Georgia Bulldogs sophomore guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was selected as the 2013 SEC Player of the Year earlier today courtesy of a vote via the league’s coaches.
Known as “KCP,” the sophomore out of Greenville, Ga. is the first UGA basketball player to win this award since Dominique Wilkins in 1981.
Through the team’s first 31 games this season, Caldwell-Pope has scored double-digit points in each contest, joining only 10 other players in NCAA Division I basketball to accomplish the feat. During that span, Caldwell-Pope showcased his versatility on the court, draining clutch shots from beyond the arc as well as throwing down Blake Griffin-esque dunks and alley-oops.
Caldwell-Pope’s play also helped revive a lifeless Georgia squad during conference play, as he led the Bulldogs to five consecutive SEC victories and an 8-4 finish to the conference slate following a 1-4 start.
He also finished this season having improved his stats from the year before across the board, especially in regards to points per game. The Georgia star increased his scoring output from 13.2 ppg in 2012 to 18.0 ppg in 2013, good enough for third in the SEC. He boosted his field percentage as well, from 39 percent to 44 percent. What is even more impressive is that KCP led the Bulldogs in rebounding as a guard, a testament to Caldwell-Pope’s versatility and will to win.
In other news, Bulldogs true freshman point guard Charles Mann was selected to the Coaches’ SEC All-Freshman Team.
First Team All-SEC
Trevor Releford, Alabama – G, 6-1, 195, Jr., Kansas City, Mo.
Erik Murphy, Florida – F/C, 6-10, 238, Sr., South Kingstown, R.I.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia – G, 6-5, 205, So., Greenville, Ga.
Nerlens Noel, Kentucky – F, 6-10, 228, Fr., Everett, Mass.
Johnny O’Bryant III, LSU – F, 6-9, 256, So., Cleveland, Miss.
Phil Pressey, Missouri – G, 5-11, 175, Jr., Dallas, Texas
Jordan McRae, Tennessee – G, 6-5, 178, Jr., Midway, Ga.
Elston Turner, Texas A&M – G, 6-5, 209, Sr., Sacramento, Calif.
SEC All-Freshman Team
Michael Frazier II, Florida – G, 6-4, 200, Fr., Tampa, Fla.
Charles Mann, Georgia – G, 6-4, 205, Fr., Alpharetta, Ga.
^Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky – F, 7-0, 244, Fr., Olathe, Kan.
Archie Goodwin, Kentucky – G, 6-4.5, 198, Fr., Little Rock, Ark.
Nerlens Noel, Kentucky – F, 6-10, 228, Fr., Everett, Mass.
^Alex Poythress, Kentucky – F, 6-7, 239, Fr., Clarksville, Tenn.
Craig Sword, Mississippi State – G, 6-3, 189, Fr., Montgomery, Ala.
^Gavin Ware, Mississippi State – F, 6-9, 270, Fr., Starkville, Miss.
Michael Carrera, South Carolina – F, 6-5, 212, Fr., Anzoátegui, Venezuela
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