2009 SEC Freshman Of The Year: Terrico White

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Ole Miss point guard Terrico White has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, as the league unveiled its men’s basketball coaches postseason awards Tuesday.

In addition, White and Rebel teammate David Huertas were both tabbed to the All-SEC second team, while White was one of three unanimous All-Freshman team members.

White had a banner year in his first season with the Rebels, leading all freshmen and ranking fourth among all players with 18.4 points per game in SEC play. He is the second player in school history to receive SEC Freshman of the Year honors, joining 2001 selection Justin Reed.

“We’re obviously very excited for Terrico,” said Rebel head coach Andy Kennedy. “I’ve said many times that if he was not the freshman of the year in this league then there was no way this team could have experienced any level of success. He was presented with a big challenge and he responded.”

Being forced to move from his natural wing position to become the team’s point guard midway through the season, White excelled in his new role and produced eight 20-point outings in league play. In fact, his 20.7 scoring average in the 11 games since Jan. 27 is third-highest among all freshmen in the nation during that span. The Memphis, Tenn., native was a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week selection during league play.

“Wow, it’s exciting to be the freshman of the year when there are so many good players in the SEC,” White said. “I’m just glad I could come in and help Ole Miss win games, and I hope we can keep winning and get to the postseason this year.”

Huertas is the team’s leading scorer in all games with 18.2 points per game, while he averaged 16.3 in SEC contests. He has produced 12 20-point games this season and scored in double figures in 28 of 29 contests. The Puerto Rico native’s 151 3-pointers made since joining Ole Miss are the most in a two-year span in school history.

It is the second time in three seasons under Kennedy that Ole Miss has had two players earn All-SEC honors from the coaches.

“Not only Terrico, but all of our freshmen have been given an opportunity to play early, and that experience will do nothing but make them better for the future,” Kennedy said.

The future looks very bright for a Rebel team that returns every scholarship player next season. In addition to All-SEC picks White and Huertas, Ole Miss will welcome back preseason All-SEC first team member Chris Warren, veteran guard Eniel Polynice and 2008 All-Freshman pick Trevor Gaskins from injury. Current sophomore starters Zach Graham and Malcolm White and freshman starter Murphy Holloway will also help make up a formidable nucleus of returnees.

LSU’s Trent Johnson earned SEC Coach of the Year honors and LSU senior guard Marcus Thornton was selected SEC Player of the Year. Alabama’s Justin Knox earned SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State was picked as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row, and South Carolina’s Brandis Raley-Ross earned SEC’s Sixth Man of the Year honors.

Coaches voted on eight member teams for First Team All-SEC, Second Team All-SEC and for the SEC All-Freshman Team. They voted on a five-player squad for the SEC All-Defensive Team. They were not permitted to vote for their own players and ties were not broken.

A complete list of the 2009 SEC Men’s Basketball postseason awards follows.

First Team All-SEC

*Nick Calathes, Florida G, 6-6, 194, So., Casselberry, Fla.

*Jodie Meeks, Kentucky 6-4, 208, Jr., Norcross, Ga.

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky 6-9, 235, So., Huntington, W.Va.

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU F, 6-7, 240, Jr., Denham Springs, La.

*Marcus Thornton, LSU G, 6-4, 205, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State F/C, 6-9, 210, Jr., Brownsville, Tenn.

*Devan Downey, South Carolina G, 5-9, 175, Jr., Chester, S.C.

*Tyler Smith, Tennessee F, 6-7, 215, Jr., Pulaski, Tenn.

Second Team All-SEC

Alonzo Gee, Alabama G, 6-6, 219, Sr., Riviera Beach, Fla.

Michael Washington, Arkansas F, 6-9, 239, Jr., McGehee, Ark.

Korvotney Barber, Auburn F, 6-7, 225, Sr., Manchester, Ga.

^Garrett Temple, LSU G, 6-6, 190, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.

David Huertas, Ole Miss G, 6-5, 200, Jr., Humacao, Puerto Rico

Terrico White, Ole Miss G, 6-5, 211, Fr., Memphis, Tenn.

^Dominique Archie, South Carolina F, 6-7, 200, Jr., Augusta, Ga.

^Zam Fredrick, South Carolina G, 6-0, 203, Sr., St. Matthews, S.C.

Wayne Chism, Tennessee F, 609, 242, Jr., Jackson, Tenn.

A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt C, 6-11, 250, So., Sydney, Australia

SEC All-Freshman Team

*JaMychal Green, Alabama F, 6-9, 220, Fr., Montgomery, Ala.

Courtney Fortson, Arkansas G, 5-11, 180, Fr., Montgomery, Ala.

Erving Walker, Florida 5-8, 161, Fr., New York, N.Y.

Trey Thompkins, Georgia F, 6-8, 245, Fr., Lithonia, Ga.

*Terrico White, Ole Miss G, 6-5, 211, Fr., Memphis, Tenn.

*Dee Bost, Mississippi State G, 6-2, 170, Fr., Concord, N.C.

Scotty Hopson, Tennessee G, 6-7, 185, Fr., Hopkinsville, Ky.

Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt G/F, 6-7, 210, Fr., Norrkoping, Sweden

SEC All-Defensive Team

^Quantez Robertson, Auburn G, 6-3, 200, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio

Garrett Temple, LSU G, 6-6, 190, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.

Chris Johnson, LSU C, 6-11, 210, Sr., Montross, Va.

*Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State F/C, 6-9, 210, Jr., Brownsville, Tenn.

^Dominique Archie, South Carolina F, 6-7, 200, Jr., Augusta, Ga.

Devan Downey, South Carolina G, 5-9, 175, Jr., Chester, S.C.

SEC Coach of the Year: Trent Johnson, LSU

SEC Player of the Year: Marcus Thornton, LSU

SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Justin Knox, Alabama

SEC Freshman of the Year: Terrico White, Ole Miss

SEC Sixth-Man of the Year: Brandis Raley-Ross, South Carolina

SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State

*-Unanimous selection

^-Ties are not broken

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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