Troy University Athletics
Varnado Named Preseason All-Sun Belt, Troy Picked Fourth
10/25/2018 10:05:00 AM | Basketball (M)
New Orleans, La., - The Troy men's basketball teams has been selected to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in 2018-19, while senior Jordon Varnado landed on the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, as announced by the league on Thursday morning.
The Trojans tallied 89 points to tie with ULM for fourth place in conference. Georgia State collected all 12 first place votes with 144 points total to claim the top spot as voted on by the league's coaches.
Despite playing a shortened year due to injury, Varnado still dominated well enough in conference to secure a spot on the All-Sun Belt Second Team in 2017-18. Varnado finished the year averaging 18.0 points, seven rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 26 games played. The senior made a team-high 174 field goals, shooting 47.8 percent (174-of-364) from the field.
In conference play last season, Varnado ranked seventh in points per game (17.6), 10th in rebounds per game (6.8), third in field goal percentage (.500) and seventh in blocks per game (1.3). In addition to this preseason accolade, the Brownsville, Tenn., native was also named to the Julius Erving Award Watch List which is given to the Division I men's basketball top small forward.
Troy returns three starters in senior trio BJ Miller, Alex Hicks and Varnado while bringing in eight newcomers to tag along with the three letterwinners returning. Troy begins its season at Trojan Arena on Nov. 6 with a 7 p.m. bout against Fort Valley State. The game will be free admission.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2018-19 men's basketball season. Season ticket prices are starting as low as $50. For purchasing, visit Troy Ticket Office in Trojan Arena or call 1-877-878-WINS(9467).
For more information on Troy men's basketball, follow along on Twitter at @TroyTrojansMBB and Instagram at @troymenshoops.
2018-19 SUN BELT CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' PRESEASON HONORS
All-Sun Belt First Team
**Ronshad Shabazz, Appalachian State (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.)
*Tookie Brown, Georgia Southern (Sr., G, Madison, Ga.)
*D'Marcus Simonds, Georgia State (Jr., G, Gainesville, Ga.)
**Travis Munnings, ULM (Sr., F, Freeport, Bahamas)
**Jordon Varnado, Troy (Sr., F, Brownsville, Tenn.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Zac Cuthbertson, Coastal Carolina (Sr., F, New Bern, N.C.)
***Devin Mitchell, Georgia State (Sr., G, Suwanee, Ga.)
***JaKeenan Gant, Louisiana (Sr., F, Springfield, Ga.)
**Rodrick Sikes, South Alabama (Sr., G, Ocean Springs, Miss.)
***Nijal Pearson, Texas State (Jr., G, Beaumont, Texas)
All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ty Cockfield II, Arkansas State (Sr., G, Gainesville, Ga.)
Ike Smith, Georgia Southern (Sr., G, Gainesville, Fla.)
Marcus Stroman, Louisiana (Sr., G, Columbia, S.C.)
Michael Ertel, ULM (So., G, Indianapolis, Ind.)
Josh Ajayi, South Alabama (Jr., F, El Monte, Calif.)
2018-19 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Player of the Year
D'Marcus Simonds, Georgia State (Jr., G, Gainesville, Ga.)
2018-19 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
first-place votes in parentheses
*Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt First Team
**Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt Second Team
***Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt Third Team
The Trojans tallied 89 points to tie with ULM for fourth place in conference. Georgia State collected all 12 first place votes with 144 points total to claim the top spot as voted on by the league's coaches.
Despite playing a shortened year due to injury, Varnado still dominated well enough in conference to secure a spot on the All-Sun Belt Second Team in 2017-18. Varnado finished the year averaging 18.0 points, seven rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 26 games played. The senior made a team-high 174 field goals, shooting 47.8 percent (174-of-364) from the field.
In conference play last season, Varnado ranked seventh in points per game (17.6), 10th in rebounds per game (6.8), third in field goal percentage (.500) and seventh in blocks per game (1.3). In addition to this preseason accolade, the Brownsville, Tenn., native was also named to the Julius Erving Award Watch List which is given to the Division I men's basketball top small forward.
Troy returns three starters in senior trio BJ Miller, Alex Hicks and Varnado while bringing in eight newcomers to tag along with the three letterwinners returning. Troy begins its season at Trojan Arena on Nov. 6 with a 7 p.m. bout against Fort Valley State. The game will be free admission.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2018-19 men's basketball season. Season ticket prices are starting as low as $50. For purchasing, visit Troy Ticket Office in Trojan Arena or call 1-877-878-WINS(9467).
For more information on Troy men's basketball, follow along on Twitter at @TroyTrojansMBB and Instagram at @troymenshoops.
2018-19 SUN BELT CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' PRESEASON HONORS
All-Sun Belt First Team
**Ronshad Shabazz, Appalachian State (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.)
*Tookie Brown, Georgia Southern (Sr., G, Madison, Ga.)
*D'Marcus Simonds, Georgia State (Jr., G, Gainesville, Ga.)
**Travis Munnings, ULM (Sr., F, Freeport, Bahamas)
**Jordon Varnado, Troy (Sr., F, Brownsville, Tenn.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Zac Cuthbertson, Coastal Carolina (Sr., F, New Bern, N.C.)
***Devin Mitchell, Georgia State (Sr., G, Suwanee, Ga.)
***JaKeenan Gant, Louisiana (Sr., F, Springfield, Ga.)
**Rodrick Sikes, South Alabama (Sr., G, Ocean Springs, Miss.)
***Nijal Pearson, Texas State (Jr., G, Beaumont, Texas)
All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ty Cockfield II, Arkansas State (Sr., G, Gainesville, Ga.)
Ike Smith, Georgia Southern (Sr., G, Gainesville, Fla.)
Marcus Stroman, Louisiana (Sr., G, Columbia, S.C.)
Michael Ertel, ULM (So., G, Indianapolis, Ind.)
Josh Ajayi, South Alabama (Jr., F, El Monte, Calif.)
2018-19 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Player of the Year
D'Marcus Simonds, Georgia State (Jr., G, Gainesville, Ga.)
2018-19 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
first-place votes in parentheses
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Georgia State (12) | 144 |
| 2. | Georgia Southern | 125 |
| Louisiana | 125 | |
| 4. | ULM | 89 |
| Troy | 89 | |
| 6. | Appalachian State | 86 |
| 7. | South Alabama | 80 |
| 8. | Texas State | 67 |
| 9. | Arkansas State | 42 |
| 10. | Coastal Carolina | 40 |
| 11. | UTA | 33 |
| 12. | Little Rock | 16 |
*Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt First Team
**Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt Second Team
***Denotes 2017-18 All-Sun Belt Third Team
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