DENVER, COLO. The Western Athletic Conference mens basketball postseason award winners as selected by the leagues nine head coaches were announced today.
The first team is led by Fresno State junior Melvin Ely who was also voted the WACs Player of the Year. In conference games only, Ely averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and led the WAC in field goal percentage (.627). UTEP senior forward Brandon Wolfram is a first-team selection for the second straight year. Rices Mike Wilks, Fresno States Chris Jefferies and Hawaiis Predrag Savovic were also first team selections.
Fresno State guard Tito Maddox was named the WACs Freshman of the Year. Maddox averaged 13.7 points 8.1 assists and 1.9 steals in conference only games. Fresno State head coach Jerry Tarkanian was named the Don Haskins Coach of the Year after leading the 25th-ranked Bulldogs to a 24-5 record and Fresno States first ever WAC regular-season title (13-3).
The 2001 Williams WAC Basketball Tournament is this week at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. The mens teams will compete March 6, 8-10, with the womens competition March 6-7 and 9-10. Fox Sports Net will carry the mens semifinal games on Friday and the championship game on Saturday, March 10 at 9:00 p.m. (CT).
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2001 WAC Mens Basketball Postseason Award Winners
All-Conference
First Team
Melvin Ely, Fresno State, C, 6-10, 256, Jr., Harvey, Ill. (Thornton Township)
Brandon Wolfram, UTEP, F, 6-9, 230, Sr., Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo)
Mike Wilks, Rice, G, 5-11, 180, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis. (Rufus King)
Chris Jefferies, Fresno State, G/F, 6-8, 216, So., Fresno, Calif. (Arkansas)
Predrag Savovic, Hawaii, G/F, 6-6, 225, Jr., Herceg Novi, Yugoslavia (UAB)
Second Team
Jeryl Sasser, SMU, G, 6-6, 200, Sr., Dallas, Texas (Kimball)
Kevin Johnson, Tulsa, F, 6-7, 215, So., Missouri City, Texas (HCYA)
Tito Maddox, Fresno State, G, 6-4, 190, Fr., Compton, Calif. (Compton)
Damon Hancock, SMU, G, 6-3, 195, Jr., Lancaster, Texas (Lancaster)
Eugene Costello, UTEP, G, 5-10, 165, Jr., New Orleans, La. (Midland College)
Player of the Year: Melvin Ely, Fresno State
Freshman of the Year: Tito Maddox, Fresno State
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Jerry Tarkanian, Fresno STate
All-Newcomer Team
Chris Jefferies, Fresno State, G/F, 6-8, 216, So., Fresno, Calif. (Arkansas)
Tito Maddox, Fresno State, G, 6-4, 190, Fr., Compton, Calif. (Compton)
Eugene Costello, UTEP, G, 5-10, 165, Jr., New Orleans, La. (Midland College)
Andre Hazel, Nevada, G, 5-11, 175, Fr., Garden Grove, Calif. (Artesia HS)
Phil Martin, Hawaii, F, 6-7, 198, Fr., Ontario, Canada (Cathedral HS)
All-Defensive Team
Melvin Ely, Fresno State, C, 6-10, 256, Jr., Harvey, Ill. (Thornton Township)
Chris Jefferies, Fresno State, G/F, 6-8, 216, So., Fresno, Calif. (Arkansas)
Derrick Davenport, TCU, C, 6-10, 184, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind. (Florida CC)
Mike Wilks, Rice, G, 5-11, 180, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis. (Rufus King)
Dante Swanson, Tulsa, G, 5-10, 170, So., Wagoner, Okla. (Wagoner)