March 8, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior forward Michael Carrera was named to the USBWA (U.S. Basketball Writers Association) All-District III Team on Tuesday, marking his first-career All-District honor. District III is comprised of schools in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland.

Carrera’s selection marks the first Gamecock to garner All-District accolades from the USBWA since 2010 (Devan Downey).

Carrera has had a stellar year thus far in 2015-16, averaging career highs in every major statistical category, including leading the Gamecocks with 14.5 points per game in overall games, while he finished the SEC campaign averaging 16.1 points per game, which was a team high and ranked eighth in the league. He has hit multiple career milestones this season, scoring his 1,000th career point, while also collecting his 700th rebound, becoming just one of seven Gamecocks all-time with 1,000 points and at least 700 boards. His eight double-doubles in SEC play tied for second-most in conference action this season, while his 10 double-doubles overall on the year rank fourth in the league and are the most by a Carolina player in a single season since 1993-94. Carrera has made history this season, posting the first 30-point, 15-rebound performance by a Carolina player since the Gamecocks joined the SEC with a career mark of 34 points and 15 boards in a home win versus Mississippi State. Later, he tallied 20 points and 15 rebounds in the home win versus Florida to become the first Gamecock to record multiple 20-point, 15-rebound efforts in a season since 1983-84. In league games, Carrera led the Gamecocks with a total of 273 points scored, while his 8.9 rebounds per game were also a team best and ranked third. In overall games this season, Carrera has led or shared the team lead in scoring nine times, rebounding 15 times and blocks 10 times.

South Carolina has clinched the No. 3 seed in this week’s SEC Tournament in Nashville and will begin tournament action versus the winner of the six and 11 seeds, Georgia and Mississippi State, on Friday night at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET. That matchup will air on the SEC Network.