Thorns Named Third-Team All-MWC
3/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 7, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Junior guard Hank Thorns was selected to the All-Mountain West Conference Third Team in a vote of the league's coaches and media, the conference office announced Monday.
Thorns became the fourth Horned Frog to garner All-MWC attention since the squad joined the conference prior to the 2005-06 season. Previous TCU honorees include Ronnie Moss (2009-10 second team), Kevin Langford (2008-09 second team, 2007-08 third team) and Nile Murray (2005-06 third team).
Thorns, in his first season as TCU's point guard, has provided an instant impact on the court for the Frogs. He leads the MWC in assist average (7.00 apg) and ranks No. 4 nationally, while his 2.69 assist-turnover ratio is second in the MWC and No. 17 in the NCAA. He currently is the only player in the nation to rank in the top 10 in assists and top 23 in assist-turnover ratio.
A native of Las Vegas, Nev., Thorns has compiled 210 assists this season, which ranks as the third-best single-season total in MWC history and the most by a non-senior. The total also is No. 3 in TCU single-season history. His 130 helpers in MWC games only, also the most by a non-senior, were only three shy of the all-time mark. He averaged 8.13 apg with a 3.25 assist-turnover ratio in the Frogs' 16 conference games. The assist figure is higher than that of the nation's current assist leader for all games (Scott Machado, Iona - 7.82 apg).
Thorns does more than just dish the rock for the Frogs. He also leads the team in steals (1.23 spg), is third in scoring (10.4 ppg) and fourth in total rebounds (103).
A 5-9, 165-pound product of Las Vegas' Valley High School, Thorns has produced several big individual performances for the Frogs this season. He has nine games of 10 or more assists, which is third nationally and seven more than any other MWC player this season. His pair of 12-assist games Feb. 19 vs. BYU and Feb. 26 vs. New Mexico tied for the fourth-best totals ever in MWC contests.
Thorns joined the Frogs prior to last season after transferring from Virginia Tech, where he played from 2007 through 2009. As a freshman for the Hokies, he dished out a VT-freshman record 113 assists. Prior to his time with the Hokies, Thorns earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior for Valley High School. He led the city of Las Vegas in scoring as a senior and was second in rebounding with respective averages of 27.8 ppg and 12.5 rpg.
TCU opens postseason competition this week, as it laces up for the annual Conoco Mountain West Conference Championship in Las Vegas, Nev. The Frogs, the bracket's No. 9 seed, begin action Wednesday in the first round at 2:05 p.m. PT against eighth-seeded Wyoming. The game will be televised live by The MountainWest Sports Network (The Mtn.).
First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
Jimmer Fredette, BYU**, Sr., G, 6-2, 195, Glens Falls, N.Y.
Andy Ogide, Colorado State*, Sr., F, 6-9, 245, Marietta, Ga.
Dairese Gary, New Mexico*, Sr., G, 6-1, 205, Elkhart, Ind.
D.J. Gay, San Diego State, Sr., G, 6-0, 170, Sun Valley, Calif.
Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State*, So., F, 6-7, 225, Riverside, Calif.
Second-Team All-Mountain West Conference
Jackson Emery, BYU*, Sr., G, 6-3, 190, Alpine, Utah
Drew Gordon, New Mexico, Jr., F/C, 6-9, 245, San Jose, Calif.
Malcolm Thomas, San Diego State*, Sr., F, 6-9, 220, San Diego, Calif.
Tre'Von Willis, UNLV*, Sr., G, 6-4, 195, Fresno, Calif.
Will Clyburn, Utah, Jr., F, 6-7, 200, Detroit, Mich.
Third-Team All-Mountain West Conference
Michael Lyons, Air Force, So., G, 6-6, 195, Newport News, Va.
Brandon Davies, BYU, So., F, 6-9, 235, Provo, Utah
Hank Thorns, TCU, Jr., G, 5-10, 170, Las Vegas, Nev.
Oscar Bellfield, UNLV, Jr., G, 6-2, 185, Los Angeles, Calif.
Chase Stanback, UNLV*, Jr., G/F, 6-8, 210, Los Angeles, Calif.
Honorable-Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Tom Fow, Air Force, Sr., F, 6-6, 205
Evan Washington, Air Force, Sr., G, 6-4, 195
Noah Hartsock, BYU, Jr., F, 6-8, 230
Travis Franklin, Colorado State, Sr., F, 6-7, 215
Kendall Williams, New Mexico, Fr., G, 6-3, 170
Billy White, San Diego State, Sr., F, 6-8, 235
Josh Watkins, Utah, Jr., G, 6-0, 200
Desmar Jackson, Wyoming, So., G, 6-5, 175
Amath M'Baye, Wyoming, So., F, 6-9, 210
All-Defensive Team
Jackson Emery, BYU, Sr., G, 6-3, 185, Alpine, Utah
Dairese Gary, New Mexico, Sr., G, 6-1, 205, Elkhart, Ind.
Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State, So., F, 6-7, 225, Riverside, Calif.
Malcolm Thomas, San Diego State, Sr., F, 6-9, 220, San Diego, Calif.
David Foster, Utah, Jr., C, 7-3, 255, Lake Forest, Calif.
Player of the Year: Jimmer Fredette, Sr., G, BYU
Defensive Player of the Year: Jackson Emery, Sr., G, BYU
Newcomer of the Year: Drew Gordon, Jr., F/C, New Mexico
Freshman of the Year: Kendall Williams, Fr., G, New Mexico
Sixth Man of the Year: Pierce Hornung, So., F, Colorado State
Co-Coaches of the Year: Dave Rose, BYU and Steve Fisher, San Diego State
* Indicates number of previous all-conference selections
