Tre’von Willis, Chace Stanback, Oscar Bellfield earn All-MWC postseason honors

By Ryan Greene

Monday, March 8, 2010 | 2:30 p.m.

As expected, three UNLV basketball players were honored Monday by the Mountain West Conference as all-league performers.

Junior guard Tre'Von Willis, who averaged 17.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Rebels (23-7 overall, 11-5, MWC), was tapped as one of five first-team honorees.

Chace Stanback, a sophomore forward who averaged 10.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals was named to the third team, while sophomore guard Oscar Bellfield, who carried averages of 9.3 points, 4.6 assists and 2.5 boards, was given honorable mention.

Willis and Stanback also were members of the league's all-defensive team.

The league's most recognized player was New Mexico junior forward Darington Hobson — a Las Vegas native who was a juco transfer this season for the league's regular season champs. After averaging 15.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, he was named the league's Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and was also a first team all-conference selection.

An impressive note for the league's future is that of the 23 players honored as all-league performers, 19 are underclassmen.

As for the Rebels, they're back in action as the No. 3 seed in the Mountain West Conference tournament at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center with a quarterfinal showdown against Utah.

Here are all of the honorees ...

Player of the Year: Darington Hobson, New Mexico

Defensive Player of the Year: David Foster, Utah

Newcomer of the Year: Darington Hobson, New Mexico

Freshman of the Year: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State

Sixth Man of the Year: Jonathan Tavernari, BYU

Coach of the Year: Steve Alford, New Mexico

First-Team All-Mountain West: Jimmer Fredette — junior guard, BYU; Dairese Gary — junior guard, New Mexico; Darington Hobson — junior guard/forward, New Mexico; Kawhi Leonard — freshman forward, San Diego State; Tre'Von Willis — junior guard, UNLV

Second-Team All-Mountain West: Jackson Emery — junior guard, BYU; Andy Ogide — junior forward, Colorado State; Roman Martinez — senior forward, New Mexico; Malcolm Thomas — junior forward, San Diego State; Ronnie Moss — sophomore guard, TCU

Third-Team All-Mountain West: Tyler Haws — freshman guard, BYU; Jonathan Tavernari — senior forward, BYU; Chace Stanback — sophomore forward, UNLV; Carlon Brown — junior guard, Utah; Desmar Jackson — freshman guard, Wyoming

All-Defensive Team: Jackson Emery — junior guard, BYU; Dairese Gary — junior guard, New Mexico; Chace Stanback — sophomore forward, UNLV; Tre'Von Willis — junior guard, UNLV; David Foster — sophomore center, Utah

Honorable Mention All-Mountain West: Evan Washington — junior guard, Air Force; Phillip McDonald — sophomore guard, New Mexico; D.J. Gay — junior guard, San Diego State; Billy White — junior forward, San Diego State; Zvonko Buljan — senior forward, TCU; Oscar Bellfield — sophomore guard, UNLV; Luka Drca — senior guard, Utah; Marshall Henderson — freshman guard, Utah