He is the first Southern Miss player to be named to the team in the four years of the award.

Stone is averaging 3.7 rebounds and 0.6 steals. He has recorded five rebounds ten times this season, including seven times in conference play. He had a season-high nine rebounds at Tulane. He also had multiple steals five times.

Joining Stone on the team was UAB’s Aaron Johnson, Tulsa’s Jerome Jordan, Julyan Stone of UTEP and Marshall’s Hassan Whiteside.

Southern Miss, which earned the sixth seed, opens play at the GMC Sierra Conference USA Tournament Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles will face 11th-seeded Tulane. The game can be heard on the Southern Miss/ISP network.

2009-10 CONFERENCE USA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Aaron Johnson, UAB, G, 5-8, 175, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
Jerome Jordan, Tulsa, C, 7-0, 235, Sr., Kingston, Jamaica
Julyan Stone, UTEP, G, 6-6, 195, Jr., Goleta, Calif.
Sai’Quon Stone, Southern Miss, G, 6-6, 225, Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Hassan Whiteside, Marshall, F, 7-0, 235, Fr., Gastonia, N.C.

Warren was named to the All-SEC second team, and Buckner received SEC All-Freshman status. Also, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association named Warren to its All-District IV team on Tuesday, as he becomes the first Rebel named USBWA All-District since 2001.

Starting at point guard for all 30 games this season, Warren has continued to etch his name into record books as one of the top scorers and 3-point shooters in school and league history. The Orlando, Fla., native leads the Rebels and ranks third among SEC players with 17.2 points per game. He also ranks among the league leaders with 3.4 assists per game (9th), an 83.0 free-throw percentage (5th), 3.2 3s per game (3rd) and a 41.5 3-point percentage (3rd). His 95 treys this season are just eight shy of his own school record, and he enters the SEC Tournament having made at least one triple in 40 straight games, one shy of the school record and tied for the sixth-longest streak in league history.

Warren was an SEC All-Freshman selection in 2008 and has been a preseason All-SEC pick each of the past two seasons. He averaged 19.6 points per game in 11 contests last season before missing the rest of the year with an ACL tear in his knee.

A 6-foot-8, 233-pound rookie by way of Memphis, Tenn., Buckner has made his mark as one of the top shot-blockers in the SEC this year. He ranks third among all players and first among freshmen with 2.0 blocks per game, while also averaging 4.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. His 52 blocks this season have eclipsed the school freshman record, and he needs just four more to match David Dean’s school record set in 1993.

Buckner is Ole Miss’ fourth SEC All-Freshman honoree in the last three years, joining current teammates Warren, Trevor Gaskins (2008) and Terrico White (2009).

Vanderbilt’s Kevin Stallings earned SEC Coach of the Year honors and Kentucky freshman guard John Wall was selected SEC Player of the Year by the league’s coaches. Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins took the SEC Freshman of the Year award and Florida’s Ray Shipman earned SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State was picked as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, while Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins earned SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors.

A complete list of the 2010 SEC Men’s Basketball postseason awards follows.

First Team All-SEC
*Trey Thompkins, Georgia – F, 6-10, 247, So., Lithonia, Ga.
*DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky – F 6-11, 270, Fr., Mobile, Ala.
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky – F 6-9, 235, Jr., Huntington, W.Va.
*John Wall, Kentucky – G 6-4, 195, Fr., Raleigh, N.C.
Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State – F, 6-9, 230, Sr., Brownsville, Tenn.
*Devan Downey, South Carolina – G, 5-9, 170, Sr., Chester, S.C.
Wayne Chism, Tennessee – C, 6-9, 246, Sr., Jackson, Tenn.
*Jermaine Beal, Vanderbilt – G, 6-3, Sr., 205, DeSoto, Texas

Second Team All-SEC
Mikhail Torrance, Alabama – G, 6-5, 210, Sr., Eight Mile, Ala.
Courtney Fortson, Arkansas – G, 5-11, 180, So., Montgomery, Ala.
Erving Walker, Florida – G, 5-10, 171, So., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tasmin Mitchell, LSU – F, 6-7, 238, Sr., Denham Springs, La.
Chris Warren, Ole Miss – G, 5-10, 168, Jr., Orlando, Fla.
Dee Bost, Mississippi State – G, 6-2, 170, So., Concord, N.C.
A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt – C, 6-11, Jr., 255, Sydney, Australia
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt – F, 6-7, So., 210, Norrkoping, Sweden

SEC All-Freshman Team
Tony Mitchell, Alabama – F, 6-6, 185, Fr., Swainsboro, Ga.
*Marshawn Powell, Arkansas – F, 6-7, 220, Fr., Newport News, Va.
Kenny Boynton, Florida – G, 6-2, 183, Fr., Pompano Beach, Fla.
*Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky – G, 6-1, 190, Fr., Birmingham, Ala.
*DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky – F 6-11, 270, Fr., Mobile, Ala.
*John Wall, Kentucky – G 6-4, 195, Fr., Raleigh, N.C.
Reginald Buckner, Ole Miss – F, 6-8, 233, Fr., Memphis, Tenn.
*John Jenkins, Vanderbilt – G, 6-4, 215, Hendersonville, Tenn.

SEC All-Defensive Team
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky – F 6-9, 235, Jr., Huntington, W.Va.
*Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State – F, 6-9, 230, Sr., Brownsville, Tenn.
Devan Downey, South Carolina – G, 5-9, 170, Sr., Chester, S.C.
Sam Muldrow, South Carolina – F, 6-9, 220, Jr., Florence, S.C.
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt – F, 6-7, So., 210, Norrkoping, Sweden

SEC Coach of the Year: Kevin Stallings, Vanderbilt
SEC Player of the Year: John Wall, Kentucky
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ray Shipman, Florida
SEC Freshman of the Year: DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year: John Jenkins, Vanderbilt
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State*

*-Unanimous selection

Flowers led the Golden Eagles this season with 14.7 points and 7.9 rebounds, good for tenth and seventh in the league. He also is fourth in C-USA in blocks with 1.8. His 53 blocks on the year are tied for the tenth most in a season at Southern Miss.

The Dallas, Texas native has scored in double-figures in 26 of 30 games, including 10 straight. He has scored 20-plus points in four games, including a season-high 25 at UAB on January 20. He also has eight double-doubles on the year, fifth most in Conference USA.

Houston’s Aubrey Coleman and UTEP’s Randy Culpepper were named to the first team. Joining them are Elijah Millsap of UAB, Tulsa’s Ben Uzoh and Elliot Williams of Memphis.

Joining Flowers on the second team was UTEP’s Derrick Caracter, Tulsa’s Jerome Jordan and Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Wilkerson of Marshall.

On the third team was SMU’s Papa Dia and Derek Williams, Aaron Johnson of UAB and Memphis’ Wesley Witherspoon

Southern Miss, which earned the sixth seed, opens play at the GMC Sierra Conference USA Tournament Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles will face 11th-seeded Tulane. The game can be heard on the Southern Miss/ISP network.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM
Aubrey Coleman, Houston, G, 6-4, 200, Sr., Houston, Texas
Randy Culpepper, UTEP, G, Jr., 6-0, 165, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.
Elijah Millsap, UAB, G, Jr., 6-6, 211, Grambling, La.
Ben Uzoh, Tulsa, G, 6-3, 200, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
Elliot Williams, Memphis, G, 6-5, 180, So., Memphis, Tenn.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM
Derrick Caracter, UTEP, F, 6-9, 275, Jr., Fanwood, N.J.
Gary Flowers, Southern Miss, F, 6-8, 214, Jr., Dallas, Texas
Jerome Jordan, Tulsa, C, 7-0, 245, Sr., Kingston, Jamaica
Hassan Whiteside, Marshall, F, 6-11, 235, Fr., Gastonia, N.C.
Tyler Wilkerson, Marshall, F, 6-8, 240, Sr., Lexington, Ky.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM
Papa Dia, SMU, F, 6-9, 235, Jr., St. Louis, Senegal
Aaron Johnson, UAB, G, 5-8, 175, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
Derek Williams, SMU, G, 6-1, 170, Sr., Jamaica, N.Y.
Wesley Witherspoon, Memphis, F/G, 6-9, 210, So., Atlanta, Ga.
Brock Young, East Carolina, G, 5-11, 175, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.

Robertson was named to the All-SEC first team and the All-Freshman team after winning the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships with an NCAA automatic height of 7-04.25. His mark tied the school record and currently ranks him third in the country in the event.

“To see Ricky come back from a broken foot and win his first SEC Championship with an automatic mark is sensational,” Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker said.

Knight was selected to the All-SEC second team after placing second in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships with an NCAA provisional height of 7-03.25. Knight also ranks third in the NCAA in the high jump after posting a mark of 7-04.25 earlier in the season at the Meyo Invitational.

“Last year Brian finished in fourth place at the championships, but this year he worked really hard and improved to become the SEC runner-up,” Walker said.

Jenkins became the third Rebel jumper tabbed All-SEC when she earned a spot on the second team after placing second in the long jump at the championships. The Vicksburg, Miss., native turned in an NCAA provisional distance of 20-01.75 and recorded the fifth-longest leap in school history in the process.

“Rachel has improved so much this year and went from ninth place last season and just missed scoring to the SEC runner-up in the long jump this season,” Walker said.

Granger was the top freshman finisher in the 60 meters at the SEC Indoor Championships and earned a spot on the All-Freshman team after taking fourth with an NCAA provisional time of 6.69. He recorded a time of 6.66 in the preliminaries to set the third-fastest time in school history. Granger is currently tied for 13th in the nation in the 60 meters.

“It was especially impressive to see Mike become the top freshman in the 60 meters in a conference that is renowned for sprinting,” Walker said.

Ole Miss returns to action Friday and Saturday when select Rebels will take part in the NCAA Indoor Championships from Fayetteville, Ark.

A native of Suwanee, Ga., Graham has participated in Reading with the Rebels, a program which helps promote reading to area students, and has spent time with children at local day care centers during his time at Ole Miss. He has joined teammates in visiting patients at the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital and Children’s Cancer Clinic at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. This December, he and his Rebel teammates took time to visit with underprivileged children from the local Boys and Girls Club, while also delivering Christmas gifts to them.

This marks the 12th year for the SEC Community Service Team for men’s basketball as well as for women’s basketball. All 20 league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men’s and women’s sports being chosen from 1999-2003. The SEC began this concept with a football Community Service Team in 1994.

2009-10 SEC Men’s Basketball Community Service Team
Senario Hillman – Alabama
Rotnei Clarke – Arkansas
Lucas Hargrove – Auburn
Dan Werner – Florida
Trey Thompkins – Georgia
Patrick Patterson – Kentucky
Alex Farrer – LSU
Zach Graham – Ole Miss
Barry Stewart – Mississippi State
Austin Steed – South Carolina
Bobby Maze – Tennessee
Joe Duffy – Vanderbilt

The United Way of Leflore County was the highest fundraising organization in the Birdies For Charity program. The organization was presented a check for $25,744.50 that included over $4,500.00 donated by Century Club Charities through Bonus Bucks at a luncheon hosted by the Viking Classic at Annandale Golf Club on March 3. The Kindness Foundation of Hattiesburg, Miss. was the second highest, raising $15,416.20. Eddie Barnes of Greenwood, Miss. won the Guess the Birdies contest and received a Viking Charcoal Ceramic Cooking Capsule and cart from the Viking Range Corporation, as well as a Viking Culinary Package of cookware, cutlery, and countertop appliances. Mr. Barnes also received a “Southern Hospitality, Viking Style” package that included a two night stay in an elegant suite at The Alluvian Hotel and Spa, spa treatment for two in the luxurious “Couple’s Suite”, dinner for two at Giardina’s Restaurant, and a custom-designed cooking class for two with an Executive Chef from the Viking Cooking School.

The benefiting charities are those who participated in the Birdies For Charity program, the fundraising arm of the Viking Classic. Implemented in 2001, the BFC program has enlisted more than 375 charities and is available for any 501(c)3 organization, church or school in Mississippi. The primary goal of the BFC program is to successfully solicit and collect pledges of at least two cents per birdie based on the number of birdies made at the Viking Classic or a donation of $25 or more. Each charity receives 100% of collected pledges and donations.

The 2010 Birdies For Charity program is ready to kick off. The dates for the 2010 Viking Classic are September 27-October 3 at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, MS. For more information about the Birdies For Charity program, please contact Renee Halsey at 866.898.GOLF.

For more information on the Birdies For Charity program or the Viking Classic, please visit www.vikingclassic.com.

For images from the 2009 Viking Classic, please contact Cary New, cnew@vikingrange.com or 662.451.1628.

Hinds finished in sixth place overall out of 43 teams, won one individual national championship, had three NJCAA All-Americans and had eight more selected as United States Corporate Athletic Association (USCAA) All-Americans.

Fred Rose of Texarkana, Ark., won the national championship in the 60-meter dash, finishing with a stellar time of 6.67 seconds. Rose also finished in second place in the 200-meter dash with his time of 21.85 seconds.

Teammate Horatio Williams of Oxford, a LSU signee, came in seventh place in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.81 seconds.

Willie Calvin of Greenville was a third place finisher in the high jump event, as he jumped 6 feet, 9 ¾ inches.

The 4×400 meter relay team of Ricky Babineaux of Breaux Bridge, La., Gary Ellis of Lawrenceville, Ga., Jonathan McAfee of Grenada and Alpha Sanders of Crystal Springs posted a time of 3:21.81 to finish in fifth place overall.

For final results of the 2010 NJCAA Indoor Nationals please go to http://www.eiupanthers.com/custompages/njcaa%20track/2010/Final%20Results_NJCAA10.htm

The two athletes are Trell Kimmons of Coldwater and Jeff Henderson of Sherwood, Ark.

Kimmons was a four–time national champion at Hinds from 2005-2006 and still holds the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 60m dash record with a time of 6.53 seconds. He will represent Team USA in the 60m dash.

Henderson was a five-time national champion while at Hinds from 2008-2009, and he will represent Team USA in the long jump event.

“I am very proud of these two guys,” said Hinds coach Reginald Dillon. “It was a joy to coach them and they will represent Hinds Community College and Team USA well.”

Warren averaged 26.5 points and 3.0 assists in the victories. The Rebels’ point guard finished one shy of his career high with 31 points in a 68-66 comeback win in Fayetteville. He scored 20 points in the second half and helped Ole Miss erase an 11-point deficit with just over five minutes remaining, nailing a huge 3-pointer with 53 seconds left to give the Rebels their first lead of the contest. He also scored a game-high 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting (5-of-7 3s) with five assists in a 72-59 win over LSU.

The Orlando, Fla., native hit five 3s in both games this week to increase his season total to 95, which is only eight shy of his own school record. He has now connected on a 3-pointer in 40 straight games, which is one shy of a school record and tied for the sixth-best streak in SEC history.

Warren is the first player of the week selection for Ole Miss this season and the first since Dwayne Curtis received the honor on Dec. 17, 2007.

Ole Miss closed out league play with four straight wins to finish 9-7 and earn the program’s fifth SEC Western Division Championship and second under head coach Andy Kennedy. As the West No. 2 seed in this week’s SEC Tournament the Rebels receive a first-round bye and will play the LSU-Tennessee winner on Friday at 2:15 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.