Georgia’s Yante Maten named AP SEC Player of the Year

Georgia basketball star Yante Maten has been named the 2017-18 SEC men’s basketball Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

The AP released its All-SEC honors on Tuesday, and Maten was revealed as the choice over fellow unanimous first-team member Grant Williams of Tennessee. Williams beat out Maten for the top-player honors in the SEC coaches voting, which also was released on Tuesday.

Maten is averaging 19.4 points and 8.8 rebounds during his senior campaign. He will attempt to lead the Bulldogs, who finished the regular season tied for 11th place in the SEC standings, on a miracle run through the SEC Tournament. The tournament begins Wednesday in St. Louis. No. 12 Georgia will meet No. 13 Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. (SEC Network).

This is the first time an AP SEC Player of the Year has come from a team that ended the regular season below .500 in conference play since 1971, according to AP writer Steve Megargee. The last player to accomplish that feat was Ole Miss star Johnny Neumann.

Here’s a look at the complete selections from the AP voting panel:

ALL-SEC BASKETBALL: FIRST TEAM

Bryce Brown, Auburn, guard

Daryl Macon, Arkansas, guard

u-Yante Maten, Georgia, forward

Collin Sexton, Alabama, guard

u-Grant Williams, Tennessee, forward

*u = unanimous

ALL-SEC BASKETBALL:  SECOND TEAM

Jaylen Barford, Arkansas, guard

Chris Chiozza, Florida, guard

Jared Harper, Auburn, guard

Mustapha Heron, Auburn, guard

Kassius Robertson, Missouri,  guard

SEC Player of the Year 

Yante Maten, Georgia

SEC Coach of the Year

Rick Barnes, Tennessee

SEC Newcomer of the Year

Collin Sexton, Alabama