FRESNO, CALIF. The Western Athletic Conference today announced its official 25-Year All-WAC mens basketball teams as voted upon by a select group of panelists that included media members that have covered the WAC over the years. UTEP guard Tim Hardaway, Brigham Young guard Danny Ainge, Fresno State center Melvin Ely, San Diego State forward Michael Cage and Utah forward Keith Van Horn were selected to the first team.
Hardaway played with the Miners from 1985-89. He was the WACs Player of the Year in 1989 and the recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award which goes to the top player in the nation under six feet tall. Ainge was a three-time first-team all-WAC player from 1979-81. In his senior year, he was named the WACs Player of the Year, a first team All-American and earned the Wooden Award as the National Player of the Year. Ely played for Fresno State from 1998-2002 and was a two-time WAC Player of the Year. He finished his career as the schools all-time leading scorer. Cage is the WACs all-time leading rebounder with 1,317 and was a two-time WAC Player of the Year in 1983 and 1984. Van Horn was a three-time WAC Player of the Year (1995-97) and a first team All-American in 1997. He is the WACs all-time leading scorer with 2,542 points.
The second team consists of Fresno State guard Courtney Alexander, Utah guard Andre Miller, New Mexico center Kenny Thomas, Brigham Young forward Michael Smith and Wyoming forward Fennis Dembo. Alexander was the WAC Player of the Year in 2000 when he led the nation in scoring with 24.8 points per contest. Miller was the WAC Player of the Year in 1999 and a first-team All-American. Thomas earned first team all-WAC honors in three seasons (1996, 97-98). Smith was also a three-time first team all-WAC player (1987-89) and the WAC Player of the Year in 1988. Dembo earned WAC Player of the Year honors in 1987.
The panel consisted of the following members: Randy Holtz, Denver Rocky Mountain News; Darren Hunt, El Paso Times; Jimmy Dykes, ESPN; Andy Katz, ESPN.com; Jeff Passan, Fresno Bee; Jimmie Tramel, Tulsa World; and Jeff Hurd, WAC Senior Associate Commissioner.
Throughout February, fans had their weekly opportunity to vote for their favorite guards, forwards and centers. The fan team is also listed below.
25-Year All-WAC Teams
Official PanelFirst TeamGuard-Tim Hardaway, UTEP
Guard-Danny Ainge, Brigham Young
Center-Melvin Ely, Fresno State
Forward-Michael Cage, San Diego State
Forward-Keith Van Horn, Utah
Second TeamGuard-Courtney Alexander, Fresno State
Guard-Andre Miller, Utah
Center-Kenny Thomas, New Mexico
Forward-Michael Smith, Brigham Young
Forward-Fennis Dembo, Wyoming
25-Year All-WAC Teams
Fan Vote (Announced March 3)First TeamGuard-Tim Hardaway, UTEP
Guard-Danny Ainge, Brigham Young
Center-Melvin Ely, Fresno State
Forward-Brandon Wolfram, UTEP
Forward-Keith Van Horn, Utah
Second TeamGuard-Anthony Carter, Hawaii
Guard-Antoine Gillespie, UTEP
Center-Luc Longley, New Mexico
Forward-Michael Cage, San Diego State
Forward-Fennis Dembo, Wyoming