BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama guard Collin Sexton was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year on Wednesday as announced by the league office. Sexton becomes the second player in program history to earn the honor, joining former standout Mo Williams who earned the honor in 2002. Meanwhile, junior forward Donta Hall also earned conference recognition as he was named to the league's All-Defensive team.
Sexton, who was joined by Kevin Knox from Kentucky as Co-Freshmen of the Year, also was named as a Second Team All-SEC performer, while being selected to the All-Freshman team.
Sexton became the second Alabama rookie to earn all-freshman honors in as many years, joining 2017 All-Freshman team honoree Braxton Key. Sexton leads the Tide and ranks second in the SEC with 18.3 points per game, while also topping the team in assists per game (3.6), field goals made (157) and field goals attempted (364). He leads Alabama and is ranked third in the league in both free throws made (164) and attempted (213), despite missing three games this season. The Mableton, Ga., native has recorded 12 20-point games, 24 double-figure scoring games and two 30-point contests on the season for the Crimson Tide.
On Nov. 25 against then-No. 14 Minnesota, Sexton set an Alabama freshman record when he scored 40 points, including 31 in the second half. He became the first Crimson Tide player to score 40 points in a game since Reggie King had 43 on March, 12, 1979 against Virginia. He also became the first Alabama freshman in the modern era to record three straight games of more than 20 points in each of his first three contests.
In the classroom, Sexton, a business major, maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the fall semester. As a result, he earned a spot on the President's List.
Hall has been a force down low for the Crimson Tide throughout the season. In 30 contests, Hall leads the team and is third in the SEC with 2.3 blocks per game, which currently ranks fourth for a single season in school history. He also averages 4.6 defensive rebounds per game, which is 10th-best in the league. In addition, his 68 total blocks on the year ranks 10th in the Alabama record books. For the year, Hall leads Alabama in blocked shots, rebounds (6.9), dunks (65) and field goal percentage (.733), while ranking second on the team in points per game (10.9).
SEC Men’s Basketball postseason awards
First Team All-SEC
Jaylen Barford, Arkansas
Chris Chiozza, Florida
Yante Maten, Georgia
Kevin Knox, Kentucky
Kassius Robertson, Missouri
Chris Silva, South Carolina
Grant Williams, Tennessee
Tyler Davis, Texas A&M
Second Team All-SEC
Collin Sexton, Alabama
Daryl Macon, Arkansas
Bryce Brown, Auburn
Jared Harper, Auburn
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky
Quinndary Weatherspoon, Miss. State
Admiral Schofield, Tennessee
Jeff Roberson, Vanderbilt
All-Freshman Team
Collin Sexton, Alabama
Daniel Gafford, Arkansas
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky
Kevin Knox, Kentucky
Tremont Waters, LSU
Nick Weatherspoon, Miss. State
Jontay Porter, Missouri
TJ Starks, Texas A&M
All-Defensive Team
Donta Hall, Alabama
Anfernee McLemore, Auburn
Chris Chiozza, Florida
Chris Silva, South Carolina
Robert Williams, Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Player of the Year: Grant Williams, Tennessee
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Juwan Parker, Georgia
Co-Freshman of the Year: Collin Sexton, Alabama & Kevin Knox, Kentucky
Co-Sixth-Man of the Year: Jontay Porter, Missouri & Lamonté Turner, Tennessee
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Silva, South Carolina & Robert Williams, Texas A&M
This information was provided by a release from the University of Alabama
