BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2020-21 All-SWAC Men’s Basketball teams and individual award winners on Tuesday afternoon. The all-conference honors were voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors.  

Jackson State’s Tristan Jarrett was named Player of the Year, while fellow teammate Jayveous McKinnis claimed Defensive Player of the Year recognition.

Texas Southern’s Michael Weathers was tabbed Newcomer of the Year, Southern’s Terrell Williams was selected Freshman of the Year, and Prairie View A&M’s Byron Smith was voted SWAC Coach of the Year.   

Jarrett (Brownsville, Tenn.) led the league in scoring with 20.3 points per contest. He was the key scoring threat for a Jackson State Tigers team that was crowned 2021 SWAC Men’s Basketball regular season co-champions. He also ranked 10^th in the league in rebounds per game (5.7), 3^rd in free throw percentage (.835), 5^th in field goal percentage (.413), 1^st in three-point field goals made per game (2.4), 9^th in steals per game (1.5) and 7^th in minutes played per game (31.7).

McKinnis (Brandon, Miss.) was the key defensive presence for a Jackson State Tigers team that ranked 1^st in opponent average points per game (61.6). He ranked 9^th in the league in points per game (12.2), 1^st in rebounds per game (13.1), 10^th in free throw percentage (.627), 1^st in blocks per game (2.0), and 6^th in minutes played per game (31.9).

Weathers (Roeland Park, Kan.) completed his debut season in the SWAC ranked 5^th in points per game (16.2), 15^th in rebounds per game (5.2), 3^rd in field goal percentage (.491), 5^th in assists per game (3.4), 8^th in assists to turnover ratio (1.1), 2^nd in steals per game (2.1), and 8^th in minutes played per game (30.7).

Williams (Arlington, Texas) concluded his collegiate debut season ranked 22^nd in the league in assists per game (1.6), while averaging 7.1 points per game along with 3.3 rebounds per game.

Smith led the Prairie View A&M Panthers to their third consecutive regular season title and an undefeated record in league play at 13-0. Prairie View A&M enters the 2021 Cricket Wireless SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament as the number one seed.

The complete list all-conference selections and individual awards winners is listed below.

All-SWAC First Team
Troymain Crosby- Alcorn State
Michael Weathers- Texas Southern
Tristan Jarrett- Jackson State
Cam Mack- Prairie View A&M
Shaun Doss Jr.- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 
All-SWAC Second Team
Jawaun Daniels- Prairie View A&M
Jayveous McKinnis – Jackson State
Cameron Christon- Grambling State
Garrett Hicks- Alabama A&M
Jalen Johnson- Alabama A&M
 
Player of the Year
Tristan Jarrett- Jackson State

Defensive Player of the Year
Jayveous McKinnis- Jackson State

Newcomer of the Year
Michael Weathers- Texas Southern

Freshman of the Year
Terrell Williams- Southern

Coach of the Year
Byron Smith- Prairie View A&M

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.

Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.