Courtesy of the SWAC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2023-24 All-SWAC Men’s Basketball teams and individual award winners on Tuesday evening. The all-conference honors were voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors.
Jackson State’s Ken Evans was named Player of the Year while his fellow teammate Jordan O’Neal claimed Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Rashad Williams was tabbed Newcomer of the Year, Alabama A&M’s Chad Moodie was selected Freshman of the Year, and Grambling State’s Donte’ Jackson was voted SWAC Coach of the Year.
Evans was one of the top scorers in the SWAC this season, averaging 18.9 points per game (1st in SWAC). He recorded his 1,000th career point earlier this season. Evans had a spectacular non-conference road outing as he recorded a double-double on the road at then No. 15 Gonzaga, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Evans concluded regular season play ranked sixth in the league in field goal percentage at 41 percent.
O’Neal was the key defensive presence for a Jackson State Tigers Men’s Basketball team that held opponents to 75.6 points per game (6th in SWAC). He led the conference in blocks per game with 1.5 blocks per outing. O’Neal also was a key contributor for JSU offensively averaging 12 .7 points per game.
Williams has stepped in to be one of the top scorers for the Golden Lions this season averaging 17.7 points per game ranking him third in the conference. He also ranks seventh in field goal percentage at 40 percent. Williams concluded the regular season ranked sixth in free throw shooting percentage at 82 percent.
Moodie has played in all 31 games for the Bulldogs this season. He is tied for fifth on the team in scoring, averaging 6.8 points per game and shooting 50 percent from the floor. In addition, he is averaging 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game (2nd in SWAC).
Jackson has led Grambling State to consecutive SWAC Regular Season Championship Titles. The Tigers enter the tournament as the #1 seed after concluding regular season play with a 14-4 record in conference play.
The complete listing of all-conference selections and individual awards winners can be found below.
Coach of the Year
Donte’ Jackson, Grambling State
Player of the Year
Ken Evans, Jackson State
Defensive Player of the Year
Jordan O’Neal, Jackson State
Newcomer of the Year
Rashad Williams, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Freshman of the Year
Chad Moodie, Alabama A&M
All-SWAC First Team
Ken Evans, Jackson State
Jeremiah Kendall, Alcorn State
PJ Henry, Texas Southern
Zion Harmon, Bethune-Cookman
Kintavious Dozier, Grambling State
All-SWAC Second Team
Jakobi Heady, Bethune-Cookman
TJ Madlock, Alabama State
Kylen Milton, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Tidjiane Dioumassi, Southern
Rashad Williams, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
SWAC WOMEN
The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2023-24 All-SWAC Women’s Basketball teams and individual award winners on Tuesday evening. The all-conference honors were voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors.
Florida A&M’s Ahriahna Grizzle, was named Player of the Year while Jackson State’s Angel Jackson claimed Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
Prairie View A&M’s Ryann Payne was tabbed Newcomer of the Year, Alabama A&M’s Kaylah Turner was selected Freshman of the Year, and Jackson State’s Tomekia Reed was voted SWAC Coach of the Year.
Grizzle was one of the top scorers in SWAC basketball this season, averaging 18.5 points per game (1st in SWAC). She had a career-high 31 points versus North Florida and tied her career-high versus Alabama A&M and Texas Southern. Grizzle was also one of the most efficient scorers in the SWAC with a 43 percent field goal percentage (3rd best in SWAC).
Jackson was the key defensive presence for a Jackson State Tigers Women’s Basketball team that held opponents to the fewest points per game in conference play (57.3 ppg). She led the conference in blocks per game with 2.7 blocks per outing.
Payne has stepped in to be one of the top scorers for the Panthers this season averaging 16.6 points per game ranking her third in the conference. She also ranks fourth in field goal percentage at 42 percent. Payne concluded the regular season ranked first in free throw shooting percentage at 85 percent.
Turner has played in all 30 games for the Bulldogs this season. She is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.3 points per game and shooting 34 percent from the floor. In addition, she is averaging 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Reed has led Jackson State to five consecutive SWAC Regular Season Championship Titles. The Tigers enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed after concluding regular season play with an undefeated 18-0 conference record.
The complete listing of all-conference selections and individual awards winners can be found below.
Coach of the Year
Tomekia Reed, Jackson State
Player of the Year
Ahriahna Grizzle, Florida A&M
Defensive Player of the Year
Angel Jackson, Jackson State
Newcomer of the Year
Ryann Payne, Prairie View A&M
Freshman of the Year
Kaylah Turner, Alabama A&M
All-SWAC First Team
Ahriahna Grizzle, Florida A&M
Miya Crump, Jackson State
Ti’lan Boler, Jackson State
Ryann Payne, Prairie View A&M
Zaay Green, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
All-SWAC Second Team
Coriah Beck, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Amiah Simmons, Alabama A&M
Destiny Brown, Alcorn State
Angel Jackson, Jackson State
Maya Peat, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
One thought on “SWAC Basketball 2023-2024 postseason awards”