SEWANEE, Tenn. – Junior
Fletcher Bigham was voted SAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Year, freshman
Nikolas Avaliani earned Rookie of the Year honors and junior
Reid Carrier garnered Honorable Mention accolades, in a vote of league coaches announced Tuesday by the conference office.
Bigham averages 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game with 14 double-doubles this season. The Charlotte, N.C., native leads the conference in 10 different categories, including blocks (67), total points (456), rebounds per game (11.0), 3-point percentage (.370) and total 3-pointers made (64). He is also second in double-doubles (14), points per game (19.0) and 3-point attempts (173) while ranking in the Top 20 nationally in blocks (8th), blocks per game (8th), double-doubles (10th), total rebounds (17th), defensive rebounds per game (2nd) and total rebounds per game (15th).
He has posted 11 games this season with 20-plus points, two contests with 30 or more points and a 40-point outing. Bigham earned Second Team All-SAA honors as a sophomore.
Avaliani contributes 18.2 points per game, ranking second on the team and third in the SAA. The Marietta, Ga., native has scored in double figures in 22-of-25 contests this season, recording eight games of 20-plus points and three 30-point outings. He is making 34.4 percent overall (45-for-131) from 3-point range while pulling down 4.4 rebounds per game. He ranks second in the conference in free throws made (91) and total points (454) while ranking third in field goal attempts (343), field goals made (159), points per game and free throw percentage (.813).
Carrier posts 13.1 points and a team-leading 5.0 assists per game with 15 double-figure scoring outings this season. The Highlands, N.C., native netted 30 points against Asbury University and 29 points, 27 in the second half, with six 3-pointers at Oglethorpe University. He posted his best all-around game of the season in perhaps the biggest contest of the year for the Tigers, netting 30 points (on just 14 shots), with four rebounds and four assists in Saturday's 91-89 win at Centre College. Carrier leads the SAA in total assists (115) and assists per game and ranks second in the league in free throw percentage (.830), third in 3-point attempts (155) and fourth in 3-pointers made (53).
Freshman
Jack Bakken was also named to the All-Sportsmanship Team by the league.
Athlete of the Year: Fletcher Bigham, Sewanee
Defensive Athlete of the Year: Zach Feen, Trinity University
Rookie of the Year: Nikolas Avaliani, Sewanee
Coaching Staff of the Year: Steven Goodson, Rhodes College
First Team All-SAA
Jackson Huxtable, Rhodes College
Fletcher Bigham, Sewanee
Will Bronson, Trinity University
Drake Ingram, Centre College
Phil Dotson, Rhodes College
Second Team All-Conference
Jackson Lawson, Trinity University
Shobby Enakpene, Southwestern University
Shawn Jones Jr., Rhodes College
Nikolas Avaliani, Sewanee
Nolan Wahl, Centre College
Honorable Mention
Berry College – Cameron Pope
Centre College – Kalib Thomas
Millsaps College – Jaxon Toney, Davion James, Caleb Kent
Oglethorpe University – Malachi Dooley, Jackson Kemp
Sewanee –
Reid Carrier
Southwestern University – Aedan Lewis
Trinity University – Zach Fenn, Dean Balo
All-Sportsmanship Team
Berry College – Ethan Morgan
Centre College – Clay Sizemore
Millsaps College – Colt Donley
Oglethorpe University – Andrew LaVigne
Rhodes College – Cass Ramberg
Sewanee –
Jack Bakken
Southwestern University – Sebastian Loder
Trinity University – Zach Austin
