Big XII hands out preseason awards

DALLAS ? University of Texas senior guard A.J. Abrams and junior swingman Damion James have been named to the five-person Preseason All-Big 12 basketball team, the conference office announced Tuesday.

UT was the only school to have a pair of selections on the preseason team. In addition, senior forward/center Connor Atchley was one of seven players to receive preseason honorable mention accolades.

Oklahoma sophomore Blake Griffin was tabbed the Preseason Player of the Year. Kansas junior guard Mario Little was chosen Newcomer of the Year, while Oklahoma guard Willie Warren, a former North Crowley star, garnered Preseason Freshman of the Year accolades. Players honored in preseason voting were selected by the league?s head coaches. The coaches were not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes.

Joining Abrams and James on the Preseason All-Big 12 team were Griffin, Curtis Jerrells (Baylor) and Sherron Collins (Kansas).

The all-time career leader at Texas in three-point field goals made (284), Abrams enters his senior year ranked 15th on the school?s career scoring list (1,389 points), second in free throw percentage (.872) and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.399). He is the top returning scorer in the Big 12 Conference (16.5 ppg). Abrams earned a spot on the USBWA All-District VII Team and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team (coaches) and NABC All-District 9 second team in his junior season. In four NCAA Tournament contests, he averaged a team-best 20.3 points per game while converting 19-of-38 (.500) three-pointers.

James is one of just six returning Division I players to average a double-double (13.2 points, 10.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore). He earned a spot on the USBWA All-District VII Team and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team (coaches) and the NABC All-District 9 second team last year. He set a school single-season record with 393 rebounds, led the team in double-doubles (17) and ranked second on the squad in blocks (51), third in scoring and fourth in assists (51).

Atchley earned his bachelor?s degree in corporate communications in May and is currently enrolled in classes in the Graduate School of Advertising. He was named to the five-person Big 12 All-Improved team and the five-person Big 12 All-Defensive team last year. Atchley led the Big 12 in blocked shots (80, fifth on the UT single-season chart) and ranked second on the team in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and fourth in scoring (9.5 ppg).

2008-09 Preseason All-Big 12 Team -- Curtis Jerrells, Baylor; Sherron Collins, Kansas; Blake Griffin, Oklahoma; A.J. Abrams, Texas; Damion James, Texas

Honorable Mention Selections -- DeMarre Carroll, Missouri; Leo Lyons, Missouri; James Anderson, Oklahoma State; Byron Eaton, Oklahoma State; Connor Atchley, Texas; Josh Carter, Texas A&M; Bryan Davis, Texas A&M

Preseason Player of the Year -- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

Preseason Newcomer of the Year -- Mario Little, Kansas

Preseason Freshman of the Year -- Willie Warren, Oklahoma

Date of Article: Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:17 pm

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