It may not have seemed like it, but Jay Wright’s defensive efforts were phenomenal in his senior season.
Those efforts turned into an honor by the Sun Belt Conference for Defensive Player of the Year. Wright has been a beast offensively during this six-game win streak, but he has led the conference in steals averaging 1.9 per game.
However, he wasn’t the only one to receive some honors from the conference on Monday. Wright and Bryce Washington were named to the second team All-Sun Belt for their performances this season. Washington averaged a double-double every game this season, picking right where former teammate Shawn Long left off. He also led the conference in rebounds with 11.5 per game.
Frank Bartley rounded out the honors for the Cajuns, earning Newcomer of the Year, which is awarded to first-year, non-freshmen players. The former BYU player averaged 15.9 points per game and was third in steals with 1.7 per game. He was also named to the third team All-Sun Belt
The Cajuns will start off the Sun Belt Conference Tournament against Little Rock on Wednesday with tipoff set for 5 pm.
Below is the All-Sun Belt teams and individual awards with Cajuns players listed in bold.
First Team All-Sun Belt
Tookie Brown (Georgia Southern, Sophomore)
Ike Smith (Georgia Southern, Sophomore, G)
Kevin Hervey (UTA, Junior, F)
Kavin Gilder-Tilbury (Texas State, Senior, F)
Jordon Varnado (Troy, Sophomore, F)
Second Team All-Sun Belt
Devin Carter (Arkansas State, RS Senior)
Jeremy Hollowell (Georgia State, Senior, F)
Bryce Washington (Louisiana, Junior, F)
Jay Wright (Louisiana, Senior, G)
Erick Neal (UTA, Junior, G)
Third Team All-Sun Belt
Ronshad Shabazz (Appalachian State, Sophomore, G)
Jaylen Shaw (Coastal Carolina, Junior, G)
D’Marcus Simonds (Georgia State, Freshman, G)
Frank Bartley IV (Louisiana, Junior, G)
Wesley Person (Troy, Junior, G)
Player of the Year
Kevin Hervey (UTA, Junior, F,)
Defensive Player of the Year
Jay Wright (Louisiana, Senior, G, General Studies)
Freshman of the Year
D’Marcus Simonds (Georgia State, Freshman, G, Undecided)
Newcomer of the Year
Frank Bartley IV (Louisiana, Junior, G, Sociology)
-Clint Domingue