COACHES TAB MSU’S VARNADO PRESEASON ALL-SEC

Two weeks ago, media members named Mississippi State senior forward Jarvis Varnado preseason first-team All-SEC. On Monday afternoon, the 12 league coaches followed suit.

The 6-foot-9 standout from Brownsville, Tenn., was one of six unanimous picks, joining South Carolina’s Deven Downey, LSU’s Tasmin Mitchell, Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson, Tennessee’s Tyler Smith and Ole Miss’ Terrico White. In all, a total of 27 different players received votes, and coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.

        “It’s an honor that all the coaches voted for me,” he said. “To be on that list means a lot, because there are a lot of great players. It’s a privilege.”

        The latest recognition is just one of many honors for Varnado. Last week, he was one of 50 players named to the Naismith preseason watch list after being tabbed to the John R. Wooden Award watch list in early October.

        “It makes you want to go out and play hard, because you don’t want to letdown all the people who voted for you,” he said.

        In the Bulldogs’ exhibition opener against Oklahoma City this past weekend, Varnado scored 8 points, collected 11 rebounds and blocked 4 shots in leading MSU to a convincing 82-54 victory.

        Varnado and the rest of his teammates return to action at 2 p.m. on Saturday against Georgetown (Ky.) in the final tune-up before the Nov. 13 season opener against Rider (8 p.m.) at Humphrey Coliseum.

        Admission to Saturday’s tilt is free.

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC     Pos       Ht       Wt       Cl         Hometown

Devan Downey, South Carolina#          G         5-9       175       Sr.        Chester, S.C.

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU#  F         6-7       235       Sr.        Denham Springs, La.

A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt   C         6-11     250       Jr.        Sydney, Australia

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky#    F         6-9       235       Jr.        Huntington, W.Va.

Tyler Smith, Tennessee#          G/F     6-7       215       Sr.        Pulaski, Tenn.

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State#        F         6-9       230       Sr.        Brownsville, Tenn.

Michael Washington, Arkansas F         6-9       239       Sr.        McGehee, Ark.

Terrico White, Ole Miss#          G         6-5       211       So.      Memphis, Tenn.

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC Pos       Ht       Wt       Cl         Hometown

Dominique Archie, South Carolina         F         6-7       200       Sr.        Augusta, Ga.

Wayne Chism, Tennessee         F/C       6-9       246       Sr.        Jackson, Tenn.

JaMychal Green, Alabama       F         6-9       220       So.      Montgomery, Ala.

DeWayne Reed, Auburn           G         6-1       175       Sr.        Houston, Texas

Trey Thompkins, Georgia         F         6-10     247       So.      Lithonia, Ga.

Alex Tyus, Florida         F         6-8       220       Jr.        St. Louis, Mo.

John Wall, Kentucky     G         6-4       195       Fr.        Raleigh, N.C.

Chris Warren, Ole Miss G         5-10     165       Jr.        Orlando, Fla.

#-Unanimous Selection