University of Alabama freshman guard Collin Sexton was named a first-team All-SEC selection and the league’s Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press.
Sexton was also named the 2018 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year on Wednesday as voted on by the league office. Sexton becomes the second player in program history to earn the honor, joining former standout Mo Williams who earned the honor in 2002.
“It’s an honor,” Sexton said at Alabama’s Tuesday press conference. “I wouldn’t get any (honor) without my coaching staff and teammates, so I need to thank them too.”
Sexton, who was joined by Kevin Knox from Kentucky as Co-Freshmen of the Year in the coaches’ voting, and was chosen as a Second Team All-SEC performer, while also being selected to the league’s All-Freshman team. Furthermore, junior Donta Hall was named to the league’s All-Defensive team.
Sexton became the second Alabama rookie to earn all-freshman honors in as many years, joining 2017 All-Freshman team honoree Braxton Key. Sexton leads the Crimson Tide and ranks second in the SEC with 18.3 points per game, while also topping the team in assists per game (3.6), field goals made (157) and field goals attempted (364). He leads Alabama and is ranked third in the league in both free throws made (164) and attempted (213), despite missing three games this season. The Mableton, Ga., native has recorded 12 20-point games, 24 double-figure scoring games and two 30-point contests on the season for the Crimson Tide.
Hall leads Alabama in blocked shots, rebounds (6.9), dunks (65) and field goal percentage (.733), while ranking second on the team in points per game (10.9).
The AP and coaches’ All-SEC selections varied in several particulars, including SEC Player of the Year. Georgia’s Yante Maten was chosen by the 15-voter AP panel, while the coaches selected Tennessee forward Grant Williams.
Alabama opens SEC Tournament play on Thursday in a rematch with Texas A&M, a game that will be critical to any lingering Crimson Tide hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid.
“I feel like the confidence in the locker room has never been higher,” Sexton said. “We’re ready to play and get this win.”
Alabama opens SEC Tournament play on Thursday in a rematch with Texas A&M, a game that will be critical to any lingering Crimson Tide hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid.
“I feel like the confidence in the locker room has never been higher,” Sexton said. “We’re ready to play and get this win.”
AP 2018 All-SEC Team
FIRST TEAM (listed alphabetically)
Bryce Brown, Auburn, G, 6-3, Jr., Stone Mountain, Georgia
Daryl Macon, Arkansas, G, 6-3, Sr., Little Rock, Arkansas
u-Yante Maten, Georgia, F, 6-8, Sr., Pontiac, Michigan
Collin Sexton, Alabama, G, 6-3, Fr., Mableton, Georgia
u-Grant Williams, Tennessee, F, 6-7, Soph., Charlotte, North Carolina
___
SECOND TEAM
Jaylen Barford, Arkansas, G, 6-3, Sr., Jackson, Tennessee
Chris Chiozza, Florida, G, 6-0, Sr., Memphis, Tennessee
Jared Harper, Auburn, G, 5-10, Soph., Mableton, Georgia
Mustapha Heron, Auburn, G, 6-5, Soph., Waterbury, Connecticut
Kassius Robertson, Missouri, G, 6-3, Sr., Toronto, Ontario
___
Player of the year – Yante Maten, Georgia
Coach of the year – Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Newcomer of the year – Collin Sexton, Alabama
u-unanimous
Coaches’ 2018 All-SEC Team
-Grant Williams, Tennessee
-Chris Silva, South Carolina
-Tyler Davis, Texas A&M
-Yante Maten, Georgia
-Kevin Knox, Kentucky
-Kassius Robertson, Missouri
-Jaylen Barford, Arkansas
-Chris Chiozza, Florida
Coaches 2nd Team All-SEC
-Collin Sexton, Alabama
-Bryce Brown, Auburn
-Jared Harper, Auburn
-Jeff Robertson, Vanderbilt
-Quinndary Weatherspoon, Mississippi State
-Daryl Macon, Arkansas
-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky
-Admiral Schofield, Tennessee
Coaches All-Freshman Team
-Collin Sexton, Alabama
-Daniel Gafford, Arkansas
-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky
-Kevin Knox, Kentucky
-Tremont Waters, LSU
-Nick Weatherspoon, Mississippi State
-Jontay Porter, Missouri
-TJ Starks, Texas A&M
Coaches All-Defensive Team
-Donta Hall, Alabama
-Anfernee McLemore, Auburn
-Chris Chiozza, Florida
-Chris Silva, South Carolina
-Robert Williams, Texas A&M
– Coaches All-Freshman
-Collin Sexton, Alabama
-Daniel Gafford, Arkansas
-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky
-Kevin Knox, Kentucky
-Tremont Waters, LSU
-Nick Weatherspoon, Mississippi State
-Jontay Porter, Missouri
-TJ Starks, Texas A&M
Coaches All-Defensive Team
-Donta Hall, Alabama
-Anfernee McLemore, Auburn
-Chris Chiozza, Florida
-Chris Silva, South Carolina
-Robert Williams, Texas A&M
