2011-12 All-AAC Men's Basketball Team Announced

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The 2011-12 All-Appalachian Athletic Confernce Men's Baskeball Team has been announced, and Bryon Carpenter of Bluefield (Va.) is the Player of the Year with Mike Poe of Tennessee Wesleyan is the Coach of the Year.

Tennessee Wesleyan won the regular-season championship, and Union (Ky.) is the Champions of Character Team Award winner. E'Jay Ward of Tennessee Wesleyan is the Defensive Player of the Year, and Dion Fair of Bryan (Tenn.) is the Freshman of the Year.

Carpenter averaged 21.4 point per game and led the conference in rebounding with an 8.39 average. He currently ranks No. 1 in NAIA Division II in total scoring with 705 points and is sixth in points per game.

Joining Carpenter on the All-AAC First Team are Ward and Desmond Crisp of Tennessee Wesleyan; Justin Morris of Virginia Intermont; and David Lawson of Reinhardt (Ga.).

Making up the Second Team are Kearston Marion of Bluefield; Ishmael John of Reinhardt; La'Bris Adams of Montreat (N.C.); Quincey Scates of Tennessee Wesleyan; and Rob Riley of Bryan.

The Third Team has Josh Hurd of Union; Jeremy Mahaffey and Shasta Scott of Point (Ga.); Dustin Harris of Montreat; and Jerome Carmichael of Reinhardt on it.

Ward leads the conference in assists (7.0) and steals (3.6) and leads the nation in total steals (114) and steals per game, earning him the Defensive Player of the Year honor. He also averages 9.4 points per game.

Joining Ward on the All-Defensive Team are Carmichael and Luke Joseph of Reinhardt; Lavonte Henderson of Bryan; Matt Hardy of Milligan; and Jimmie Ross of Virginia Intermont.

Fair captured the top freshman honor after averaging 12.9 points per game and leading the Lions in assists (121) and steals (65).

Making up the rest of the All-Freshmen Team are Andrew Wilson of Bluefield; Mickey Woods of Milligan; Shannon Smith of Tennessee Wesleyan; and Matt Porter of Reinhardt.

A total of 15 players made the Academic All-AAC Team with Point leading the way with three players.

To view the entire All-AAC Team, click here.