WAC announces individual awards

DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference announced its individual men’s basketball postseason awards on Sunday and honored four University of Idaho players.

In a vote of the league’s coaches, junior center Kyle Barone was selected to the All-WAC Second Team, while senior guard Deremy Geiger was an Honorable Mention pick.

Senior guard Landon Tatum was a WAC All-Defensive Team selection, while senior forward Djim Bandoumel was named to the WAC All-Newcomer Team.

“I couldn’t be happier for those guys,” Vandals coach Don Verlin said. “I thought it was a great thing for the program. Like all individual awards, it comes from good team play, and that’s what our team has had this year.”

Barone is averaging 12.6 points and a team-leading 8.2 rebounds per game.

Geiger leads the team with 13.0 points per game and 25 steals. Tatum leads Idaho this season with eight drawn charges and is second on the team with 24 steals.

Bandoumel has emerged as a regular in the Vandal lineup, averaging 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 assists per game.

Nevada sophomore Deone Burton was named WAC Player of the Year, while Wolf Pack head coach David Carter was voted Don Haskins Coach of the Year. Louisiana Tech guard Raheem Appleby was selected WAC Freshman of the Year.