SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its 2019-20 men's basketball awards on Wednesday, with Wofford's Nathan Hoover being named All-SoCon and Messiah Jones garnering all-freshman honors by both the SoCon coaches and the media.

Hoover was named second team All-SoCon by the coaches and third team All-SoCon by the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA).

"I am extremely proud of Nathan Hoover and Messiah Jones for the seasons they have had," said Wofford head coach Jay McAuley. "They have pushed through adversity and injuries to be consistent producers for our basketball team. Well-deserved honors for both young men."
 
Starting all 31 games in 2019-20, Hoover leads Wofford in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game while knocking down a team-best 78 threes in the process, tying for 10^th-most all-time in a single season at Wofford. Totaling 20 or more points seven times, Hoover has been Wofford's top scorer in 13 games this season, finishing the regular season eighth in scoring in league contests, averaging 16.6 points per game while leading the SoCon in minutes played (625). For the season, Hoover's 93.4 percent shooting from the free throw line ranks second in the NCAA and his 131 rebounds rank third on the team. The All-SoCon honor is Hoover's first conference regular-season honor.
 
"Nathan has had an outstanding career here at Wofford. He will go down as one of the all-time best guards to ever come through our program, as well as being a Champion," McAuley said. "I know he's looking forward to one more Southern Conference Tournament. He has been a pleasure to coach."
 
During his four seasons at Wofford, Hoover has had several standout performances including: at South Carolina where he hit a career-high nine 3-pointers (2018), the 2019 Southern Conference Championship game where he scored 20 points in the second half, 18 points in Wofford's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory over Seton Hall, and 19 points in its second-round game against Kentucky. For his career, the Memphis, Tennessee, native ranks fourth in made three pointers (293) and is fifth all-time at Wofford in points scored during the Division I era. Hoover's 1,580 points scored are first among active players in the Southern Conference, with his career free throw percentage of 88.8 ranking second all-time at Wofford.
 
Jones became an impact player early on this season, finishing the 2019-20 regular season campaign fifth in scoring (7.3 ppg) and second in both rebounding (4.1 rpg) and blocks (29). Jones' 20 blocks in Southern Conference play were fourth-most in the league, grabbing 32 offensive rebounds and scoring 7.4 points per game in 18 games played. Jones scored 10 or more points eight times, including a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in a win at VMI and a career-high 19 points against ETSU (Feb. 26). The Chicago, Illinois, native recorded a block in 18 games, swatting two or more shots nine times. The forward/center averaged 17.7 minutes per game, shooting a team-best 68.7 percent from the floor in the process.
 
"Messiah has had to play somewhat out of position this year and has delivered in every way," said McAuley. "He has such a promising future as a Terrier and I look forward to seeing where he goes from here. Messiah is the ultimate team guy and is everything we want our players to represent."
 
Wofford will open up its Southern Conference Tournament against The Citadel on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
 
Coaches
 
Player of the Year
Isaiah Miller, Jr., G, UNCG
 
Freshman of the Year
Keyshaun Langley, G, UNCG
Travis Evee, G, VMI
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Isaiah Miller, Jr., G, UNCG
 
Coach of the Year
Steve Forbes, ETSU
 
First team
Bo Hodges, ETSU
Jordan Lyons, Furman
Isaiah Miller, UNCG
Carlos Dotson, Western Carolina
Mason Faulkner, Western Carolina
 
Second team
Tray Boyd III, ETSU
Djordje Dimitrijevic, Mercer
Ethan Stair, Mercer
Matt Ryan, Chattanooga
Nathan Hoover, Wofford
 
Third team
Noah Gurley, Furman
Clay Mounce, Furman
James Dickey, UNCG
Josh Sharkey, Samford
Ramon Vila, Chattanooga
 
All-freshman team
Fletcher Abee, The Citadel
Kamar Robertson, Mercer
Keyshaun Langley, UNCG
Travis Evee, VMI
Messiah Jones, Wofford
 
SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA)
 
Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year
Isaiah Miller, Jr., G, UNCG
 
Freshman of the Year
Travis Evee, G, VMI
 
Anton Foy Coach of the Year
Steve Forbes, ETSU
 
First team
Tray Boyd III, ETSU
Jordan Lyons, Furman
Djordje Dimitrijevic, Mercer
Isaiah Miller, UNCG
Carlos Dotson, Western Carolina
 
Second team
Bo Hodges, ETSU
Ethan Stair, Mercer
Josh Sharkey, Samford
Matt Ryan, Chattanooga
Mason Faulkner, Western Carolina
 
Third team
Noah Gurley, Furman
Clay Mounce, Furman
James Dickey, UNCG
Ramon Vila, Chattanooga
Nathan Hoover, Wofford
 
All-freshman team
Fletcher Abee, The Citadel
Kamar Robertson, Mercer
Keyshaun Langley, UNCG
Travis Evee, VMI
Messiah Jones, Wofford