FORT WORTH, Texas – After a remarkable rookie campaign, UCF men's basketball's Taylor Hendricks has been unanimously named to the American Athletic Conference's All-Freshman Team and earned a Second Team All-Conference nod as well.
Hendricks set The American record for most Rookie of the Week nods in a season, tallying nine honors. The league's weekly awards were handed out 17 times this season, meaning Hendricks was honored as Rookie of the Week more times than he wasn't. He also set the conference record for most consecutive Rookie of the Week honors, earning four-straight from Nov. 21-Dec. 12. He won the award in four of the first five weeks of the season and finished the year winning three-of-four possible honors. Hendricks was named to the weekly honor roll on Nov. 14, meaning he was recognized by the conference in the first five weeks of the campaign.
On the season, Hendricks averaged 15.6 points and 6.8 rebounds a game. He tallied a conference-leading 51 blocks and added 27 steals in the process. He shot 48.8% from the field and 41.3% from the three-point line.
In conference play, Hendricks did more of the same averaging 15.8 points and 6.6. boards per contest, registering 31 of his 51 blocks in league play. He snatched 19 steals and registered 29 assists while shooting 49% from the floor and 38.6% from beyond the arc.
Hendricks scored 20 or more points in six games this season, hitting his career high twice. He scored 25 points on the road at Tulsa to top his previous best of 23 which he achieved twice, before scoring 25 again on the final day of the regular season against ECU. He tallied five double-doubles along the way, earning his first against Florida State in the second game of the season, earning 15 points and grabbing 12 boards.
Earlier in the season, Hendricks had been honored as the Baha Mar Hoops MVP as well as a spot on the All-Tournament Team. He earned his second career double-double in the tournament's semifinal matchup against Oklahoma State before dropping 19 against Santa Clara to help the team win the title.
Hendricks is the first Knight to be named All-Conference Second Team or better since the 2018-19 season when Aubrey Dawkins was bestowed with the honor, and B.J. Taylor was named to the First Team. A Trio of Knights have made the Third Team over the past two seasons.
Hendricks' nod makes it back-to-back seasons where a Knight has been named to the All-Freshman Team. Current teammate Darius Johnson earned the honor last season. Hendricks and Johnson are two of five total Knights to be named to the league's rookie squad.
2023 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Honors
Player of the Year
Marcus Sasser, Sr., G, Houston
Coach of the Year
Kelvin Sampson, Houston
Defensive Player of the Year
Jamal Shead, Jr., G, Houston
Freshman of the Year
Jarace Walker, F, Houston
Most Improved Player of the Year
J'Wan Roberts, R-Jr., F, Houston
Sixth Man of the Year
Reggie Chaney, Sr., F, Houston
Sportsmanship Award
Ludgy Debaut, Gr., C, East Carolina
Sion James, So., G, Tulane
First-Team All-Conference
Landers Nolley II, R-Sr., G, Cincinnati
Marcus Sasser, Sr., G, Houston*
Kendric Davis, Sr., G, Memphis*
DeAndre Williams, Sr., F, Memphis
Jalen Cook, So., G, Tulane
Second-Team All-Conference
Taylor Hendricks, Fr., F, UCF
Jamal Shead, Jr., G, Houston
J'Wan Roberts, R-Jr., F, Houston
Jarace Walker, Fr., F, Houston
Jaylen Forbes, Jr., G, Tulane
Third-Team All-Conference
David DeJulius, Gr., G, Cincinnati
Tyler Harris, Sr., G, South Florida
Damian Dunn, R-So., G, Temple
Kevin Cross, Jr., F, Tulane
Craig Porter Jr, Sr., G, Wichita State
All-Freshman Team
Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF*
Ezra Ausar, F, East Carolina*
Jarace Walker, F, Houston*
Terrance Arceneaux, G, Houston
Emanuel Sharp, G, Houston
* denotes unanimous selection
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