SEC honors Calathes, Walker
Point guard Nick Calathes (left) was named to the All-SEC first team and guard Erving Walker was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team.
The Gainesville SunPublished: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 9:46 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 9:46 a.m.
Judging from Tuesday's All-Southeastern Conference selections, Florida is pretty deep at point guard.
Facts
All-SEC honors
First team
Nick Calathes, 6-6, so., g., Florida
Jodie Meeks, 6-4, jr., g., Kentucky
Patrick Patterson, 6-9, so., f, Kentucky
Tasmin Mitchell, 6-7, jr., f, LSU
Marcus Thornton, 6-4, sr., g, LSU
Jarvis Varnado, 6-9, jr., c, Mississippi State
Devan Downey, 5-9, jr., g, South Carolina
Tyler Smith, 6-7, jr., f, Tennessee
Second team
Alonzo Gee, 6-6, sr., g, Alabama
Michael Washington, 6-9, jr., c, Washington
Korvotney Barber, 6-7, sr., f, Auburn
Garrett Temple, 6-6, sr., g, LSU
David Huertas, 6-5, jr., g, Ole Miss
Terrico White, 6-5, fr., g, Ole Miss
Dominique Archie, 6-7, jr., f, South Carolina
Zam Fredrick, 6-0, sr., g, South Carolina
Wayne Chism, 6-9, jr., c, Tennessee
A.J. Ogilvy, 6-11, so., c, Vanderbilt
All-Freshman team
JaMychal Green, 6-9, f., Alabama
Courtney Fortson, 5-11, g, Arkansas
Erving Walker, 5-8, g, Florida
Trey Thompkins, 6-8, f, Georgia
Terrico White, 6-5, g, Ole Miss
Dee Bost, 6-2, g, Mississippi State
Scotty Hopson, 6-7, f, Tennessee
Jeffery Taylor, 6-7, f, Vanderbilt
All-Defensive team
Quantez Robertson, 6-3, sr., g, Auburn
Garrett Temple, 6-6, sr., g, LSU
Chris Johnson, 6-11, sr., c, LSU
Jarvis Varnado, 6-9, jr., c, Mississippi State
Dominique Archie, 6-7, jr., f, South Carolina
Devan Downey, 5-9, jr., g, South Carolina
Coach of the Year: Trent Johnson, LSU
Player of the Year: Marcus Thornton, LSU
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Justin Knox, Alabama
Freshman of the Year: Terrico White, Ole Miss
Sixth-Man of the Year: Brandis Raley-Ross, South Carolina
Defensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State
Starting Florida sophomore point guard Nick Calathes was named to the All-SEC first team. His backup, UF freshman point guard Erving Walker, made the All-SEC freshman team.
Calathes, last year's SEC co-freshman of the year, was the first Florida player to make the All-SEC first team since Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer made the squad in 2007. Calathes leads Florida in scoring (17.7 points per game), assists (6.4 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). At 199 assists this season, Calathes is 22 shy of the school record he set as a freshman last season.
Calathes is currently one of two players in the nation averaging more than 15 points, five rebounds and six assists per game.
Walker has provided a lift off the bench for Florida, averaging 9.8 points per game. In SEC play, Walker was Florida's third-leading scorer at 10.8 points per game within the conference. Walker is shooting a team best 81.5 percent from the free throw line and has made 34 3-pointers this season, including several in big spots.
The 5-foot-8 Walker has averaged 23.5 minutes off the bench, taking advantage of the early-season transfer of sophomore point guard Jai Lucas. Though Walker and Calathes primarily play at the point, both have proven they are capable of playing together through some stretches. Sometimes, Walker runs the team while Calathes plays off the ball. In other instances, Walker can play off the ball because of his long-range shooting ability.
No other Florida player received individual honors Tuesday, though former Gator guard David Huertas was named to the All-SEC second team. Huertas, who transferred from UF to Ole Miss following the 2005-06 season, finished fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 18.2 ppg for the Rebels.
LSU senior guard Marcus Thornton was named player of the year, while LSU coach Trent Johnson earned league coach of the year honors. Ole Miss guard Terrico White was named freshman of the year, Mississippi State center Jarvis Varnado was named defensive player of the year and South Carolina guard Brandis Raley-Ross was named sixth-man of the year.
The selections were made based on votes from coaches throughout the league. The Associated Press All-SEC team, voted by sports writers, will be announced later this week.
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