DENTON, Texas – North Texas freshman phenom Tony Mitchell and senior forward Kedrick Hogans both earned Preseason All-Sun Belt honors as the Mean Green was picked to finish third in the West Division on the league’s annual coaches poll.
The Mean Green, winners of at least 20 games in each of the past five seasons, has played in the Sun Belt Tournament finals in three of the last five years and represented the conference in the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2010. Mitchell (6-8, 235, F, Dallas, Texas) earned a Preseason All-Sun Belt second team selection, while Hogans (6-7, 235, F, Baton Rouge, La.) was named to the third team.
“Several teams from around the league feature top returning players, which will make for another tight Sun Belt Conference race,” said North Texas head coach Johnny Jones. “We look forward to the challenges and embrace the opportunity to compete for another conference championship. We are also excited that Tony and Kedrick were considered for the preseason all-conference teams. It is an honor to see that they are well respected by the coaches and the media of our league.”
Mitchell Was the leading rebounder (7.6 per game) and shot blocker (1.8 per game) for the U19 USA Basketball team at the 2011 World Championships over the summer. He was listed by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 2 ranked forward and the country’s No. 12 overall recruit as a senior at Kimball High School after earning Dallas Morning News 2010 Player of the Year honors.
The freshman, who is expected to become eligible on Dec. 17, averaged 20.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.1 blocks per game as a high school senior, and earned SLAM Magazine High School All-American and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State nods.
Kedrick Hogans, one of the Sun Belt’s most feared lane defenders, shot 60.5 percent from the floor in league games, which ranked 2nd in the SBC. His 57.4 overall field goal percentage also ranked second in the league. He posted eight multi-block games in ‘10-11, and his 79 career blocks ranks fourth in NT history.
Hogans owns a 55.5 career field goal percentage, which ranks 6th in program history and he had 12 double-digit scoring performances last season. He Posted five-plus boards in 13 games and showed his scoring touch with career-highs in points in back-to-back games at Texas Southern (17) and Sam Houston (19).
North Texas opens the 2011-12 season against St. Gregory on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Super Pit.
