March 11, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwell was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team, the league announced today.

The native of Lancaster, S.C., is averaging 13.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game this season while being the only Gamecock to start all 31 games. In SEC play, he leads all freshmen in scoring (15.6) and assists (4.0) in conference games this season.

Since an injury sidelined junior point guard Tyrone Johnson on Jan. 15, Thornwell assumed responsibilities at the point and has accounted for at least 36.8 percent of the team’s offense in the last 15 games, averaging 16 points and 4.2 assists per game. He has also averaged 5.0 rebounds per contest during that span.

Last Saturday, Thornwell passed Gamecock great BJ McKie for the most 20-point games in SEC play for a freshman in South Carolina history with his sixth as he posted 22 points in a 74-62 win at Mississippi State. The guard also tied his season high in rebounds in the game with 11, as he posted his second double-double of the year.

He is a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree and was named the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week for the week of Feb. 18 after leading the Gamecocks to a one-point win over Alabama in which he scored or assisted on 15 of the team’s final 17 points.

Thornwell and the Gamecocks will face Auburn Wednesday night in the first round of the SEC Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., ET at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., and air on SECTV.

SEC All-Freshman Team
Shannon Hale, Alabama – F, 6-8, 220, Fr., Johnson City, Tenn.
Bobby Portis, Arkansas – F, 6-10, 242, Fr., Little Rock, Ark.
Julius Randle, Kentucky – F, 6-9, 250, Fr., Dallas, Texas
James Young, Kentucky – G, 6-6, 215, Fr., Rochester Hills, Mich.
Jarell Martin, LSU – F, 6-9, 241, Fr. Baton Rouge, La.
Jordan Mickey, LSU – F, 6-8, 220, Fr., Dallas, Texas
Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina – G, 6-5, 205, Fr., Lancaster, S.C.
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt – C, 6-10, 235, Fr., Baton Rouge, La.