The Southern Conference released the 2013 league honors Tuesday with two Chattanooga Mocs garnering mention. Gee McGhee (Baton Rouge, La.) and Z. Mason (Nashville, Tenn.) earned All-Freshman and third team All-SoCon, respectively.
McGhee is the first Chattanooga freshman since Alphonso Pugh in 2003 to be honored on the squad and ninth overall joining Keith Parker (1977-78), Randy Harris (1979-80), Willie White (1980-81), Donald Jenkins (1988-89), Maceo Williams (1989-90), David Phillips (1996-97), Otis Donald (1997-98) and Pugh.
Gee averages 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for the Mocs. Those numbers elevate to 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in league contests. He made a strong push for Freshman of the Year honors posting 17.0 points and 5.2 boards per game in the month of February. Tim Williams (Samford) was Freshman of the Year while Spencer Collins (Wofford), Clide Geffrard, Jr. (Samford) and Matt Van Scyoc (The Citadel) round out the squad. The coaches and media each selected the same five to their respective teams.
McGhee has already set school freshman records for steals (43), three-pointers made (37), free throws made in a game (13) and season (119), free throws attempted in a game (19) and season (195), minutes (904) and tying seven other for steals in a game with four. He is 18 points shy of Parker’s record of 398 in 1978 and five free throws attempted from becoming just the sixth Mocs student-athlete to shoot 200 in a season regardless of year.
Mason was placed on the media’s third team. It is the first all-conference mention since his former teammates Keegan Bell (2010-12) and Omar Wattad (2011-12) made the second team in 2010-11.
Z. averages 14.7 points and 7.6 boards per contest which ranks seventh and fourth, respectively, in the conference. Those numbers were raised to 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in SoCon games. He set new career highs with 27 points against College of Charleston and 14 rebounds at Western Carolina during the season. He had a team-high eight 20-point nights including three 20 & 10 contests including his 26-point, 13-rebound effort versus Utah Valley pushing his squad to the Dr Pepper Classic title while garner MVP honors.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE ALL-LEAGUE HONORS - COACHES
All-Conference Team
Nathan Healy, Appalachian State
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Mike Groselle, The Citadel
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson
Jake Cohen, Davidson
Jack Isenbarger, Elon
Lucas Troutman, Elon
Trevis Simpson, UNCG
Raijon Kelly, Samford
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina
All-Freshman Team
Gee McGhee, Chattanooga
Matt Van Scyoc, The Citadel
Clide Geffrard Jr., Samford
Tim Williams, Samford
Spencer Collins, Wofford
Player of the Year
Jake Cohen, Sr., F, Davidson
Defensive Player of the Year
Nathan Healy, Sr., F, Appalachian State
Freshman of the Year
Tim Williams, F, Samford
Coach of the Year
Bob McKillop, Davidson
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE ALL-LEAGUE HONORS - MEDIA
All-Conference First Team
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson
Jake Cohen, Davidson
Lucas Troutman, Elon
Trevis Simpson, UNCG
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina
All-Conference Second Team
Nathan Healy, Appalachian State
Mike Groselle, The Citadel
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Raijon Kelly, Samford
Karl Cochran, Wofford
All-Conference Third Team
Z. Mason, Chattanooga
Nik Cochran, Davidson
Jack Isenbarger, Elon
Eric Ferguson, Georgia Southern
Tim Williams, Samford
All-Freshman Team
Gee McGhee, Chattanooga
Matt Van Scyoc, The Citadel
Clide Geffrard Jr., Samford
Tim Williams, Samford
Spencer Collins, Wofford
Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year
Jake Cohen, Sr., F, Davidson
Freshman of the Year
Tim Williams, F, Samford
Anton Foy Coach of the Year
Matt Matheny, Elon