Mocs Jake Stephens Named All SoCon and Sam Alexis Made All SoCon Freshman Team
(gomocs.com) SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Following a solid season on the court, Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball graduate student Jake Stephens and freshman Sam Alexis earned All-Southern Conference laurels after the league office announced its postseason winners Wednesday afternoon.
Stephens, who was forced to miss the final 11 games of the regular season due to injury, was tabbed to the All-SoCon First Team (media) and the All-SoCon Second Team (coaches) following his strong start to the season. Alexis, who was Stephens’ under study this year, earned a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman Team as voted on by league coaches.
JAKE STEPHENS – All-SoCon First Team (media), All-SoCon Second Team (coaches)
Stephens earns the First Team (media) honor for the second-straight season after finding himself on both first team lists after the 2021-22 season while at VMI. It marks his fourth and fifth all-time SoCon postseason awards after finding a spot on the second team (media) in 2020-21.
The SoCon Preseason Player of the Year, Stephens missed the final 11 games of the regular season after suffering an injury against Furman on January 18. At the time of injury, Stephens was averaging 21.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 blocks per game which not only led the SoCon but ranked among NCAA Division I’s best.
Stephens became one of just two players in NCAA DI basketball over the last 30-plus years to achieve 1,800 career points, 900 career rebounds, 300 career assists and 200 career blocks while becoming just the 23rd player in the past 25 seasons to notch 1,800 points, 900 rebounds and 200 blocks in a career.
Stephens posted double digit points in 19 of the 20 games played and notched 10 games with 20 or more points and four with 30 or more. He recorded back-to-back 30+ point, 10+ rebound games against VMI and Western Carolina this season to become just the first player in NCAA DI since 2019 to accomplish the feat.
In addition, Stephens posted 11 double-doubles in his 20 games played. His 32 points and 20 rebounds during an OT loss to Belmont on December 18 was the first ever 30/20 game in UTC history and the first 20/20 game in DI era of UTC basketball (1977-pres.).
SAM ALEXIS – SoCon All-Freshman Team (coaches)
Alexis appeared in 28 games as a true freshman with the Mocs this season and averaged 12.6 minutes of floor time during those 28 games. He averaged 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds inside conference play this season while shooting 52.4% (33-of-63) from the floor during that span.
The Apopka, Fla., native arrived on the scene with a huge breakout performance on national television during a win over Mercer on February 11. Alexis dropped 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting including a 4-of-6 mark from deep while adding in six rebounds and a steal to help lift UTC to the victory.
Alexis has recorded five or more rebounds 15 different times this season including the final 10 games of the regular season. Of his 116 total rebounds this season, Alexis has snagged 47 on the offensive side of the glass which checks out a high 40.5% rate.
All-SoCon (Coaches)
Player of the Year
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, FUR
Freshman of the Year
Jackson Paveletzke, G, WOF
Defensive Player of the Year
Kobe Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
Coach of the Year
Mike Jones, UNCG
First Team
Mike Bothwell, 5th, G, Furman
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, Furman
Keyshaun Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
Logan Dye, Sr., F, Samford
B.J. Mack, Sr., F/C, Wofford
Second Team
Stephen Clark, Sr., F, The Citadel
Ques Glover, Jr., G, Samford
Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Tre Jackson, Jr., G, Western Carolina
Vonterius Woolbright, Jr., G, Western Carolina
Third Team
Jalen Haynes, So., F/C, ETSU
Jordan King, Jr., G, ETSU
Jalyn McCreary, Jr., F, Mercer
Keondre Kennedy, Gr., G/F, UNCG
Jermaine Marshall, Jr., F, Samford
All-Freshman Team
Ben VanderWal, F, Furman
Jah Quinones, G, Mercer
Sam Alexis, F/C, Chattanooga
Asher Woods, G, VMI
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford
SoCon Sports Media Association
Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, FUR
Freshman of the Year
Jackson Paveletzke, G, WOF
Anton Foy Coach of the Year
Bucky McMillan, Samford
First Team
Mike Bothwell, 5th, G, Furman
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, Furman
Keyshaun Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
B.J. Mack, Sr., F/C, Wofford
Second Team
Stephen Clark, Sr., F, The Citadel
Logan Dye, Sr., F, Samford
Jermaine Marshall, Jr., F, Samford
Tre Jackson, Jr., G, Western Carolina
Vonterius Woolbright, Jr., G, Western Carolina
Third Team
Jordan King, Jr., G, ETSU
Jalyn McCreary, Jr., F, Mercer
Ques Glover, Jr., G, Samford
Tyzhaun Claude, Jr., F, Western Carolina
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford
All-Freshman Team
Madison Durr, G, The Citadel
Jah Quinones, G, Mercer
Asher Woods, G, VMI
Tyler Houser, C, VMI
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford
