ATLANTA – Benedict College senior forward
Brandon Morris repeated as SIAC All-Conference, while
Jelani Watson-Gayle was named the 2018 SAIC Freshman of the Year, the league announced.
Morris, the 2017 SIAC Player and Newcomer of the Year, led the Tigers in scoring (17.4 points per game), rebounding (8.8 per game), field goal percentage (.523) and blocked shots (1.0 per game), and ranked among the conference leaders in all those categories. He scored a season-high 33 points against Miles and had a season-high 16 rebounds against Tuskegee.
Watson-Gayle, a freshman from London, England, was among the top 3-point shooters in the conference during his first season. He averaged 12.5 points per game and led the team in 3-pointers made (67) and was second in 3-point percentage (.462). He ranked third in the league in 3-point percentage and fourth in 3-pointers made.
Tyrius Walker (Morehouse) earned one of the league's highest honors by being named the 2018 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men's Basketball Player of the Year, announced Sunday by the league office.
All-conference honors are voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Tyrius Walker earned his place as the 2018 SIAC Men's Player of the Year after leading Morehouse to a 24-1 overall record (18-1 in conference play) and clinching the eastern division title. Walker, 6'1 senior guard, led his team and the conference as he averaged 23.7 points per game while being tied for No. 8 in Division II. During his freshman season, Walker played a big role for the Tigers while having his breakout game against LeMoyne-Owen College, with 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists while posting seven 20-point games that year. During his inaugural season, he was voted the 2014 SIAC Freshman of the Year. The Georgia native was named SIAC Player of the Week three times this season while extending the Maroon Tigers to the longest winning streak in Morehouse history.
Kendarius Ash, a 6'7 junior forward from Decatur, Ga. was named the 2018 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year for his second consecutive year. Ash led the Dragons to their 11-8 conference record after being tied with division opponent, Central State. The Georgia native finished with 18 double-doubles on the season where he is tied for No. 4 in Division II while leading the conference and Division II in rebounds averaging 12.7 rebounds per game.
Chris Scott, a 6'8 junior center, was named 2018 SIAC Newcomer of the Year as he led the Marauders (14-14, 11-8 SIAC) to the SIAC western division title. The Cleveland, Ohio native led his team in scoring as he posted an average 17.6 points per game, rebounds (8.0 per game), and blocked shots (20). Scott finished the season with 10 double-doubles while posting 24 assists, 20 blocks, and 15 steals.
Morehouse's Grady Brewer was selected as the 2018 Coach of the Year. Brewer completed his 18th year as head men's basketball coach for the Maroon Tigers. During his tenure at Morehouse, he has led Morehouse to four 20-win seasons, four SIAC regular season championships, an SIAC tournament championship and two NCAA tournament appearances. After finishing 18-10 last season, Brewer revamped his team and led them to a 24-1 record while finishing first in the eastern division, breaking school records, and being regionally and nationally ranked.
2018 SIAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Team
First Team
| Name |
Pos. |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
| Kendarius Ash |
F |
Lane |
Junior |
Decatur, Ga |
| Tyrius Walker |
G |
Morehouse |
Senior |
Atlanta, Ga |
| Chris Scott |
C |
Central State |
Junior |
Cleveland, OH |
| Brandon Morris |
F |
Benedict |
Senior |
Lithonia, Ga |
| Jaleel Charles |
C |
Claflin |
Senior |
Far Rockaway, NY |
Second Team
| Omar Alston |
F/G |
Morehouse |
Junior |
Waldorf, MD |
| Reshun Ellis |
G |
LeMoyne-Owen |
Senior |
Memphis, TN |
| James Eads |
G/F |
Tuskegee |
Junior |
Orlando, FL |
| Walter Foster |
F |
Fort Valley State |
Senior |
Atlanta, Ga |
| Akil Douglas |
F |
Clark Atlanta |
Senior |
San Jose, CA |
Honorable Mention Team
| Austin Lawton |
C |
Claflin |
R-Junior |
Eutawville, SC |
| Jeffrey Dockett |
G |
Miles |
Senior |
Memphis, TN |
| Brandon Fischer |
F/C |
Spring Hill |
Junior |
Buford, Ga |
| Sheldon Wright |
G |
Miles |
Senior |
Los Angeles, CA |
| Davone Daniels |
SG |
Central State |
Freshman |
Indianapolis, IN |
Player of the Year: Tyrius Walker, Morehouse
Defensive Player of the Year: Kendarius Ash, Lane
Newcomer of the Year: Chris Scott, Central State
Freshman of the Year:
Jelani Watson-Gayle, Benedict
Coach of the Year: Grady Brewer, Morehouse
