Haase and Jones Claim Postseason Accolades

MACON, Ga. – Mercer redshirt senior forward Felipe Haase and freshman guard Jordon Jones earned all-conference accolades by the league coaches and media, as announced by the SoCon office Wednesday afternoon.

Haase garnered Second Team All-Southern Conference and Jones was named to the conference All-Freshman Team by league coaches and media.

Haase, a 6-9 forward from Osorno, Chile, is one of top versatile players in the conference. He ranks as one of the top players in almost every offensive category in the conference and on the defensive end he ranks near the top in steals, blocked shots, and defensive rebounding. Most impressively, Haase finished second in the league in free throw percentage, shooting an astounding 88.2% on the year from the charity stripe. The transfer from the University of South Carolina surpassed 1,000 career points earlier this year and in two seasons with the Bears has scored 807 total points. Haase is the only player in the conference to score 40 or more points in a game this year and is only one of eighteen players in Division 1 score 40 or more points in a single game this year.

Jones, a local guard from Macon, Ga, is the second Bear to earn All-Freshman Team honors since Coach Greg Gary has taken the helm at Mercer. Jones appeared in 19 games for the Bears and started in nine of those. In league play, Jones started to see significant time after making his first career start against The Citadel on January 17, 2022, where he played 31 minutes and scored in double digits for the first time in his career with 10 points. Jones reached double-digit points a week later when he scored a career high 16 points on 4-7 shooting from behind the arc against the Western Carolina Catamounts. On the year, Jones, is averaging 4.4 points per game.

No. 7 seed Mercer, which went 15-16 overall and 8-10 in SoCon play this season, will face No. 10 seed Western Carolina (11-20, 5-13) in the first round, game two of the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championship present by General Shale on Friday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Coaches

Player of the Year
Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga

Freshman of the Year
Jason Roche, F, The Citadel

Defensive Player of the Year
Jalen Slawson, Sr., F, Furman

Coach of the Year
Lamont Paris, Chattanooga

First team
Mike Bothwell, Sr., G, Furman
Jalen Slawson, Sr., F, Furman
Ques Glover, So., G, Samford
Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga
Jake Stephens, Sr., C, VMI

Second team
Hayden Brown, Gr., F, The Citadel
Ledarrius Brewer, Gr., G, ETSU
Felipe Haase, Sr., F, Mercer
David Jean-Baptiste, Gr., G, Chattanooga
B.J. Mack, Jr., F, Wofford

Third team
Jordan King, So., G, ETSU
David Sloan, Gr., G, ETSU
Trey Bonham, So., G, VMI
Kamdyn Curfman, Jr., G, VMI
Nicholas Robinson, Gr., G, Western Carolina
Max Klesmit, So., G, Wofford

All-freshman team
Jason Roche, F, The Citadel
Mohab Yasser, G, ETSU
Jordan Jones, G, Mercer
Honor Huff, G, VMI
Marcus Banks, G, Western Carolina

SoCon Sports Media Association

Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year
Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga

Freshman of the Year
Jason Roche, F, The Citadel

Anton Foy Coach of the Year
Bucky McMillan, Samford

First team
Hayden Brown, Gr., F, The Citadel
Jalen Slawson, Sr., F, Furman
Ques Glover, So., G, Samford
Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga
Jake Stephens, Sr., C, VMI

Second team
Mike Bothwell, Sr., G, Furman
Felipe Haase, Sr., F, Mercer
David Jean-Baptiste, Gr., G, Chattanooga
Kamdyn Curfman, Jr., G, VMI
B.J. Mack, Jr., F, Wofford

Third team
Ledarrius Brewer, Gr., G, ETSU
Jordan King, So., G, ETSU
De'Monte Buckingham, Gr., G, UNCG
Trey Bonham, So., G, VMI
Max Klesmit, So., G, Wofford

All-freshman team
Jason Roche, F, The Citadel
Mohab Yasser, G, ETSU
Jordan Jones, G, Mercer
Honor Huff, G, VMI
Marcus Banks, G, Western Carolina

COACH GARY'S THOUGHTS:
"This All-Conference selection is well deserved. Felipe was Top 10 in the following categories: scoring, assist to turnover ratio and free throw percentage. Haase was Top 15 in rebounding, three pointer made as well as assists. Haase was truly a Swiss Army knife for us!"

"We're very happy for Jordan. He stepped into a major role with this team as a point guard and did an excellent job. His future at Mercer as a Bear is very bright and we look forward to seeing more to come!"

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW:
Purchase your 2022 SoCon Tournament tickets HERE to watch the Bears in action in Asheville, N.C. on Friday, March 4^th at 7:30 p.m.

FOLLOW THE BEARS:
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Players Mentioned

Felipe Haase

Jordan Jones

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