Houston Collects Conference Postseason Awards

HOUSTON – Several University of Houston Men's Basketball student-athletes received American Athletic Conference honors with the release of the league's postseason awards on Wednesday morning.

Junior guard Quentin Grimes was named the league's Player of the Year and was one of three unanimous selections for the All-American Athletic Conference First Team.

Senior guard DeJon Jarreau was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year, while senior forward Justin Gorham was recognized as its Most Improved Player, Additionally, Gorham and Jarreau joined sophomore guard Marcus Sasser on the Second Team.

The four All-Conference selections were the most for the Cougars since five Cougars – Derrick Daniels, David Diaz, Sam Mack, Bo Outlaw and Craig Upchurch – were named to the 1992 All-Southwest Conference Second Team.

Quentin Grimes, The American Player of the Year, 2020-21

QUENTIN GRIMES
Grimes leads the Cougars and ranks second in The American with 17.9 points per game and averages 6.2 rebounds per contest to rank eighth in the league.

Quentin Grimes, All-Conference First Team, 2020-21 He is one of only three student athletes to rank among The American's Top-Eight leaders in both scoring and rebounding. In addition, The Woodlands, Texas, native leads the league with 3.1 3-pointers per game.

This season, Grimes leads the Cougars with nine 20-point games and poured in career highs of 33 points and eight 3-pointers in Houston's win over WKU inside the Fertitta Center on Feb. 25.

He was recently named one of five finalists for the Jerry West Award, presented to the nation's top shooting guard by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and was a semifinalist for the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Player of the Year.

Grimes became the seventh Cougar in school history to be named a Conference Player of the Year and the first since Bo Outlaw in the Southwest Conference in 1993.

He joined Outlaw, Hakeem Olajuwon (1984 SWC), Clyde Drexler and Michael Young (1983 SWC), Rob Williams (1981, SWC) and Otis Birdsong (1977 SWC).

DeJON JARREAU
Jarreau has been a steady leader for the Cougars in the starting lineup throughout the season.

DeJon Jarreau, All-Conference Second Team, 2020-21 The New Orleans native ranks among the league's Top-20 scoring leaders with 10.9 points per contest and has made his impact on the defensive side.

Ranked among the nation's Top-5 percentage leaders in individual defensive efficiency, Jarreau stands among the league's Top-15 leaders with 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. In the Cougars' home win over Boise State on Nov. 27, he held Derrick Alston, who is currently averaging 17.5 points per game, scoreless.

He finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the Cougars' home win against Wichita State for the first double-double of his career on Jan. 6 and has posted 10 games with multiple steals, including five of the last six games.

Jarreau earned his second conference postseason honor after being named the 2019 American Athletic Conference Sixth Man of the Year.

He became the second Cougar to be named a Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the first since Bo Outlaw earned back-to-back honors from the Southwest Conference in 1992-93.

JUSTIN GORHAM
Gorham has established himself as one of the nation's elite rebounders. The Columbia, Md., native leads the Cougars and The American with 9.4 rebounds per contest after averaging just 2.5 boards per contest a year ago.
Justin Gorham, All-Conference Second Team, 2020-21 He leads the Cougars with seven double-doubles this season, including 10 points and 12 rebounds in Houston's thrilling 67-64 win over Memphis in the regular-season finale inside the Fertitta Center on Sunday.

Gorham has posted 12 games with double-digit rebounds, including nine straight games from Jan. 3 to Feb. 10, becoming the first Cougar to assemble a streak that long since Houston legend Hakeem Olajuwon enjoyed a 15-game streak from 1982-83 (last three games) to 1983-84 (first 12 games).

He leads The American and ranks third nationally with 4.3 offensive rebounds per game and, with 5.2 defensive boards per contest, is the only player to rank among the league's Top-Four leaders in both categories.

Gorham became the first player in school history to receive a Most Improved Player award from a conference office.

Marcus Sasser, All-Conference Second Team, 2020-21
MARCUS SASSER
Sasser ranks second among the Cougars and ranks 10^th with 13.5 points per game. Houston is the only American team with two of the league's Top-10 scoring leaders.

Sasser ranks third in the league with 2.6 3-pointers per game and reeled off 15 consecutive games with at least one trey earlier this season.

The Red Oak, Texas, native posted career highs with 28 points and eight 3-pointers in Houston's win over Tulane inside the Fertitta Center on Jan. 9 and dished out a career-high seven assists in both meetings against USF this season to help the Cougars sweep the Bulls.

Grimes was joined on the First Team by ECU forward Jayden Gardner, Memphis guard Landers Nolley II, SMU guard Kendric Davis and Wichita State guard Tyson Etienne, who shared Player of the Year honors.

Jarreau, Gorham and Sasser were joined on the Second Team by Cincinnati guard Keith Williams and Tulsa forward Brandon Rachal.

UCF guards Brandon Mahan and Darius Perry, SMU guard Feron Hunt, Temple guard Khalif Battle, Tulane guard Jaylen Forbes and Wichita State guard Alterique Gilbert were named to the league's Third Team.

UCF guard Isaiah Adams, Cincinnati forward Tari Eason, Memphis center Moussa Cisse, USF guard Caleb Murphy, Temple guard Damian Dunn and Wichita State guard Ricky Council IV were named to the All-Freshman Team.

Wichita State's Isaac Brown was a unanimous selection as Coach of the Year, while Cisse was named the Freshman of the Year. Memphis guard Boogie Ellis and Tulsa guard Darien Jackson shared Sixth Man of the Year honors, and Temple forward J.P. Moorman received the Sportsmanship Award.

UP NEXT
• The Cougars open the postseason when they compete at the Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Championship.
• Houston will face the winner of No. 7 seed Tulsa-No. 10 seed Tulane in the Quarterfinals at 6 p.m., Friday, inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The Cougars split the regular-season series against Tulsa and swept the Green Wave in both meetings.
• Tulsa and Tulane will face off at 2 p.m., Thursday, in the First Round. That game will air on ESPNU.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's Quarterfinal game on ESPNU with Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Mark Adams (analyst).
• Fans can hear Friday's Quarterfinal game on KPRC 950 AM or on the TuneIn app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analyst). The pregame show begins at 5:45 p.m.

JOIN the 2021-22 SEASON-TICKET PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Houston Men's Basketball fans can join the season ticket priority wait list for the 2021-22 season inside the Fertitta Center with a $75 deposit today. To place a deposit for the 2021 season, click here or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-4667).

JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.

Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.

For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (46874).

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