The LaGrange College men's basketball team honored six student-athletes with awards for the 2019-20 season, as announced by ninth-year head coach Kendal Wallace on Tuesday.
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The Panthers' award winners included junior Lincoln Anderson (Glenn Simpson Academic), sophomore Drew Shepherd (Hiram Reeves Dedication), junior Ronald Youngblood (Al Mariotti Leadership), sophomore Porter Law (Cecil Major Defensive), junior Kyle Brown (Nick Mitchell Most Improved Player) and junior Julian Cameron (Delma Fowler Team MVP).
Anderson, who is an outstanding student, was one of two Panthers to start all 25 games during the 2019-20 season. He established himself as an elite low-post player in the USA South, averaging 13.6 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. The LaGrange, Georgia, native led the Panthers in field-goal percentage (59.8) and recorded three 20-point, 10-rebound games. The 6-foot-8 team captain ranked second in the conference in field-goal percentage and eighth in rebounds per game.
Shepherd saw the court in 24 games and made 18 starts, emerging as a knock-down, 3-point shooter in LaGrange's half-court offense. The 5-foot-11 shooting guard ranked second on the team in made 3-pointers (37), as he connected on three or more treys in five games. During a game against Berea on Jan. 18, he erupted with career highs of 19 points, four made 3-pointers and five made free throws.
Youngblood, who hails from Birmingham, Alabama, showcased his versatility all season. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. The 6-foot-3 guard appeared in all 25 games and made 24 starts, reaching double figures in scoring 15 times. Youngblood's athleticism also made him a huge factor in the rebounding action, as he pulled down seven or more boards in eight games. During a 93-64 triumph over Brevard on Jan. 25, he recorded his first-collegiate double-double, featuring game highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
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Law did all the little things for the Panthers this past season, whether it was guarding the top-perimeter player on the other team or diving for a loose ball. His competitive spirit and energy ignited the Panthers on many occasions. The 6-foot-1 guard from Rome, Georgia, played in all 25 games and made 11 starts, while serving as a team captain.
Brown improved dramatically during the 2019-20 season, as he showed the ability to attack the hoop off the dribble and corral difficult rebounds in traffic. After not playing any minutes on the varsity team as a freshman or sophomore, Brown saw the court in all 25 games and made seven starts, averaging 23.4 minutes per game. The Dallas, Georgia, native took advantage of his playing time, averaging 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds. The 6-foot-5 forward scored a career-high 20 points, shooting 7-for-10 from the field, at Birmingham-Southern on Nov. 17, and then pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds against Maryville on Feb. 22 in Mariotti Gym.
Cameron started all 25 games and developed into one of the top players in the conference during the 2019-20 season. He earned USA South All-Conference Second Team laurels. On Dec. 16, the College Park, Georgia, native was named USA South Player of the Week, becoming the first Panther to earn the honor since Alex Bonner '18 on Nov. 27, 2017. The 6-foot guard and team captain ranked first in the USA South in minutes per game (34.6), second in points per game (19.2), second in free-throw percentage (86.3), second in made 3-pointers (63), third in total points (481), third in total minutes (865), fourth in made field goals (168), 10th in assists per game (3.3) and 10th in total assists (83).
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