Just before the SEC Tournament tips off, the conference unveiled its postseason awards on Tuesday.
And to no surprise, LSU’s Ben Simmons was tabbed as the SEC Freshman of the Year. The Australian phenom averaged 19.6 points a game and 11.9 boards a game this season with Tigers.
But his talents may have been wasted by LSU as the Tigers seem to be on the fast track to the NIT if they don’t win the SEC Tournament.
Simmons is joined by fellow Tiger Antonio Blakeney on the All-Freshman team. However, he is the sole Tiger on the All-SEC squad.
The list of the 2016 SEC Men’s Basketball postseason awards follows:
First Team All-SEC
Retin Obasohan, Alabama – G, 6-2, 210, Sr., Antwerp, Belgium
Jamal Murray, Kentucky – G, 6-4, 207, Fr., Kitchener, Ontario
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky – G, 5-9, 160, So., Chicago, Ill.
Ben Simmons, LSU – F, 6-10, 240, Fr., Melbourne, Australia
Stefan Moody, Ole Miss – G, 5-10, 179, Sr., Kissimmee, Fla.
Michael Carrera, South Carolina – F, 6-5, 214, Sr., Anzoátegui, Venezuela
Jalen Jones, Texas A&M – G/F, 6-7, 220, Sr., Dallas, Texas
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt – C, 7-0, 245, Jr., Baton Rouge, La.
Second Team All-SEC
Moses Kingsley, Arkansas – F, 6-10, 230, Jr., Abuja, Nigeria
Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida – F, 6-8, 220, Sr., Portsmouth, Va.
J.J. Frazier, Georgia – 5-10, 155, G, Jr., Glennville, Ga.
Yante Maten, Georgia – 6-8, 240, F, So., Pontiac, Mich.
Kevin Punter Jr., Tennessee – G, 6-2, 190, Sr., Bronx, N.Y.
Alex Caruso, Texas A&M – G, 6-5, 186, Sr., College Station, Texas
Danuel House, Texas A&M – G, 6-7, 212, Sr., Fresno, Texas
Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt – G, 6-3, 194, So., Belle Mead, N.J.
SEC All-Freshman Team
KeVaughn Allen, Florida – G, 6-2, 183, Fr., Little Rock, Ark.
Jamal Murray, Kentucky – G, 6-4, 207, Fr., Kitchener, Ontario
Antonio Blakeney, LSU – G, 6-4, 190, Fr., Sarasota, Fla.
Ben Simmons, LSU – F, 6-10, 240, Fr., Melbourne, Australia
Quinndary Weatherspoon, Mississippi State – G, 6-4, 202, Fr., Canton, Miss.
Kevin Puryear, Missouri – F, 6-7, 236, Fr., Blue Springs, Mo.
Tyler Davis, Texas A&M – C, 6-10, 265, Fr., Plano, Texas
DJ Hogg, Texas A&M – F, 6-8, 216, Fr., Plano, Texas
SEC All-Defensive Team
Retin Obasohan, Alabama – G, 6-2, 210, Sr., Antwerp, Belgium
Moses Kingsley, Arkansas – F, 6-10, 230, Jr., Abuja, Nigeria
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky – G, 5-9, 160, So., Chicago, Ill.
Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina – G, 6-5, 215, Jr., Lancaster, S.C.
Alex Caruso, Texas A&M – G, 6-5, 186, Sr., College Station, Texas
Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt – F, 7-1, 240, Jr., Lantana, Texas
SEC Coach of the Year: Billy Kennedy, Texas A&M
SEC Player of the Year: Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Retin Obasohan, Alabama
SEC Freshman of the Year: Ben Simmons, LSU
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year: Duane Notice, South Carolina
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Tyler Ulis, Kentucky