Damian Jones led the Commodores to their first winning season since 2012, and his efforts did no go unnoticed. The Vanderbilt center earned First Team All-SEC honors from the league's coach1es on Tuesday.
Jones led Vandy with 14.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and two blocks per game in 2014-15. As a sophomore, he improved in just about every facet of the game - including a significant reduction in fouls - to push his team to a 9-9 record in conference play. His penchant for turning back shots at the rim earned him a spot on the league's All-Defensive Team as well.
Jones's play in the paint helped clear the way for two other Commodores to earn league recognition.
Four time Freshman of the Week Riley LaChance and one time honoree Wade Baldwin IV were each named to the SEC All-Freshman team. LaChance ranked second on the team in scoring and gave the Commodores a sure-handed shooting threat from long range in 2015. Baldwin had ups and downs this season, but he came on strong at the end of the season and finished the year by setting the school's freshman record for assists with 137 (and counting).
18 players in all made the first or second All-SEC teams, which have evolved beyond starting rosters and into John Calipari-style rotations.
Here are the awards in full, courtesy of secsports.com:
First Team All-SEC
Bobby Portis, Arkansas - F, 6-11, 242, So., Little Rock, Ark.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky - F, 7-0, 240, Jr., Olathe, Kan.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky - F, 6-11, 250, Fr., Piscataway, N.J.
Jarell Martin, LSU - F, 6-10, 236, So., Baton Rouge, La.
Jordan Mickey, LSU - F, 6-8, 235, So., Dallas, Texas
Stefan Moody, Ole Miss - G, 5-10, 179, Jr., Kissimmee, Fla.
Josh Richardson, Tennessee - G, 6-6, 200, Sr., Edmond, Okla.
Danuel House, Texas A&M - G, 6-7, 207, Jr., Fresno, Texas
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt -C, 6-10, 240, So., Baton Rouge, La.
Second Team All-SEC
Levi Randolph, Alabama - G, 6-5, 210, Sr., Madison, Ala.
Michael Qualls, Arkansas - G, 6-6, 210, Jr., Shreveport, La.
KT Harrell, Auburn - G, 6-4, 212, Sr., Montgomery, Ala.
Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida - F, 6-8, 218, Jr., Portsmouth, Va.
Marcus Thornton, Georgia - F, 6-8, 235, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.
Devin Booker, Kentucky - G, 6-6, 206, Fr., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky - G, 6-6, 212, So., Richmond, Texas
Craig Sword, Mississippi State - G, 6-3, 194, Jr., Montgomery, Ala.
Jalen Jones, Texas A&M - G/F, 6-7, 223, Jr., Dallas, Texas
SEC All-Freshman Team
Anton Beard, Arkansas - G, 6-0, 190, Fr., North Little Rock, Ark.
Devin Robinson, Florida - F, 6-8, 178, Fr., Chesterfield, Va.
Devin Booker, Kentucky - G, 6-6, 206, Fr., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Trey Lyles, Kentucky - F, 6-10, 235, Fr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky - F, 6-11, 250, Fr., Piscataway, N.J.
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky - G, 5-9, 155, Fr., Lima, Ohio
Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt - G, 6-3, 195, Fr., Belle Mead, N.J.
Riley LaChance, Vanderbilt - G, 6-2, 194, Fr., Brookfield, Wisc.
SEC All-Defensive Team
Marcus Thornton, Georgia - F, 6-8, 235, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky - F, 7-0, 240, Jr., Olathe, Kan.
Jordan Mickey, LSU - F, 6-8, 235, So., Dallas, Texas
Josh Richardson, Tennessee - G, 6-6, 200, Sr., Edmond, Okla.
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt -C, 6-10, 240, So., Baton Rouge, La.
SEC Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Kentucky
SEC Player of the Year: Bobby Portis, Arkansas
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Levi Randolph, Alabama
SEC Freshman of the Year: Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year: Devin Booker, Kentucky
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
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