Kats well represented on All-CUSA teams

DALLAS — Following a bounce back season in which the Sam Houston men's basketball squad won more than 20 games, the Bearkats received well-deserved recognition from Conference USA on Monday.

Senior Kashie Natt was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, freshman Jacob Walker earned Sixth Man of the Year and head coach Chris Mudge was voted Co-Coach of the Year, league officials announced. Senior Po'Boigh King was also named second team All-CUSA, Natt was selected to the third team and the all-defensive team and Walker was tabbed to the all-freshman team as well as honorable mention all-conference.

Natt has been a utility knife for the Bearkats this season as one of the team's leading scorers and the top rebounder. As the best defender in the league, he led CUSA in steals with 61 and was third in defensive rebounds at 5.84.

The Rayville, Louisiana product is close to averaging a double-double with 9.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 20 CUSA games. His seven double-doubles rank fourth in the league this season.

Walker, a true freshman from Memphis, Tennessee, has seen his stock rise due to injuries, taking over starting point guard duties for the Bearkats for the final eight games of the regular season. His scoring in CUSA play has increased to 12.5 points per game, which is second on the team, and he was named Freshman of the Week three times.

He has moved into the top 20 in assists in CUSA with 2.75 per game, and he has shown the capability to take over games late with his ability to drive to the basket for layups or get to the free throw line.
King had some big shoes to fill stepping into the role of the Bearkats' top offensive threat, and he has been as good as advertised, averaging 16.89 points, seventh best in league play. He has scored in double figures in 17 of 18 CUSA contests he played in with a season high of 27 in a home win over Western Kentucky on Jan. 24.

The Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina native ranks in the top 15 among CUSA leaders in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point FGs made.

Mudge has orchestrated one of the biggest turnarounds in CUSA this season to earn his second Coach of the Year honor in three years.

The Bearkats went 13-7 in league after beginning 0-3 and finished second in the regular season after being picked to place ninth in the preseason poll. Sam Houston more than doubled its league win total from a year ago, having gone just 6-12 last season when the team finished ninth.

In league play, the Bearkats lead in scoring, rebound margin and defensive rebounds per game and rank second in scoring margin, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, offensive rebounds and assists. The Kats have won 21 games, marking the second 20-win season under Mudge in his three-year head coaching career.

Kats well represented on All-CUSA teams

Players Mentioned

Po'Boigh King

Kashie Natt

Jacob Walker

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