Yahoo Hands out All SEC Honors, Wall, Cousins, Patterson, Calipari Honored

I talked a few weeks ago about the dominance UK basketball was about to show in the post season SEC awards. The official honors have yet to be handed out, but Yahoo is ahead of the game in naming their award winners:

FIRST TEAM

G John Wall, Kentucky

F DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky

G Devan Downey, South Carolina

F Patrick Patterson, Kentucky

C Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State

SECOND TEAM

F Trey Thompkins, Georgia

G Jermaine Beal, Vanderbilt

G Courtney Fortson, Arkansas

F Wayne Chism, Tennessee

F Tasmin Mitchell, LSU

THIRD TEAM

F Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt

G Dee Bost, Mississippi State

G Chris Warren, Ole Miss

G Erving Walker, Florida

G DeWayne Reed, Auburn

Player of the Year: John Wall, Kentucky

Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Kentucky

Freshman of the Year: John Wall, Kentucky

Newcomer of the Year: Vernon Macklin, Florida

Defensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Varnardo, Mississippi State

Sixth Man of the Year: John Jenkins, Vanderbilt

Most Improved: Travis Leslie, Georgia

Based on the fact that three UK players are on the first team and the ‘Cats swept the Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Freshman of the Year, it’s no shocker UK was THE story in the conference all year and have already clinched a share of the SEC title.

Another cool thing I ran across today was Chad Ford’s update from earlier this week of his profile of John Wall for the 2010 NBA Draft (Insider access).  Some people have been saying Turner could supplant Wall as the top pick in 2010…that’s ridiculous and Ford agrees:

Evan Turner is the best player in college basketball. However, John Wall will be the better pro. The biggest reason is that Wall is a much better athlete and plays a position, point guard, that has such a huge impact on the game. Wall may be the best athlete I’ve ever seen. Get him in the NBA game and I don’t think anyone will be able to guard him.

I think Wall will mature in his decision making. The raw abilities are there. He sees the floor really well and is unselfish. The one attribute that really sets Wall apart is the killer instinct. How many times has he taken over a game in the last few minutes when Kentucky really needs him. That’s one of the reasons scouts love him. Star players do that and Wall has proven as a freshman he can and will do it.

Wow, possibly the best athlete he’s ever seen. Unreal praise from someone who has covered LeBron James.