Texas Tech University Athletics
Photo by: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Evans, Smith, Beard Capture USBWA Awards
March 06, 2018 | Men's Basketball
Texas Tech is one of only six schools to boast a USBWA District Player and Coach of the Year.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Texas Tech's Keenan Evans, Zhaire Smith and Chris Beard picked up United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District honors released Tuesday.
Evans and Smith are the sixth set of teammates to capture the award at Texas Tech, the last being Andy Ellis and Andre Emmett during the 2001-02 season. The pair also are the first USBWA All-District selections for the program since Jaye Crockett in 2013-14.
Evans is the fourth player in program history to garner USBWA District Player of the Year. He joins the illustrious list of Tony Battie (1996-97), Andre Emmett (2003-04) and Ronald Ross (2004-05).
Smith is the first freshman in program history to collect USBWA All-District accolades. The Red Raiders have had only three sophomores garner the award in Jason Sasser (1993-94), Emmett (2001-02) and John Roberson (2008-09).
Beard is the second coach in program history to tuck away USBWA District Coach of the Year award. He was on staff as an assistant coach when Bob Knight secured the honor during the 2001-02 season.
Texas Tech is one of only six schools nationally to have a USBWA District Player and Coach of the Year this season. The other are Kansas (Devonte' Graham, Bill Self), Nevada (Caleb Martin, Eric Musselman), Ohio State (Keita Bates-Diop, Chris Holtmann), Rhode Island (Jared Terrell, Dan Hurley) and Villanova (Jalen Brunson, Jay Wright).
2017-18 USBWA All-District VII Team – Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas
Player of the Year: Keenan Evans, Texas Tech
Coach of the Year: Chris Beard, Texas Tech
Player, School
Mohamed Bamba, Texas
Jaylen Barford, Arkansas
Frank Bartley, Louisiana-Lafayette
Tyler Davis, Texas A&M
Keenan Evans, Texas Tech
Rob Gray, Houston
Daryl Macon, Arkansas
Shake Milton, SMU
Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech
Tremont Waters, LSU
Kenrich Williams, TCU
Robert Williams, Texas A&M
Evans came away with his second All-Big 12 First-Team selection, while Smith notched All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the Associated Press on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Texas Tech will await the winner of the Texas-Iowa State game in Thursday's quarterfinal round at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT from the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The game will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2 along with the ESPN app.
Evans and Smith are the sixth set of teammates to capture the award at Texas Tech, the last being Andy Ellis and Andre Emmett during the 2001-02 season. The pair also are the first USBWA All-District selections for the program since Jaye Crockett in 2013-14.
Evans is the fourth player in program history to garner USBWA District Player of the Year. He joins the illustrious list of Tony Battie (1996-97), Andre Emmett (2003-04) and Ronald Ross (2004-05).
Smith is the first freshman in program history to collect USBWA All-District accolades. The Red Raiders have had only three sophomores garner the award in Jason Sasser (1993-94), Emmett (2001-02) and John Roberson (2008-09).
Beard is the second coach in program history to tuck away USBWA District Coach of the Year award. He was on staff as an assistant coach when Bob Knight secured the honor during the 2001-02 season.
Texas Tech is one of only six schools nationally to have a USBWA District Player and Coach of the Year this season. The other are Kansas (Devonte' Graham, Bill Self), Nevada (Caleb Martin, Eric Musselman), Ohio State (Keita Bates-Diop, Chris Holtmann), Rhode Island (Jared Terrell, Dan Hurley) and Villanova (Jalen Brunson, Jay Wright).
2017-18 USBWA All-District VII Team – Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas
Player of the Year: Keenan Evans, Texas Tech
Coach of the Year: Chris Beard, Texas Tech
Player, School
Mohamed Bamba, Texas
Jaylen Barford, Arkansas
Frank Bartley, Louisiana-Lafayette
Tyler Davis, Texas A&M
Keenan Evans, Texas Tech
Rob Gray, Houston
Daryl Macon, Arkansas
Shake Milton, SMU
Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech
Tremont Waters, LSU
Kenrich Williams, TCU
Robert Williams, Texas A&M
Evans came away with his second All-Big 12 First-Team selection, while Smith notched All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the Associated Press on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Texas Tech will await the winner of the Texas-Iowa State game in Thursday's quarterfinal round at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT from the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The game will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2 along with the ESPN app.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by liking TexasTechMBB on Facebook along with following @TexasTechMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballPostgame Press Conference: vs. Arkansas
Saturday, December 13
McCasland Media Session
Thursday, December 11
Highlights vs. LSU
Sunday, December 07
Postgame Press Conference: vs. LSU
Sunday, December 07