Hewitt and Wiedeman Named Preseason All-Sun Belt
10/23/2014 11:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles open 2014-15 season on November 14th at Illinois
NEW ORLEANS – Georgia Southern Men's Basketball fifth-year seniors Jelani Hewitt and Trent Wiedeman have been named Preseason All-Sun Belt as announced on Thursday following a vote of the league's head coaches. Hewitt was picked to the first team while Wiedeman was named to the league's third team. The Eagles were also picked ninth in the coaches' preseason poll.
Hewitt, a native of Miramar, Fla., led the Southern Conference in scoring last season with 19.4 points per game as a redshirt junior, earning a spot on All-SoCon First Team. He scored more than 20 points in 19 contests last season while playing more than 33 minutes per game. The award is Hewitt's first career preseason All-Conference nod.
Wiedeman earns his third preseason all-conference honor after taking Preseason All-SoCon honors in 2012-13 and 2011-12 at College of Charleston. While playing for the Cougars in the low post, Wiedeman became a force, averaging 12.1 points per game as a sophomore in 2011-12. He needs just 107 points to reach 1,000 points for his career.
Georgia Southern was picked ninth in the preseason poll in a tie with South Alabama. The Eagles went 15-19 last season and made the progam's first appearance in the SoCon Tournament Semifinals since 2005. The league's top-eight teams earn a spot in the 2015 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Tournament in New Orleans.
Season tickets are now available for the 2014-15 season from the Georgia Southern Athletics Ticket Office. Tickets start at $65 for general admission and $90 for reserved seats. For this season only, there will be a special Men's and Women's Combo Ticket that will get fans access to all Men's and Women's Basketball games at Hanner Fieldhouse for just $120.
The 2015 Sun Belt Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments are scheduled for March 11-15 in New Orleans. The Lakefront Arena is home to the event for the second-straight year. Located on the south bank of Lake Pontchatrain and just five miles north of the French Quarter, the 2015 tournament will give fans a chance to experience Championship Basketball in the vibrant city.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics. To purchase tickets call 1-800-GSU-WINS.
Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Team Points (1st Place Votes)
1 Georgia State 121 (11)
2 UL Lafayette 110
3 UALR 94
4 UT Arlington 75
5 Arkansas State 73
6 UL Monroe 69
7 Texas State 43
8 Troy 42
T9 Georgia Southern 38
T9 South Alabama 38
11 Appalachian State 23
Preseason First Team All-Conference
Jelani Hewitt (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard)
Ryan Harrow (Georgia State, Senior, Guard)
R.J. Hunter (Georgia State, Junior, Guard)
Shawn Long (UL Lafayette, Senior, Forward)
Lonnie McClanahan (UT Arlington, Senior, Guard)
Preseason Second Team All-Conference
Josh Hagins (UALR, Junior, Guard)
James White (UALR, Junior, Forward)
Xavian Rimmer (UL Lafayette, Senior, Guard)
Tylor Ongwae (UL Monroe, Senior, Forward)
Emani Grant (Texas State, Junior, Forward)
Preseason Third Team All-Conference
Tab Hamilton (Appalachian State, Senior, Guard)
Trent Wiedeman (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard)
Curtis Washington (Georgia State, Senior, Forward)
Jamel Outler (UT Arlington, Senior, Guard)
Kevin Thomas (Troy, Senior, Forward)
Preseason Player of the Year
R.J. Hunter (Georgia State, Junior, Guard)
Hewitt, a native of Miramar, Fla., led the Southern Conference in scoring last season with 19.4 points per game as a redshirt junior, earning a spot on All-SoCon First Team. He scored more than 20 points in 19 contests last season while playing more than 33 minutes per game. The award is Hewitt's first career preseason All-Conference nod.
Wiedeman earns his third preseason all-conference honor after taking Preseason All-SoCon honors in 2012-13 and 2011-12 at College of Charleston. While playing for the Cougars in the low post, Wiedeman became a force, averaging 12.1 points per game as a sophomore in 2011-12. He needs just 107 points to reach 1,000 points for his career.
Georgia Southern was picked ninth in the preseason poll in a tie with South Alabama. The Eagles went 15-19 last season and made the progam's first appearance in the SoCon Tournament Semifinals since 2005. The league's top-eight teams earn a spot in the 2015 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Tournament in New Orleans.
Season tickets are now available for the 2014-15 season from the Georgia Southern Athletics Ticket Office. Tickets start at $65 for general admission and $90 for reserved seats. For this season only, there will be a special Men's and Women's Combo Ticket that will get fans access to all Men's and Women's Basketball games at Hanner Fieldhouse for just $120.
The 2015 Sun Belt Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments are scheduled for March 11-15 in New Orleans. The Lakefront Arena is home to the event for the second-straight year. Located on the south bank of Lake Pontchatrain and just five miles north of the French Quarter, the 2015 tournament will give fans a chance to experience Championship Basketball in the vibrant city.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics. To purchase tickets call 1-800-GSU-WINS.
Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Team Points (1st Place Votes)
1 Georgia State 121 (11)
2 UL Lafayette 110
3 UALR 94
4 UT Arlington 75
5 Arkansas State 73
6 UL Monroe 69
7 Texas State 43
8 Troy 42
T9 Georgia Southern 38
T9 South Alabama 38
11 Appalachian State 23
Preseason First Team All-Conference
Jelani Hewitt (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard)
Ryan Harrow (Georgia State, Senior, Guard)
R.J. Hunter (Georgia State, Junior, Guard)
Shawn Long (UL Lafayette, Senior, Forward)
Lonnie McClanahan (UT Arlington, Senior, Guard)
Preseason Second Team All-Conference
Josh Hagins (UALR, Junior, Guard)
James White (UALR, Junior, Forward)
Xavian Rimmer (UL Lafayette, Senior, Guard)
Tylor Ongwae (UL Monroe, Senior, Forward)
Emani Grant (Texas State, Junior, Forward)
Preseason Third Team All-Conference
Tab Hamilton (Appalachian State, Senior, Guard)
Trent Wiedeman (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard)
Curtis Washington (Georgia State, Senior, Forward)
Jamel Outler (UT Arlington, Senior, Guard)
Kevin Thomas (Troy, Senior, Forward)
Preseason Player of the Year
R.J. Hunter (Georgia State, Junior, Guard)
Players Mentioned
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