ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis forward Brian Conklin was one of four Billikens honored Monday by the Atlantic 10 Conference by being named a first-team All-Conference selection in voting conducted by A-10 coaches. Junior guard Kwamain Mitchell was tabbed a third-team pick, while sophomore guard Jordair Jett earned a spot on the league’s All-Defensive team.
In addition, Conklin and senior guard Kyle Cassity were selected to the All-Academic team by a vote of the A-10 men’s basketball media relations directors. It marked the second straight year the Billikens have put two players on the five-player All-Academic squad.
Conklin leads the Billikens in scoring with 13.9 ppg and is second in rebounding with 5.0 rpg. Earlier this season, he became the 26th Billiken to reach 1,000 points for his career.
The last Billiken to be named first-team All-Conference on a five-player squad was Justin Love in 2000 when the Billikens played in Conference USA. Ian Vouyoukas was named first-team All-Conference by the A-10 in 2006 when 11 players were honored on the first team.
At the ESPN 76 Classic in Anaheim in November, Conklin led the Billikens to three wins and a subsequent national ranking, the first time the Billikens have been ranked since the 1993-94 season. He was named tournament MVP and A-10 Player of the Week for his efforts.
An Academic All-American, Conklin graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in May 2011. He is enrolled in SLU’s MBA program, with an anticipated graduation in May 2012. He is a three-time A-10 All-Academic selection. Cassity also has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is enrolled in the SLU MBA program as well.
Mitchell, who was named to the A-10 All-Rookie team as a freshman and was a second-team selection as a sophomore, is second on the Bills with 12.1 ppg. Like Conklin, Mitchell joined the 1,000-point club earlier this season. He is the Billikens’ active career scoring leader with 1,261 points, which ranks 16th all time. Mitchell is third in the A-10 with a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. He leads the team in assists (206) and steals (41).
Jett has played in all 30 games and has recorded 32 steals while scoring 6.0 ppg.. Last season, Jett recorded a team-best 44 steals, which is second all time for a SLU freshman.
The Billikens are the No. 2 seed in the A-10 Men’s Basketball Championship and have a first-round bye. They face either No. 7 La Salle or No. 11 Richmond in the quarterfinals Friday, March 9, at 5:30 p.m. (CT) in Atlantic City, N.J. Click here for more information on the tournament.
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