| Fleming gets top honors
Preseason All-SWAC Men's Hoops Team releasedOctober 21, 2000 JACKSON, Miss. -- Five players. Four schools. Talent galore. That pretty much sums up the contingent of student-athletes named to the 2000-01 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) preseason all-conference basketball team. The team, voted on by the league's 10 head coaches, was released here during the annual SWAC Basketball Media Day. Marcus Fleming, a 6-8, 215-pound senior at Alcorn State University, is the coaches' choice for league player of the year. The Fayette, Miss. native also made the preseason All-SWAC team at the forward position. In 1999-2000, Fleming led the Braves to the SWAC regular-season championship with averages of 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.28 steals. He also blistered the nets, connecting on 53.9 percent of his shots. Consequently, Fleming made first team All-SWAC, he was voted to the SWAC all-tournament team and he won SWAC player of the week honors a total of three times. Joining Fleming on the preseason All-SWAC team at the forward slot is Tyrone Levett of Alabama State University. A 6-5, 220-pound senior from Nostasulga, Ala., Levett ranked eighth in the conference in scoring with a 14.9 average. The second team All-SWAC selectee also averaged 1.32 assists and 1.07 steals while connecting on 74.9 percent of his free throw shots. The preseason All-SWAC center is Henry Jordan of Mississippi Valley State University. A 6-10, 225-pound senior from Lexington, Miss., a year ago Jordan ranked number one in the SWAC in blocked shots with 2.43 per game. He also averaged 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. The preseason All-SWAC guards were among the SWAC's top four scorers last season. Gregory Burks, a 5-8, 143-pound junior from Flint, Mich., led Prairie View A&M University and the SWAC in scoring with 18.4 points a game. He also ranked second in the SWAC in assists (4.2 pg), third in free throw percentage (80.0%) and eighth in three-point shooting percentage (33.0%). The final member of the preseason All-SWAC team is guard Dwayne Jefferson of Mississippi Valley State University. A 6-3, 182-pound senior from West Point, Miss., Jefferson ranked fourth in the SWAC in scoring with 17.9 points a game. He also posted averages of 5.6 rebounds, 1.79 assists and 1.96 steals. THE 2000 PRESEASONALL-SWAC BASKETBALL TEAMForward: Marcus Fleming, Alcorn State (6-8, 215, Sr., Fayette, MS) - Averages (rankings) - Points: 16.6 ppg (1st on team, 7th in SWAC), Rebounds: 7.9 (1st on team, 2nd in SWAC), Steals: 1.28 (3rd on team), Field Goal Percentage: 53.9 pct. (1st on team, 3rd in SWAC). Season Highs - Points: 28 vs. Grambling State, Rebounds: 16 vs. Grambling State, Steals: 5 vs. Southern, Assists: 4 vs. Southern, Blocked shots: 3 vs. Alabama State.Forward: Tyrone Levett, Alabama State (6-5, 220, Sr., Nostasulga, AL) - Averages (rankings) - Scoring: 14.9 ppg (1st. on team, 8th in SWAC); Assists: 1.32 pg (4th on team); Steals: 1.07 pg (3rd on team ); Free Throw Pct.: .749 (2nd on team). Season Highs - Points: 27 vs. Alabama A&M.Center: Henry Jordan, Miss. Valley State (6-10, 225, Sr., Lexing-ton, MS) - Averages (rankings) - Points: 9.9 pg (2ng on team); Rebounds: 5.5 pg (2 on team); Blocked Shots: 2.43 pg (1st on team, 2nd in SWAC). Season Highs - Points: 24 vs. Jackson State; Rebounds: 10 vs. Grambling State.Guard: Gregory Burks, Prairie View A&M (5-8, 143, Jr., Flint, MI) - Averages (rankings) - Points: 18.4 pg (1st on team, 1st in SWAC); Assists: 4.2 pg (1st on team, 2nd in SWAC); Steals 1.5 pg (2nd on team); Free Throw Pct.: 80% (1st on team, 3rd in SWAC); 3-Point FG Pct.: 33% (1st on team, 8th in the SWAC). Season Highs - Points: 32 vs pts vs Wichita State; Assists: 8 vs Southwestern Assemblies; Steals: 6 vs Texas SouthernGuard: Dewayne Jefferson, Miss. Valley State (6-3, 182, Sr., West Point, MS) - Averages (rankings) - Points: 17.9 (1st on team, 4th in SWAC); Rebounds: 5.6 pg (1st on team); Assists: 1.79 pg (2nd on team); Free Throw Pct: .760 (1st on team, 7th in SWAC); Steals: 1.96 pg (1st on team, tie 7th in SWAC); 3-Pt. Field Goals: 2.89 pg (1st on team). Season Highs - Points: 36 vs. Ark.-Pine Bluff; Rebounds: 9 vs. Alabama A&M; Steals: 6 vs. Iowa State.Player of the Year: Marcus Fleming, Alcorn State |
