McCreary, Quinones Earn All-SoCon Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its postseason awards on Wednesday with Jalyn McCreary named to the All-SoCon Third Team and Jah Quinones named to the All-Freshman Team. Both players received these honors in the both the coaches and media polls.

McCreary averaged 15.2 points per game in conference matchups which ranked 10^th in the league. He shot 52.1% from the field in conference play which ranked sixth in the SoCon. McCreary also ranked 10^th in rebounds with 5.7 per game, including 2.3 offensive boards, ranking fifth.

The redshirt junior was named Southern Conference Player of the Week on January 30 after back-to-back 26-point performances against ETSU and The Citadel. McCreary snagged 12 rebounds against The Citadel for his second-career double-double. He shot 64.7% from the field against the Bulldogs following his 60% recorded against ETSU in which he scored a career-best 12 field goals.

McCreary featured in all 31 games this season, starting 23. The Marietta, Georgia, native scored in double figures in 27 games, including the last 13. He currently ranks 11^th all-time for field goals made in a single season for Mercer with 217.

Quinones played in all-but one game for the Bears this season, starting eight. He played a career-high 31 minutes in the Bears' overtime victory over ETSU. The freshman scored a career-best 19 points from a career-high eight field goals made against Western Carolina. Quinones scored in double figures seven times this season.

The Orlando, Florida, native grabbed 11 rebounds against UNCG for his only game with double figure boards. He posted seven games leading the team in rebounds, 10 games with the team-lead in steals, and six games leading the team in assists.

McCreary is the fourth player to be named to an All-Southern Conference Team under head coach Greg Gary following Felipe Haase (2022), Ross Cummings (2021), and Neftali Alvarez (2021). This is the second-straight year Mercer has placed a player on the All-Freshman Team after Jordan Jones received the honor in 2022.

2022-23 All-Southern Conference Awards
Coaches
Player of the Year: Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, FUR
Freshman of the Year: Jackson Paveletzke, G, WOF
Defensive Player of the Year: Kobe Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
Coach of the Year: Mike Jones, UNCG

First team
Mike Bothwell, 5th, G, Furman
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, Furman
Keyshaun Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
Logan Dye, Sr., F, Samford
B.J. Mack, Sr., F/C, Wofford

Second team
Stephen Clark, Sr., F, The Citadel
Ques Glover, Jr., G, Samford
Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Tre Jackson, Jr., G, Western Carolina
Vonterius Woolbright, Jr., G, Western Carolina

Third team
Jalen Haynes, So., F/C, ETSU
Jordan King, Jr., G, ETSU
Jalyn McCreary, Jr., F, Mercer
Keondre Kennedy, Gr., G/F, UNCG
Jermaine Marshall, Jr., F, Samford

All-freshman team
Ben VanderWal, F, Furman
Jah Quinones, G, Mercer
Sam Alexis, F/C, Chattanooga
Asher Woods, G, VMI
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford

SoCon Sports Media Association
Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year: Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, FUR
Freshman of the Year: Jackson Paveletzke, G, WOF
Anton Foy Coach of the Year: Bucky McMillan, Samford

First team
Mike Bothwell, 5th, G, Furman
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, Furman
Keyshaun Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
B.J. Mack, Sr., F/C, Wofford

Second team
Stephen Clark, Sr., F, The Citadel
Logan Dye, Sr., F, Samford
Jermaine Marshall, Jr., F, Samford
Tre Jackson, Jr., G, Western Carolina
Vonterius Woolbright, Jr., G, Western Carolina

Third team
Jordan King, Jr., G, ETSU
Jalyn McCreary, Jr., F, Mercer
Ques Glover, Jr., G, Samford
Tyzhaun Claude, Jr., F, Western Carolina
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford

All-freshman team
Madison Durr, G, The Citadel
Jah Quinones, G, Mercer
Asher Woods, G, VMI
Tyler Houser, C, VMI
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford

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Players Mentioned

Neftali Alvarez

Felipe Haase

Jordan Jones

Jalyn McCreary

Jah Quinones

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