BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 2023 Men's Gulf South Conference All-GSC were recently released, with Galen Smith headlining the way for the Choctaws squad.
Smith was tabbed to the GSC Second Team after posting a stellar senior season in which he racked up an impressive five double-doubles this year.
He ranked in the top 5 in the league in rebounds/game, while ranking just outside the top 10 in points/game, and ranks in the top 5 in FT%.
Galen was a major catalyst in the Choctaws jump in the wins column this season, helping MC reach the GSC Tournament for the first time since 1996 and the first time in their return to Division II.
Smith finished up his final year for the Choctaws averaging 15.5 points per game while also averaging 7.2 rebounds a contest.
Freshman of the Year: Tyler Moore, Montevallo
Coach of the Year: Nick Woodruff, West Alabama
First Team All-GSC
Chaney Johnson, Alabama Huntsville^
Shardarrion Allen, West Alabama^*
Michael Zabetakis, West Georgia^
Jayce Willingham, Lee
Tylandrius Parks, Union*
Second Team All-GSC
Braxton Bertolette, Montevallo
PJay Smith, Lee
Maalik Cartwright, Delta State**
Jacolbey Owens, Valdosta State
Galen Smith, Mississippi College
^ - Previous First Team All-GSC selection
* - Previous Second Team All-GSC selection
GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE RELEASE
After an exciting 2022-23 Gulf South Conference men's basketball season, the league office announced its all-conference and yearly award honors, as voted by the head coaches.
Alabama Huntsville sophomore Chaney Johnson was named the GSC Player of the Year. Montevallo rookie Tyler Moore was took home Freshman of the Year accolades, while West Alabama's Nick Woodruff was voted Coach of the Year.
Johnson helped the Chargers claim a share of the GSC regular-season title, for the first time since 2015-16, as he averaged a team-best 16.0 points per game. A native of Alabaster, Ala., Johnson finished the year ranked seventh among conference leaders in per game scoring and rebounding (6.6), while posting the fourth-best field goal percentage (.510) and 10th-best conversion rate from the free throw line (.779).
Moore was one of the league's top freshman all season, earning weekly accolades four times during the season. The rookie finished the year scoring 6.1 points per game and pulled down 3.8 rebounds per contest, while ranking 22nd among conference leaders with 2.3 assists per game. Moore is the fourth Falcon all-time to garner Freshman of the Year honors, joining previous recipients Kasif Russel (2001-02), Marcus Kennedy (2003-04) and Anthony Brown (2006-07).
For the second consecutive season Woodruff was named GSC Coach of the Year, making him the first to do so since UAH's Lennie Acuff won in 2014-15 and 2015-16; and is the first West Alabama coach to accomplish the feat since Ed Murphy (1980-81, 1981-82). The Tigers claimed a share of this season's regular-season title as they posted a 19-5 record, as they finished the year winning 10 of their last 11 games.
