March 6, 2006
LAS VEGAS - UNLV men's basketball senior Louis Amundson has been selected to the 2005-06 All-Mountain West Conference Second Team as the annual postseason awards, which were selected by the league's nine men's head coaches along with a selected media panel, were announced by the conference on Monday.
Amundson, a 6-9 forward, earned honorable mention last year. The only other Runnin' Rebel included in this year's group was Jo'Van Adams who earned honorable mention for the all-conference teams.
Amundson leads UNLV in scoring with 14.7 ppg, rebounding with 8.7 rpg and blocked shots with 1.3 per game. He ranked third in the MWC in rebounding for conference-only games with 8.1 rpg, was third in blocked shots with 1.8 per game and was sixth in scoring with 15.6 ppg.
Adams, a 6-0 freshman guard, leads UNLV in steals with 2.1 per game, is second in scoring with 10.8 ppg and second in assists with 2.4 per game. Adams led the MWC in steals for conference-only games with 2.62 per contest and was 13th in scoring with 12.6 ppg.
First team selections for 2005-06 were San Diego State's Brandon Heath and Marcus Slaughter, Air Force's Antoine Hood, New Mexico's Mark Walters and Colorado State's Jason Smith.
Joining Amundson on the second team were BYU's Trent Plaisted, Air Force's Jacob Burtschi, San Diego State's Mohamed Abukar and New Mexico's David Chiotti. Third team selections were TCU's Nile Murry, Wyoming's Justin Williams and Brandon Ewing, Utah's Bryant Markson and BYU's Keena Young.
Along with Adams, honorable mention honorees were Air Force's Dan Nwaelele, BYU's Brock Reichner and Rashaun Broadus, Colorado State's Michael Harrison and Utah's Luke Nevill and Johnnie Bryant.
BYU head coach Dave Rose captured Coach of the Year honors, while Heath won the league's Player of the Year award. Freshman of the Year went to Plaisted, while Williams earned the league's Defensive Player of the Year award.
2005-06 All-Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Team(selected by head coaches & selected media panel)
First Team All-Mountain WestBrandon Heath, Jr., G, San Diego St., 6-4, 198, Los Angeles, Calif. (Westchester HS)Marcus Slaughter, Jr., F, San Diego St., 6-9, 220, Riverside, Calif. (J.W. North HS)Antoine Hood, Sr., G, Air Force, 6-4, 205, Sugar Land, Texas (Clements HS)Mark Walters, Sr., G, New Mexico, 6-2, 225, Albuquerque, N.M. (Highland HS)Jason Smith, So., F, Colorado State, 7-0, 230, Kersey, Colo. (Platte Valley HS)
Second Team All-Mountain WestLouis Amundson, Sr., F, UNLV, 6-9, 225, Boulder, Colo. (Monarch HS)Trent Plaisted, Fr., F, BYU, 6-11, 240, San Antonio, Texas (Clark HS)Jacob Burtschi, Jr., F, Air Force, 6-6, 225, Chickasha, Okla. (Putnam City HS)Mohamed Abukar, Jr., F, San Diego St., 6-10, 216, San Diego, Calif. (Univ. of Florida)David Chiotti, Sr., F, New Mexico, 6-9, 240, San Jose, Calif. (St. Francis HS)
Third Team All-Mountain WestNile Murry, Sr., G, TCU, 6-4, 202, Houston, Texas (Temple)Justin Williams, Sr., F/C, Wyoming, 6-10, 225, Chicago, Ill. (Colby CC)Brandon Ewing, Fr., G, Wyoming, 6-2, 190, Chicago, Ill. (Julian HS)Bryant Markson, Sr., F, Utah, 6-7, 198, Monrovia, Calif. (Monrovia HS)Keena Young, Jr., F, BYU, 6-6, 205, Beaumont, Texas (South Plains College)
Honorable MentionAir Force: Dan Nwaelele (Jr., G)BYU: Brock Reichner (Sr., G), Rashaun Broadus (Jr., G)Colorado State: Michael Harrison (Jr., F)UNLV: Jo'Van Adams (Fr., G)Utah: Luke Nevill (Fr., C), Johnnie Bryant (So., G)
Player of the Year - Brandon Heath, San Diego StateFreshman of the Year - Trent Plaisted, BYUDefensive Player of the Year - Justin Williams, WyomingCoach of the Year - Dave Rose, BYU
