SEC Basketball Awards Announced

Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC logo on the basketball court prior to game six of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC logo on the basketball court prior to game six of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday, the eve of the SEC basketball tournament, the individual awards and all-conference teams were announced.

For whatever reason, there were 16 players named to first and second team All-SEC basketball teams.

Kentucky and Georgia were the only two teams to have two players on first team. Florida had one player each on first and second team, while Texas A&M and two players on second team.

Alabama, Auburn, and Missouri were the only teams that weren’t represented on the first or second team.

Player of the Year:

Feb 15, 2017; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) brings the ball up court against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Arkansas wins 83-76 over the Gamecocks. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) brings the ball up court against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Arkansas wins 83-76 over the Gamecocks. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina

Thornwell averaged 21.2 points per game, tied with Malik Monk for the most in the SEC. He scored in double figures in every game he played this season, and averaged 25.3 points in the final eight games of the regular season. He also led the league in steals, averaging 2.2 per game.

Freshman of the Year:

Malik Monk, Kentucky

Monk averaged 21.2 points per game, which like we said before was tied for the most in the conference. He scored 30+ points four times this season, including 47 in a win over North Carolina.

Defensive Player of the Year:

Robert Williams, Texas A&M

Williams is second in the SEC, averaging 2.5 blocks and 8.1 rebounds per game. He’s helped lead the Aggies to the fourth-best scoring defense in the SEC, allowing 67.9 points per game.

Sixth Man of the Year:

Canyon Barry, Florida

Berry came of the bench to average 12.5 points per game in 22.1 minutes per game. He’s also third in the SEC, shooting 87.8 percent from the free throw line, following his father’s granny-style free throw approach.

Scholar-Athlete of the Year:

Luke Kornet

Kornet does everything for the Commodores, and apparently gets it done in the classroom as well. The 7-footer averaged 13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks this season.

Coach of the Year:

Nov 21, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Mike White claps against the Belmont Bruins during the first half at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Mike White claps against the Belmont Bruins during the first half at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Mike White, Florida

In just his second season with the the Gators, White led Florida to 24-7 record, including a 14-4 record in the SEC. The Gators are ranked no. 17 in the AP poll and will be making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.

First Team All-SEC

KeVaughn Allen, Florida

De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky

J.J. Frazier, Georgia (2016 Second-Team)

Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt

Yante Maten, Georgia (2016 Second-Team)

Malik Monk, Kentucky

Sebastian Saiz, Ole Miss

Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina

Second Team All-SEC

Bam Adebayo, Kentucky

Antonio Blakeney, LSU

Tyler Davis, Texas A&M

Kasey Hill, Florida

Robert Hubbs III, Tennessee

Moses Kingsley, Arkansas (2016 Second-Team)

Quinndary Weatherspoon, Mississippi State

Robert Williams, Texas A&M

More from SEC Basketball

All-Defensive Team

Kasey Hill, Florida

Moses Kingsley, Arkansas

Luke Kornett, Vanderbilt

Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina

Robert Williams, Texas A&M

All-Freshman Team

Bam Adebayo, Kentucly

De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky

Mustapha Heron, Auburn

Braxton Key, Alabama

Malik Monk, Kentucky

Lamar Peters, Mississippi State

Grant Williams, Tennessee

Robert Williams, Texas A&M