KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee senior forward/center Wayne Chism is among eight basketball players named first-team All-Southeastern Conference, the league office announced Tuesday. The winningest player in UT basketball history, Chism this season became Tennessee’s all-time leader in games played while leading the Big Orange to a fourth straight 20-win campaign.
“I was picked on the second team during the preseason, and that really inspired me to work hard and prove I could be a first-team player,” Chism said. “I knew if I continued to work hard and do the right things I could get there. I want to thank my teammates and coaches for helping to push me and encourage me along the way. But we still have a lot of work to do.
“My teammates… the way they’ve played this year—and how we’ve come together—they made this possible. It’s a big honor.”
The Jackson, Tenn., native has cemented his name prominently in the Tennessee records book over the past four years while leading the Big Orange to four straight 20-win seasons and likely a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament this year. Chism ranks first at UT in games played (135), second in career blocks (147), sixth in career rebounds (869) eighth in games started (112) and 15th in scoring (1,512).
With a skill-set not limited to interior play, Chism also has made more 3-pointers (123) than any other post player in program history.
The only four-year scholarship senior on Tennessee’s roster this season, Chism leads the Vols in blocks (1.5 bpg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) while ranking second in scoring (12.4 ppg), steals (1.2 spg) and minutes played (25.6 mpg). He averaged close to a double-double in SEC play with 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Chism scored a career-high 30 points in UT’s home win over South Carolina on Feb. 6. Eight times this season he led the Vols in scoring, and he was the team’s top rebounder in 14 contests.
“This is a great honor for Wayne, especially this year when there were so many great, great players in the league,” UT head coach Bruce Pearl said. “Wayne has been an example of a guy who’s gotten better every year, and I know his teammates and coaches are very proud of him.”
This year’s first-team All-SEC honor caps a career that has also seen him claim SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2007 and second-team All-SEC laurels last season.
During Pearl’s tenure on Rocky Top (2005-06 to present), the Vols have now had three players earn first-team All-SEC acclaim a total of six times (Chris Lofton in 2006, 2007 and 2008; Tyler Smith in 2008 and 2009).
For a complete list of the SEC’s postseason awards winners, visit SECsports.com
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)