Young Also Named CollegeInsiders.com MWC Player of the Year
PROVO -- After leading the Cougars to their first outright league title since 1988 and first national ranking since 1993, BYU's Keena Young has been named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association District VIII Team.
The USBWA announced men's all-district teams in nine regions from coast to coast, based on voting from its national membership. Each team consists of a coach of the year and 10 student-athletes, including the player of the year. District VIII represents the top players from teams in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Young leads Mountain West Conference regular-season champion BYU (23-7, 13-3 MWC) in scoring this season at 17.1 points per game while adding 6.2 rebounds per contest. He has scored in double figures in 26 of 30 games while topping 20 or more points on nine occasions and recording five double-doubles. He has posted season highs of 29 points, 16 rebounds and four assists. Young is one of seven student-athletes to represent the MWC and one of four players from a Utah university to earn all-district accolades this season.
Joining Young on the District VIII Team are Nevada's Nick Fazekas, who was named the Player of the Year, along with fellow-MWC players Jacob Burtschi of Air Force, Brandon Ewing of Wyoming, Luke Nevill of Utah, Jason Smith of Colorado State and Wendell White of UNLV. The team is rounded out by Utah State's Jaycee Carroll, New Mexico State's Justin Hawkins and Weber State's David Patten. Wildcat head coach Randy Rahe received Coach of the Year honors. San Diego State's Brandon Heath was selected to the District IX Team.
Young is the fourth Cougar in the last five years to earn USBWA All-District accolades. BYU center Trent Plaisted was one of just three freshmen in the nation to be selected last year while former center Rafael Araujo was honored in 2004 and former Cougar swingman Travis Hansen was named to the team in 2003.
In addition to being voted the MWC's Player of the Year by the league's head coaches and selected media, Young also garnered MWC Player of the Year honors from CollegeInsider.com. The popular college sports website named a Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year from each conference including independents, selecting SDSU's Heath as MVP and UNLV's Lon Kruger as Coach of the Year in the MWC.
USBWA DISTRICT VIII TEAM
Jacob Burtschi, Air Force F 6-6 225 Sr. Chickasha, Okla.
Jaycee Carroll, Utah State G 6-2 175 Jr. Evanston, Wyo.
Brandon Ewing, Wyoming G 6-2 190 So. Chicago, Ill.
Justin Hawkins, New Mexico State G 6-7 205 Jr. Anaheim, Calif.
Luke Nevill, Utah C 7-1 265 So. Perth, Australia
David Patten, Weber State F 6-8 200 Sr. Placentia, Calif.
Jason Smith, Colorado State F 7-0 230 Jr. Kersey, Colo.
Wendell White, UNLV G 6-6 215 Sr. Los Angeles, Calif.
Keena Young, BYU F 6-6 215 Sr. Beaumont, Texas
Player of the Year: Nick Fazekas, Nevada F 6-11 240 Sr. Arvada, Colo.
Coach of the Year: Randy Rahe, Weber State