A day after capping his final regular season in a Kansas basketball uniform in style with a Senior Day victory, Perry Ellis’ weekend kept getting better, with the announcement he made the All-Big 12 First Team.
Ellis was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection, marking the conference-leading 27th time a Jayhawk has been named to the league’s first team.
KU junior guards Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr.earned second-team recognition, while sophomore guard Devonté Graham and junior forward Landen Lucas were honorable mention honorees.
Graham and Mason were also named to the 2016 Big 12 All-Defensive Team by the conference coaches, who were not allowed to vote for student-athletes from their own team.
“I feel great (about the all-league honors),” KU head coach Bill Self said in a press release. “Perry was well deserving of first team. It was great that the coaches saw Frank and Wayne as second team because there are so many good players in our league and to have both those guys on second team speaks volumes to how well our team has done and how well they performed. To have Devonte’ and Landen receive honorable mention is terrific too.”
Baylor’s Taurean Prince, Iowa State’s Georges Niang, Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield and Texas’ Isaiah Taylor joined Ellis on the first team.
Iowa State’s Monté Morris and West Virginia’s Jaysean Paige and Devin Williams were second-teamers with Mason and Selden.
The six All-Defensive honorees included Kansas State’s Wesley Iwundu, Oklahoma’s Khadeem Lattin, Texas’ Prince Ibeh and WVU’s Jevon Carter.
“To see Frank and Devonte’ on the all-defensive team gives me a lot of pride because I think both those guys have improved so much in that area,” Self said.
The coach also stated postseason awards are a reflection how the entire KU team has performed.
“With the success that this particular team has had,” Self said. :I think is very deserving that you have multiple guys on the All-Big 12 team.”
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Prince Ibeh, Texas
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Deonte Burton, Iowa State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State
SIXTH MAN AWARD
Jaysean Paige, West Virginia
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tubby Smith, Texas Tech