BCSP Notes . . .
Holt resigns at UAPB
Arkansas-Pine Bluff head basketball coach Van Holt has resigned, saying he had "anticipated better results" but will continue to support the school. The school announced last Tuesday that Holt offered his immediate resignation Monday and the school accepted.
"It has been a labor of love for me and I believe much has been accomplished," Holt said in his resignation letter. "I take great pride in the improvements in the program and had anticipated better results and a brighter future. I will continue to be a supporter of UAPB."
Holt is 50-124 overall and 35-73 in Southwestern Athletic Conference games in his six years at the university. He won a season-best 13 games twice in 2005-06 and 2007-08 and led the Golden Lions to a 9-9 conference best mark during the 2006-07 season.
Recently, Holt led the Golden Lions (13-18, 8-10 SWAC) to their third consecutive SWAC tournament. UAPB was eliminated in the semifinals by eventual tournament champion Mississippi Valley State. UAPB's best run was in 2006, when the Golden Lions advanced to the championship game before losing to Southern 57-44.
"Van Holt is a class individual," UAPB Athletic Director Louis "Skip" Perkins said. "Accepting his resignation was difficult, but we are extremely grateful for all the hard work and time coach Holt has put in here."
Perkins said a search for Holt's replacement will begin immediately.
SWAC hoops honorees
The Southwestern Athletic
Conference announced its men's basketball
all-conference honors for the 
2007-2008 season. In a poll
conducted by the conference office in which votes were received from the
league's head coaches and sports information directors,
Alabama State guard Andrew Hayles was named SWAC
men's Player of the Year while Alabama
A&M center Mickell Gladness was tabbed
the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.
For the women, Prairie View guard Candice Thomas was chosen as player of the year with Jackson State forward Carena Easley as the top defender.
Hayles, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound, junior from Mobile, was a key component in the Hornets'
run to a regular-season title. In 28 games, he
averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
and 1.2 steals per game. He was fifth in the league
in scoring, eighth in field goal percentage
(45.2%), fifth in free throw shooting (75.0%) and third
in 3-point shooting (39.1%).
Gladness was named the defensive player of the year selection for the second consecutive season. A 6-foot-11, 205-pound, senior from Sylacauga, Alabama, he led the conference and was second in the nation in blocks averaging 4.6 blocked shots per game.
Southern forward Barry Honore' is the 2008 SWAC Freshman of the Year. In 29 games, the 6-foot-7, 230-pound Honore' averaged 8.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
FIRST TEAM
Andrew Hayles, 6-5, Jr., G, Alabama State;
Trant Sampson, 5-10, So., G, Alabama A&M; Mickell
Gladness, 6-11, Sr., C, Alabama A&M; William Byrd, 6-7,
Sr., F, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Grant Maxey, 6-7, So., F,
Jackson State
SECOND TEAM
Brandon Brooks, 6-2, Jr., G, Alabama State; Chris
Davis, 6-2, Jr., G, Southern; Larry Cox, 6-10, Sr., C, Miss.
Valley State; Carl Lucas, 6-5, Sr., F, Miss. Valle State;
Anthony Williams, 6-7, Sr., F, Grambling State
Thomas, (5'9, So., G, Waco, Texas) was also named
Most Valuable Player in the 2007 SWAC Tournament, after
leading her team to their first SWAC tournament title ever. She
ranked second in the conference in scoring (15.2 ppg.) and
field-goal percentage. (52.8). She was also fourth in the conference in steals (2.3 spg.)
and fifth in assists (3.17 apg.)
Easley led the SWAC and was eighth in the nation with 3.43 steals per game. She was also fifth in the SWAC in field-goal percentage (44.3) and fourth in minutes played (32.43 per game).
Chari Smith of Prairie View was picked as the conference's newcomer of the year with Freda Allen of Southern as selected as freshman of the Year.
FIRST TEAM
LaSharee Christian, 5-6, Sr., G, Jackson State;
Candice Thomas, 5-9, So., G, Prairie View; Shawntawnee
Collins, 6-1, Sr., F, Alcorn State; Gaati Werema, 6-0, So.,
F, Prairie View; Chari Smith, 6-3, Jr., C, Prairie View
SECOND TEAM
Shantae Robinson, 5-2, Sr., G, Alabama State;
Delores Hughley, 5-6, Sr., G, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Portia
Wilson, 5-10, Sr., F, Miss. Valley State; Freda Allen, 6-1, Fr.,
F, Southern; Felecia Drummond, 5-11, Sr., C,
Alabama A&M
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