FRISCO, Texas – McNeese’s Javohn Garcia has been selected as the 2024-25 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, following Friday's announcement of its all-conference teams and superlative awards.
Garcia is the 10th Cowboy to earn the award and the second straight after Shahada Wells claimed the honor a year ago. He powered McNeese on both ends of the floor, averaging 12.6 points per game and 1.5 steals per game, leading the Cowboys in both categories.
Will Wade wins Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season. Wade led the Cowboys to a 19-1 SLC record and a 25-6 mark overall. The Cowboys' 55 wins over the last two seasons is the most in that span in program history.
Christian Shumate repeats as the Southland's Defensive Player of the Year, leading the Cowboys in blocks per game (1.3) and ended second on the team in rebounding (6.4 per game).
Southeastern earned the final two superlatives with Sam Hines Jr. earning Newcomer of the Year and Jeremy Elyzee winning Freshman of the Year.
Hines Jr. and A&M-Corpus Christi's Garry Clark join Garcia on the first team along with Southeastern's Jakevion Buckley and HCU's Bryson Dawkins. This is Clark's second straight season on the first team.
The second team is made up of McNeese's Shumate and Quadir Copeland along with Nicholls' Jamal West Jr. Nicholls, Northwestern State's Addison Patterson and Lamar's Alexis Marmolejos.
The All-Defensive Team is made up of Buckly, Shumate, Northwestern State's Jerald Colonel and Lamar's Adam Hamilton and Andrew Holifield.
The 2025 Jersey Mike’s Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Championship presented by Explore Louisiana begins on Sunday, with the championship game on Wednesday. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+, with the first semifinal on ESPNU and the championship game on ESPN2.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Javohn Garcia, McNeese
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Christian Shumate, McNeese
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Sam Hines Jr., Southeastern
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Jeremy Elyzee, Southeastern
COACH OF THE YEAR: Will Wade, McNeese
FIRST TEAM
| Player |
Team |
Class |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Javohn Garcia |
McNeese |
Sr. |
G |
Columbus, Ohio |
| Garry Clark |
A&M-Corpus Christ |
Sr. |
F |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Sam Hines Jr. |
Southeastern |
Gr. |
G |
Marietta, Ga. |
| Jakevion Buckley |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
G |
Shelbyville, Texas |
| Bryson Dawkins |
HCU |
Jr. |
G |
Dothan, Ala. |
SECOND TEAM
| Player |
Team |
Class |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Quadir Copeland |
McNeese |
Jr. |
G |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Jamal West Jr. |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
F |
Baltimore, Md. |
| Christian Shumate |
McNeese |
Sr. |
F |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Addison Patterson |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
F |
Mississauga, Ont., Canada |
| Alexis Marmolejos |
Lamar |
Jr. |
G |
Santiago, D.R. |
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
| Player |
Team |
Class |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Christian Shumate |
McNeese |
Sr. |
F |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Jerald Colonel |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
F |
Savannah, Ga. |
| Adam Hamilton |
Lamar |
Sr. |
C |
Buckeye, Ariz. |
| Jakevion Buckley |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
G |
Shelbyville, Texas |
| Andrew Holifield |
Lamar |
Jr. |
F |
Beaumont, Texas |