March 11, 2013
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After leading the UCF men's basketball team to its third-consecutive 20-win season, Isaiah Sykes and Keith Clanton both earned All-Conference USA honors Monday. A junior who developed into one of the most versatile players in the country this year, Sykes was selected to the All-C-USA First Team, while Clanton closed out his decorated career with a spot on the second team.
"Keith and Isaiah are both well deserving of all-conference honors," UCF head coach Donnie Jones said. "They both helped lead our team, which was one of the youngest in the country, and helped us reach 20 wins against one of the toughest schedules in school history. I am happy for both Keith and Isaiah and happy for our entire team and staff who helped them reach some of their individual achievements."
The only player in the nation with two triple-doubles this year, Sykes scored in double figures in 27 of 31 games. He finished league competition ranked in the top 10 in points (16.8/8th), rebounds (8.6/5th), assists (4.3/7th) and steals (2.3/1st), becoming the first player in C-USA history to conclude the year among the leaders in the four statistical categories. The Detroit native averaged 16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.3 steals on the season.
Sykes joins Clanton (2011-12) and Jermaine Taylor (2008-09) as the lone Knights to earn All-C-USA First Team honors since UCF joined the league in 2005. The Knights just concluded their final campaign in the conference and went 20-11 overall and 9-7 against league foes.
UCF's all-time leader in rebounds, blocks, games played and starts, Clanton averaged 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in his final collegiate campaign. The former Orlando Christian Prep star ranked eighth in C-USA in rebounds per game, sixth in field-goal percentage (53.5) and second in blocks per outing (2.0). The forward faced constant double teams during the year, but showed off his unselfishness by averaging a career-best 2.5 assists.
Clanton concluded his career with 1,718 points and 1,000 rebounds and became just the second player in C-USA history to post that achievement. He ended his career third all-time in C-USA in rebounds and ninth in blocks (227).
The league's 12 head coaches, plus media members who cover each team, selected the all-league squads.
2012-13 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM
Dwayne Davis, Southern Miss, F, 6-5, 205, Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.
Josh Davis, Tulane, F, 6-8, 215, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.
Joe Jackson, Memphis, G, 6-1, 171, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.
Maurice Kemp, East Carolina, F, 6-8, 190, Sr., Miami, Fla.
Isaiah Sykes, UCF, G/F, 6-5, 215, Jr., Detroit, Mich.
TaShawn Thomas, Houston, F, 6-8, 215, So., Killeen, Texas
2012-13 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM
Keith Clanton, UCF, F, 6-9, 250, Sr., Orlando, Fla.
DeAndre Kane, Marshall, G, 6-4, 195, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Miguel Paul, East Carolina, G, 6-1, 170, Sr., Winter Haven, Fla.
Rod Rucker, UAB, F, 6-5, 220, Jr., Elberton, Ga.
Ricky Tarrant, Tulane, F, 6-2, 190, So., Pleasant Grove, Ala.
2012-13 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM
Geron Johnson, Memphis, G, 6-3, 197, Jr., Dayton, Ohio
D.J. Stephens, Memphis, F/G, 6-5, 188, Sr., Killeen, Texas
Adonis Thomas, Memphis, F/G, 6-7, 242, So., Memphis, Tenn.
Julian Washburn, UTEP, F, 6-7, 205, So., Duncanville, Texas
Joseph Young, Houston, G, 6-3, 185, So., Houston, Texas