8:00:00 PM

Complete Release (PDF)

The Gulf South Conference is proud to announce its All-GSC Men’s Basketball honors for the 2011-12 season. 

Leading the way on the All-GSC First Team is one returning member and four who made the jump last year’s Second Team.  Alabama-Huntsville led the way with three overall honorees, including a pair of First Teamers.  Christian Brothers also added two First Team standouts and were joined by North Alabama and West Florida which added two honorees apiece.  West Georgia completed the post-season list with one Second Teamer.

 

UAH’S MAGETTE AND CBU’S DENNIS SHARE PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS

The GSC Player of the Year award is shared for the first time in eight years as UAH point guard Josh Magette and CBU guard Scott Dennis tied in the voting.

Magette is UAH’s second consecutive winner after teammate Zane Campbell took home East Division accolades a year ago.  The senior leads the nation in assists per game (9.5) and is one of just four Division II players this season to record a triple-double in a game.  Magette also became the GSC’s all-time career leader in assists and the first GSC player ever to hit for 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 700 assists for a career.  The Birmingham, AL native also places tops in the league in steals per game (2.6) and assist/turnover ratio (3.4). 

Dennis is CBU’s first Player of the Year since Nick Kohs won West Division laurels in 2008-09.  The senior is No. 1 in the GSC in rebounding (9.3), minutes played (35.5) and double-doubles (13) and he is also one of just four Division II players this season to record a triple-double this season.

 

UWG’S HIGGINBOTHAM TABBED FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

 

Guard Thomas Higginbotham made West Georgia history, becoming the school’s first-ever GSC Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Year. Higginbotham saw action in all 27 games for the Wolves and ranks second in the Conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.5).  The Snellville, GA native ranks second on the team in assists (82) and also added 4.9 points per game.

 

UAH’S ACUFF WINS THIRD STRAIGHT COACH OF THE YEAR

Alabama-Huntsville Head Coach Lennie Acuff made league history, becoming the first-ever six-time GSC Coach of the Year.  Acuff sewed up his third consecutive accolade after guiding the Chargers to the 2012 GSC Regular Season Title and the No. 1 seed in the GSC Tournament.  The defending NCAA South Region Champions are also in position to host the regional tournament for the second year in a row, entering this weekend No. 1 in the Regional Top 10 Poll.  Acuff has led UAH to three straight 20-win campaigns.

 

ALL-GSC TEAM OVERVIEW

UAH’s Josh Magette is the lone returning member from last year’s All-GSC First Team after leading the Chargers the No. 1 seed in next week’s GSC Tournament.

The four remaining First Team standouts made the jump from Second Team honors.  Alabama-Huntsville guard Jaime Smith, West Florida guard/forward Jamar Moore and CBU’s Scott Dennis climbed up from last year’s Second Team, while Christian Brothers forward Zack Warner is back from the 2010 Second Team. 

UAH forward Zane Campbell and West Georgia forward Da’Ron Sims led the Second Team list after making the First Team in 2011.  UWF forward Marquis Mathis returns to the Second Team for the second year in a row, while North Alabama added guard Beaumont Beasley and forward Theron Jenkins.

 

 GSC Co-Players of the Year: G, Josh Magette, Alabama-Huntsville; G, Scott Dennis, Christian Brothers

GSC Freshman of the Year: G, Thomas Higginbotham, West Georgia

GSC Coach of the Year: Lennie Acuff, Alabama-Huntsville

 

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