The Red and Black

Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: Sports

THOMPKINS

HOUTS

It didn't take long for freshman forward Trey Thompkins to positively affect the men's basketball team.

It took even less to get noticed after he was named the Southeastern Conference's Freshman of the Week for Nov. 24 to Nov. 30.

After missing the first four games of the season with an ankle injury, the 6-foot-9 Thompkins made his collegiate debut against Santa Clara last week and had 10 points and five blocks en route to a Georgia victory.

The next night, he lit up the scoreboard against Mississippi Valley State, scoring a game- and career-high 23 points while hitting 8-of-9 shots in only 21 minutes of play as Georgia cruised to a 98-57 win over the Delta Devils.

In only two games this season, he leads the team in points per game with 16.5, and is averaging 4.5 rebounds per game.

He is one of only two Georgia players to score at least 20 points in a game this season, (freshman Travis Leslie also scored 23 against Loyola of Chicago).

SEC names Houts week's top player

After being held without a field goal against Oakland on Nov. 20, junior guard Ashley Houts responded with a vengeance and was rewarded by being named the SEC's Player of the Week.

She scored 17 points against North Carolina Central, then, in the UNLV Lady Rebel Round-up, scored 20 against Cal State Fullerton and 22 against Eastern Washington on her way to be named the tournament's MVP.

This is the first time the junior from Trenton has earned the award.

This season, she is fifth in the SEC in scoring and assists, third in steals and fourth in free-throw percentage and minutes played.

Volleyball players earn awards

Despite failing to earn a bid into the NCAA Tournament, the women's volleyball team was not without postseason recognition.

Senior outside hitter Maria Taylor and freshman setter Kathleen Gates were both recognized by the SEC for their performances this season.

It is the second straight season Taylor was named to the All-SEC Second Team, this time unanimously, while Gates was named to the All-Freshman Team for her performance as setter.

Taylor led Georgia in kills (230) and kills per set (3.03) and was tied for the team lead in service aces (21).

She leaves Georgia as one of its most accomplished volleyball athletes, finishing in the top five all-time nearly every offensive category, including attacks and points (third), kills (fourth), points per set (sixth), and kills per set (seventh).

Gates had a phenomenal campaign by posting 9.09 assists per set, the fifth best in the conference.

She played in every game for Georgia and set a career high in assists with 55 against Alabama, also good for fifth in the conference.

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- Michael Fitzpatrick

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