South Atlantic Men’s Basketball All-Region Teams Named; Mars Hill’s Baxley Is Region Player of Year
CLINTON, SC - The 2005-06 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men's Basketball South Atlantic All-Region teams were announced today with Mars Hill College's senior Walt Baxley being named the 2005-06 Daktronics South Atlantic Region Player of the Year. Six members of the 10-member all-region teams are participating in this weekend's NCAA South Atlantic Regional; a sign of how deep the talent pool is in the region. Each of the three conferences in the region is well represented on the all-region teams. The Peach Belt Conference (PBC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) had four selections each, and the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) had two selections.
Three members of the first team will play this weekend. Senior Duan Crockett, the 2006 CIAA Tournament MVP, of top seed and defending national champions, Virginia Union University, joins Baxley of Mars Hill College on the first team. Senior Ransom Antoine of Columbus State University and Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year selection and senior Jeremy Mayweather of Georgia College & State University will also play this weekend in the NCAA Tournament. Rounding out the first team was junior Todd McLaurin of Clayton State University.
South Atlantic Conference Tournament MVP, Sean Barnette, of Wingate University headlines the second team. Barnette will lead the Bulldogs against top seed Virginia Union this weekend. Saint Augustine's College placed two players on the second team in Antonio Fitzgerald and Nicholas King. Ron Robinson of Columbus State University and Darius Hargrove of Virginia Union who will join teammates Antoine and Crockett this weekend at the South Atlantic Regional, were also were named to the second team.
Baxley, a 6-3 senior guard from Winston-Salem, N.C., led the South Atlantic Conference and ranks second in NCAA Division II in scoring (28.1 ppg) this season en route to Daktronics South Atlantic Region and SAC Player of the Year honors. A first team All-South Atlantic Region and All-SAC selection, Baxley averaged 28.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.7 spg, while shooting 42.9% from the field, 37.0% from three-point range, and 83.7% from the charity stripe. He leads the SAC in made three-pointers per game, ranks fourth in the league in free throw percentage, eighth in steals, 13th in three-point field goal percentage, and defensive rebounds, and 19th in rebounding. He set the SAC record for most points scored in a game (42), an accomplishment he reached twice this season. In three seasons, Baxley has scored 1,655 career points in three seasons, which ranks seventh in school history and fifth in league history. He holds the school record for high single-season scoring average, most three-pointers made in a season (78), and tied the record for most three-pointers in a game (6).
Crockett, a 6-6 senior guard from Richmond, Va., led the Virginia Union University Panthers to a 25-3 overall record as well as the 2006 CIAA regular season and 2006 CIAA Conference Tournament titles. Crockett, a two-time All-CIAA selection and NCAA Division II All-Elite Eight selection in 2004-05, averaged 17.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, and 1.4 spg, while shooting 52.6% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range, and 78.1% from the free throw line. He leads the Panthers in scoring, steals, and is tied for first in blocks, while also ranking second on the squad in rebounding and assists. He enters the NCAA South Atlantic Regional with 1,802 career points and was a member of the 2004-05 NCAA Division II National Champion Panthers.
Mayweather, a 6-6 senior forward from Statham, Ga., led the Georgia College & State University Bobcats to a 20-8 overall record, a share of the 2006 PBC regular season title (16-4), and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. He was named the 2006 PBC Player of the Year after averaging 14.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.4 bpg, and 0.9 apg, while shooting 58.2% from the field, 37.3% from three-point range, and 48.9% from the charity stripe. He leads the Bobcats and ranked eighth in the Peach Belt in scoring and rebounding, while ranking second in the league in field goal percentage and third in blocks. Mayweather earned PBC Player of the Week honors twice this season and has posted nine double-doubles entering this weekend's South Atlantic Regional.
Antoine, a 6-4 senior forward from LaFayette, La., led the Columbus State University Cougars to a 22-8 overall record, a share of the Peach Belt Conference regular season title (16-4), and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. A 2006 All-PBC selection, Antoine averaged 16.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 spg, while shooting 45.4% from the field, 27.6% from three-point range, and 71.1% from the free throw line. He led the Cougars and finished third in the Peach Belt in scoring and ranked second on the team in rebounding this season. Antoine has scored in double figures in 27 of 30 games, ranked third on his team in assists, and led the Cougars in steals.
McLaurin, a 5-11 junior guard from Clinton, N.C., led the Clayton State University Lakers to a 21-7 overall record and a fourth place finish in the Peach Belt Conference regular season. He was named 2006 All-Peach Belt after averaging 17.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.9 apg, and 1.6 spg, while shooting 45.9% from the field, 35.7% from three-point range, and 76.4% from the free throw line. He ranked second in the league in scoring, 8th in steals, 9th in free throw percentage, and 11th in assists per game. McLaurin led the team in scoring 16 times this season and posted 23 double-digit scoring games.
All five members of the first team will go on to the Daktronics All-America ballot that will be announced later this month. The following is the 2005-06 Daktronics South Atlantic All-Region first and second teams:
2005-06 DAKTRONICS ALL-SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION TEAMS
First Team
*Walt Baxley, Mars Hill College
Ransom Antoine, Columbus State University
Duan Crockett, Virginia Union University
Jeremy Mayweather, Georgia College & State University
Todd McLaurin, Clayton State University Second Team
Sean Barnette, Wingate University
Antonio Fitzgerald, Saint Augustine's College
Nicholas King, Saint Augustine's College
Ron Robinson, Columbus State University
Darius Hargrove, Virginia Union University
* 2005-06 Daktronics South Atlantic Region Player of the Year