March 4, 2002
LAS VEGAS - Three UNLV men's basketball players have received a total of four Mountain West Conference men's basketball awards, which were selected by the league's eight men's head coaches and announced by the conference Monday.
Junior forward Dalron Johnson was selected to the All-MWC first team, junior guard Marcus Banks was named to the second team and senior guard Lou Kelly was selected as honorable mention. Banks was also selected as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.
Johnson was selected first-team All-MWC for the first time in his career after being named to the All-Newcomer team and earning Freshman of the Year in 1999-00. He leads the league in blocked shots (1.6 bpg), is third in scoring (16.9), tied for third in steals (1.7), fourth in free throw percentage (.848) and sixth in rebounding (6.9).
Johnson recorded a league-high seven games with three or more blocks as well ranking second in the conference with five games of four or more steals. Johnson was named the conference Player of the Week on Dec. 17 and Feb. 18.
Banks transferred to UNLV from Dixie College in St. George, Utah prior to the 2000-01 season and made an immediate impact this year. In conference games, he led the league with 30 steals and a 2.14 steals per game average. Banks recorded a league-high seven games with four or more steals this season, including a career-high six against Texas on Dec. 22.
In addition to leading the conference in steals (2.2), Banks is seventh in scoring (15.6) and ninth in assists (2.9). Banks was named the conference Player of the Week on Dec. 31 and Feb. 25.
Kelly ranks in the top 10 in the MWC in free throw percentage (.805), 3-pointers made (1.7), blocked shots (0.9) and scoring (14.2).
Wyoming head coach Steve McClain captured Coach of the Year honors, while Britton Johnsen of Utah was selected as the Player of the Year. Freshman of the Year honors went to Jason Straight of Wyoming and Jared Jensen of BYU.
Utah's Britton Johnsen and San Diego State's Randy Holcomb were consensus first-team selections, while Marcus Bailey of Wyoming was the only repeat first-team honoree from last season. New Mexico's Ruben Douglas was also named to the first team.
All-Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Team (selected by head coaches)
First-Team All-Mountain WestMarcus Bailey, Wyoming, 6-5, 190, Jr., G/F, Cheyenne, Wyo. (East HS)Ruben Douglas, New Mexico, 6-5, 200, Jr., G, Altadena, Calif. (Univ. of Arizona)Randy Holcomb, San Diego State, 6-9, 222, Sr., F, Chicago, Ill. (LA City College)Britton Johnsen, Utah, 6-9, 213, Jr., F, Murray, Utah (Murray HS)Dalron Johnson, UNLV, 6-9, 205, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Verbum Dei HS)
Second-Team All-Mountain WestMarcus Banks, UNLV, 6-1, 195, Jr., Las Vegas, Nev. (Dixie College)Al Faux, San Diego State, 6-2, 178, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Crenshaw HS)Brian Greene, Colorado State, 6-8, 225, Jr., Thorton, Colo. (Horizon HS)Travis Hansen, BYU, 6-6, 210, Jr., Orem, Utah (Utah Valley State College)Uche Nsonwu-Amadi, Wyoming, 6-10, 260, Jr., F/C, Enugu, Nigeria (Indian Hills CC)
Third-Team All-Mountain WestEric Chatfield, New Mexico, 6-3, 215, Sr., Queens, N.Y. (Angelina College)Josh Davis, Wyoming, 6-8, 235, Sr., F/C, Salem, Ore. (Salem Academy HS)Nick Jacobson, Utah, 6-4, 194, So., Fargo, N.D. (Roseville HS, Minn.)Jeff Johnsen, Utah, 6-4, 204, Sr., Murray, Utah (Murray HS)Donta Richardson, Wyoming, 6-2, 170, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sheridan CC)
Honorable Mention: Air Force - Lamoni Yazzie (Sr., G), Tom Bellairs (Jr., F),Joel Gerlach (So., F), BYU - Mark Bigelow (So., F), Matt Montague (Sr., G), Eric Nielsen(Sr., F), Colorado State - Andy Birley (Jr., G), New Mexico - Patrick Dennehy (So., F),San Diego State - Tony Bland (Jr., G), UNLV - Lou Kelly (Sr., G), Utah - Travis Spivey(Sr., G).
Player of the Year - Britton Johnsen, UtahFreshmen of the Year - Jason Straight, Wyoming/Jared Jensen, BYUDefensive Player of the Year - Marcus Banks, UNLVCoach of the Year - Steve McClain, Wyoming
