Memphis’ Davis, Williams named to ALL-AAC 1st team
Kendric Davis and Deandre Williams of Memphis basketball were named first team ALL-AAC, the league announced Wednesday.
The seniors became the first Memphis teammates to land first-team honors in the same season since 2008 (Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-roberts in Conference USA). Davis and Williams are joined on the all-aac First Team by Houston’s Marcus Sasser, Tulane’s Jalen Cook and Cincinnati’s Landers Nolley II (who spent the past two seasons at Memphis). Davis and Sasser were the only unanimous selections on the first, second or third teams.
Sasser (17.1 ppg, 3.3 apg) was named the AAC Player of the Year, leading No. 1 Houston to a near clean sweep of the conference superlatives. Kelvin Sampson was named Coach of the Year, while Jamal Shead picked up Defensive Player of the Year, Jarace Walker earned Freshman of the Year, J’wan Roberts scored Most Improved Player of the Year and Reggie Chaney garnered Sixth Man of the Year. ECU’S Ludgy Debaut and Tulane’s Sion James were co-winners of the Sportsmanship Award.
Davis, who took home player of the year honors last season at SMU, leads the AAC in scoring (21.5 ppg) and assists (5.6). He’s also tied for second in steals per game (2.1). A second-team all-league player last season, Williams’ scoring average (17 ppg) ranks seventh in the AAC, he is fourth in the conference in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and second in field goal percentage (53.4).
UCF’S Taylor Hendricks, Tulane’s Jaylen Forbes and Houston’s Shead, Roberts and Walker landed on the second team. Making up the third team are USF’S Tyler Harris (who played three seasons at Memphis), Cincinnati’s David Dejulius, Temple’s Damian Dunn, Tulane’s Kevin Cross and Wichita State’s Craig Porter Jr.
Walker and Hendricks headline the all-freshman team, where they are joined by Houston’s Terrance Arceneaux and Emmanuel Sharp, and ECU’S Ezra Ausar.