Three Tulsa Players Earn All-WAC Honors
3/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 9, 2003
Denver, Colorado - The University of Tulsa had three players earn Western Athletic Conference honors, as the league office announced the all-WAC teams today. Senior forward Kevin Johnson earned first-team all-WAC honors, while guards Dante Swanson and Jason Parker were second-team selections, as voted on by the WAC coaches. Johnson was also named to the league's all-defensive team for the first time in his career.
The award for Johnson marks the third year that he has earned league honors. In the previous two seasons, he was named to the second team. Swanson earned second-team accolades for the second consecutive year, while Parker earns the award for the first time.
The 6'8" Johnson, a senior from Missouri City, Texas, averages 14.9 points while leading the Hurricane in rebounding with a 7.4 average and blocked shots with a 2.3 average.
He ranks among the league's leaders in a number of categories, including first in blocked shots (2.3), second in field goal percentage (.517), sixth in rebounding (7.4) and ninth in scoring (14.9).
Johnson is among the top-10 in school history for career scoring with 1,494 points for sixth place, rebounding with 693 boards for ninth place and blocked shots with a second-place total of 239 blocks.
This year, Johnson has 25 double-figure scoring games and seven double-digit rebounding games. He has led Tulsa in scoring nine times, rebounding in 15 games and in blocked shots 21 times.
Swanson, a 5'10" senior from Wagoner, Oklahoma, averages 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 27 games this season. He ranks second in the WAC in three-point percentage with a .430 percentage. Swanson also ranks among the WAC's leaders for scoring (15.1), assists (3.0), steals (1.3) and assist-turnover ratio (1.39).
He had a career-best 26 points at Nevada on Saturday night, and had seven 20-point scoring games this season. Swanson scored in double-figures in 22 games this year, and 68 for his career.
Swanson has been a clutch performer in league games this year, as he connected on the game-winning basket as time expired in a 62-59 victory against Fresno State, and scored Tulsa's final nine points in a 77-70 road win at SMU.
A 6'2" junior from Tulsa's Memorial High School, Parker averages a team-best 15.5 points and also leads the Hurricane in assists with a 3.9 average and steals with a 1.9 average.
Parker is the WAC's top free throw shooter while connecting on 84-percent of his shots. He also ranks second in steals (1.9), third in assist-turnover ratio (1.64), fifth in the league in scoring (15.5) and fifth in assists (3.9).
He scored 20+ points in six games this season and surpassed the 30-point plateau twice, including scoring a career-best 33 points at Louisiana Tech. Parker set a school record with eight three-pointers vs. Wichita State, while netting 30 points. He led Tulsa in scoring 10 times, assists 15 times and steals in 14 games this year. Parker had 23 double-figure scoring games.
2003 WAC Men's Basketball Postseason Award WinnersAll-Conference First Team Quinton Ross, SMU, G/F, 6-6, 195 Sr., Dallas, Texas (Kimball HS) Damon Jackson, Fresno State, G, 6-4, 195, Sr., Perris, Calif. (College of the Sequoias) Antonio Meeking, Louisiana Tech, F, 6-8, 245 Sr., Farmerville, La. (Farmerville HS) Kevin Johnson, Tulsa, F, 6-8, 222, Sr., Missouri City, Texas (HCYA) Carl English, Hawai'i, G/F, 6-5, 205, Jr., Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland (Fatima Academy) Kirk Snyder, Nevada, F, 6-6, 219, So., Upland, Calif. (Upland HS)
Second Team Dante Swanson, Tulsa, G, 5-10, 180 Sr., Wagoner, Okla. (Wagoner HS) Omar-Seli Mance, Rice, G, 6-2, 190, Sr., Stone Mountain, Ga. (Louisiana State) Hiram Fuller, Fresno State, F, 6-9, 240, Sr., Tacoma, Wash. (Wabash Valley CC) Terrance Green, Nevada, G, 6-2, 201, Sr., Portland, Ore. (Benson HS) Michael Harris, Rice, F, 6-6, 225, So., Hillsboro, Texas (Hillsboro HS) Jason Parker, Tulsa, G, 6-2, 180, Jr., Tulsa, Okla. (Memorial HS)
Player of the Year: Quinton Ross, SMU Freshman of the Year: Bryan Hopkins, SMU Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Ray Lopes, Fresno State
All-Newcomer Team Aaron Haynes, Boise State, F, 6-6, 185, Jr., Fresno, Calif. (Sacramento City College) Bryan Hopkins, SMU, G, 6-0, 195, Fr., Dallas, Texas (Lincoln HS) Michael Kuebler, Hawai'i, G/F, 6-5, 185 Jr., Salem, Ore. (Clackamas CC) Antonio Lawrence, San Jose State, F, 6-4, 190, Fr., Jacksonville, Fla. (San Joaquin Memorial HS) Renaldo Major, Fresno State, F, 6-7, 200, Jr., Calumet City, Ill. (South Plains College)
All-Defensive Team Yamar Diene, Rice, F/C, 6-9, 230 Jr., Dakar, Senegal (Poughkeepsie) Jerry Petty, G, 5-11, 160, Sr., Seattle, Wash. (North Idaho College) Brandon Hawkins, San Jose State, G, 6-3, 191, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Iowa State) Kevin Johnson, Tulsa, F, 6-8, 222, Sr., Missouri City, Texas (HCYA) Mark Campbell, Hawai'i, G, 6-4, 180 Sr., Mt. Vernon, Wash. (Clackamas CC)
