Parsons named 2011 SEC Player of the Year

By Adam Silverstein
March 8, 2011

A double-digit point scorer and team leader in rebounding and assists, Florida Gators senior forward Chandler Parsons was named the 2011 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year by the league’s coaches on Tuesday.

He is the first University of Florida student-athlete to ever win the award.

“I’m honored to be named the SEC Player of the Year,’’ Parsons said in a statement. “It’s really not something I ever spent a lot of energy on and in time I may be able to process winning the award, but right now I’m focused on staying grounded and helping our team understand what we have to do to get better everyday. Obviously this award is handed out to a single player, but I share it proudly with my teammates and coaching staff.”

The straw that has stirred the drink for Florida all season, Parsons is one of only two active Division I college basketball players with over 1,300 points, 800 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals. He also ranks No. 1 among active SEC players in rebounds (805), No. 3 in points (1377) and assists (307), and No. 4 in steals (123).

Parsons has accounted for seven double-doubles on the season including three-straight to start the month of February and five in SEC play. He is also the only player in the country 6’9” or taller dishing more than 3.0 assists per game.

Averaging 11.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists, Parsons was also named to the 2011 All-SEC First Team alongside Alabama F JaMychal Green, Georgia F Trey Thompkins, Kentucky F Terrence Jones, Kentucky G Brandon Knight, Ole Miss G Chris Warren, Tennessee G Scotty Hopson and Vanderbilt G John Jenkins.

His Gators teammates – sophomore guard Kenny Boynton and junior point guard Erving Walker – earned nominations to the All-SEC Second Team, and center Patric Young was honored on the 2011 SEC All-Freshman Team.

OGGOA RELATED: Billy Donovan named 2011 SEC Coach of the Year

Photo Credit: Associated Press

12 Comments

  1. cline says:

    congrats! Keep it up CP!

  2. Marc Mac says:

    “The straw that has stirred the drink”

    AMAZING

  3. John S says:

    Chandler is definitely deserving. He is truly fun to watch, he plays his own brand of basketball. His clutch threes and put-backs keep us in the game when things are going south.

    Billy, Parsons, and an SEC trophy…It’s great to be a Florida Gator.

  4. npgator says:

    Donovan won SEC coach of the year as well. Very well deserved and finally the Gators hoops getting the respect that we deserve!

  5. Gatorbuc15 says:

    This is fantastic! Way to go Chandler!

  6. SC Gator says:

    For all that I believed that he’d earned it I really did not expect to see him get it. It’s awesome to see that kind of team mentality get rewarded when the temptation is always to just hand it off to the flashiest player up for it.

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