Big 12 Basketball Awards Announcements

Today the Big 12 is announcing several individual as well as All Big 12 team awards following the end of regular season conference play on Saturday.  Several Jayhawks figure to be in the mix for various mention but first up was Cole Aldrich.

Cole Aldrich was named to the Big 12 All Defensive Team, Big 12 First Team and wrapped up the Defensive Player of the Year.  Aldrich finished second in the conference with 3.38 blocks per game during conference play.  What puts him over the top in the minds of many is the difficulty he creates on the interior whether it's in making the block or disrupting the shot.

The second Kansas player to earn mention was freshman Xavier Henry who found himself on the Big 12 All Rookie team as well as getting the nod as an honorable mention All Big 12 Player.  Despite some early struggles, Henry finished conference play averaging 14.2 points per game on the season.

Sherron Collins joined Cole Aldrich on the First Team All BIg 12 making Kansas the only team with multiple players on the 6 man first team. 

Marcus Morris was named second team after exploding during conference play and has positioned himself form plenty of early mention at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season.

Congrats to Cole, Sherron, Marcus and Xavier.  Full list of Awards after the jump.

The official All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league’s head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
James Anderson, Oklahoma State, G, Jr., 6-6, 205, Junction City, Ark./Junction City

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cole Aldrich, Kansas, C, Jr., 6-11, 245, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor, F, Jr., 6-10, 240, Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe/Michigan

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Alec Burks, Colorado, G, Fr., 6-6, 185, Grandview, Mo./Grandview

SIXTH MAN AWARD
Jamar Samuels, Kansas State, F, So., 6-7, 215, Washington, D.C./The Patterson School [N.C.]

COACH OF THE YEAR
Frank Martin, Kansas State [Career: 67-30, 3rd season; At KSU: 67-30, 3rd season]

All-Big 12 First Team
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown/Previous School(s)
Cole Aldrich, Kansas	C	6-11	245	Jr.	Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson
Sherron Collins, Kansas	G	5-11	205	Sr.	Chicago, Ill./Crane
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State	G	6-0	200	Jr.	Maywood, Ill./Proviso East
James Anderson, Oklahoma State**	G	6-6	205	Jr.	Junction City, Ark./Junction City
Damion James, Texas**	G/F	6-7	225	Sr.	Nacogdoches, Texas/Nacogdoches
Donald Sloan, Texas A&M	G	6-3	205	Sr.	Dallas, Texas/Seagoville
All-Big 12 Second Team
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown/Previous School(s)
LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor	G	6-4	205	Jr.	Monroe, La./Excelsior Christian School
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor	F	6-10	240	Jr.	Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe/Michigan
Craig Brackins, Iowa State	F	6-10	230	Jr.	Palmdale, Calif./Brewster Academy [N.H.]
Marcus Morris, Kansas	F	6-8	225	So.	Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Carter/APEX Academy [N.J.]
Denis Clemente, Kansas State	G	6-1	175	Sr.	Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Calusa Prep/Miami [Fla.]
All-Big 12 Third Team
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown/Previous School(s)
Tweety Carter, Baylor	G	5-11	185	Sr.	Reserve, La./Reserve Christian School
Cory Higgins, Colorado	G	6-5	190	Jr.	Danville, Calif./Monta Vista/The Pendleton School [Fla.]
Kim English, Missouri	G	6-6	200	So.	Baltimore, Md./Randallstown/Notre Dame Prep
Tommy Mason-Griffin, Oklahoma	G	5-11	203	Fr.	Houston, Texas/James Madison
Bryan Davis, Texas A&M	F	6-9	250	Sr.	Dallas, Texas/Grand Prairie

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
Alec Burks (Colorado), Marquis Gilstrap (Iowa State), Xavier Henry (Kansas), Zaire Taylor (Missouri), Willie Warren (Oklahoma), Obi Muonelo (Oklahoma State), Avery Bradley (Texas), John Roberson (Texas Tech), Mike Singletary (Texas Tech)

Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown/Previous School(s)
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor	F	6-10	240	Jr.	Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe/Michigan
Cole Aldrich, Kansas	C	6-11	245	Jr.	Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State	G	6-0	200	Jr.	Maywood, Ill./Proviso East
J.T. Tiller, Missouri	G	6-3	200	Sr.	Marietta, Ga./Wheeler
Dogus Balbay, Texas	G	6-1	175	Jr.	Istanbul, Turkey/Brewster Academy [N.H.]
Bryan Davis, Texas A&M	F	6-9	250	Sr.	Dallas, Texas/Grand Prairie
Big 12 All-Rookie Team
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown/Previous School(s)
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor	F	6-10	240	Jr.	Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe/Michigan
Alec Burks, Colorado	G	6-6	185	Fr.	Grandview, Mo./Grandview
Xavier Henry, Kansas	G	6-6	220	Fr.	Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City
Tommy Mason-Griffin, Oklahoma	G	5-11	203	Fr.	Houston, Texas/James Madison
Avery Bradley, Texas	G	6-2	180	Fr.	Tacoma, Wash./Findlay Prep [Nev.]

** - Unanimous Selection
Ties in the voting created additional spots for the All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team