March 17, 2008

Columbia, SC – Breaking the SEC single season record for steals with 103, South Carolina sophomore Devan Downey was named to the SEC Associated Press First Team, making it two straight years a Gamecock point guard has been named to both the AP and Coaches All-SEC first team’s as Tre’ Kelley got the double nod in 2007. Downey and UT’s Tyler Smith were the only two sophomores on the first or second team.

Downey broke the SEC single season steals record with 103. In addition to being second in the country in spg, Downey broke the school records for steals in season and steals per game. He finished the year with 3.2 spg and led the team with 18.4 ppg, 37.4 mpg and 5.4 apg. His 172 assists were third-best in school history, just 10 off the school record.

The 2008 Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference men’s basketball team released Monday:

SEC AP FIRST TEAM
Shan Foster, Vanderbilt, F, 6-6, Sr.
Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State, G-F, 6-4, Jr.
Richard Hendrix, Alabama, F, 6-8, Jr.
Chris Lofton, Tennessee, G, 6-2, Sr.
Tyler Smith, Tennessee, F, 6-7, So.
Devan Downey, South Carolina, G, 5-9, So.

SEC AP SECOND TEAM
Charles Rhodes, Mississippi State, F, 6-8, Sr.
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky, F, 6-9, Fr.
Ramel Bradley, Kentucky, G, 6-2, Sr.
Marcus Thornton, LSU, G, 6-4, Jr.
Nick Calathes, Florida, G-F, 6-6, Fr.
Sonny Weems, Arkansas, F, 6-6, Sr.
Dwayne Curtis, Mississippi, C, 6-8, Sr.

SEC AP HONORABLE MENTION
Joe Crawford, Kentucky, G, 6-5, Sr.;
Sundiata Gaines, Georgia, G, 6-1, Sr.;
A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt, C, 6-10, Fr.;
Anthony Randolph, LSU, F, 6-10, Fr.;
JaJuan Smith, Tennessee, G, 6-2, Sr.;
Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State, C, 6-9, So.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Shan Foster, Vanderbilt
COACH OF THE YEAR – Bruce Pearl, Tennessee
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Nick Calathes, Florida