The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Walker Named to First Team as Four Blazers Earn All-Conference USA Honors
3/7/2023 10:47:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – Conference USA released the 2022-23 men's basketball postseason awards on Tuesday with four Blazers receiving All-Conference honors. Jordan Walker headlined the group, being named First Team All-Conference while Trey Jemison received Third Team recognition and earned a spot on the All-Defensive team. Both KJ Buffen and Eric Gaines received honorable mention recognition.
Jordan Walker – First Team All-Conference USA
The third-leading scorer in the country, Jordan Walker has been a standout for the Blazers once again. The senior averages 23.2 points per game in his final collegiate campaign, leading Conference USA. Walker has scored 30+ points in six games this season, putting his career total at nine, a UAB record. Nationally, he ranks third with 4.36 three pointers made per contest.
Jelly earned Sunshine Slam MVP honors after scoring 31 points, grabbing six rebounds and recording five assists in the championship game against Georgia. He became the fastest player in UAB history to reach 1,000 points, doing so in only 47 games. In addition to his scoring prowess, Walker has dished out over 100 assists in consecutive seasons. He is the first Blazer to reach that mark in back-to-back seasons since 2019.
Walker was named to numerous national watch lists during the 2022-23 season, including the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watchlist, Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List, Preseason Naismith Trophy Watchlist, Preseason Wooden Award Watchlist and Preseason Bob Cousy Award Watchlist.
Trey Jemison – Third Team All-Conference USA, All-Defensive Team
Birmingham native Trey Jemison has been a force for the Blazers all season. He leads the team with eight double-doubles on the year, doubling his previous career total. Jemison ranks second in Conference USA in rebounding with 8.3 boards per game. He currently is one block shy of matching his career high of 60.
Jemison ranks seventh in UAB history with 710 rebounds and third with 171 blocks in only three seasons as a Blazer. During the 2022-23 season, he has set career highs in points and rebounds while shooting .575 from the field. The senior has helped the Blazers become one of the top rebounding teams in the country. UAB currently sits in first nationally in offensive rebounds per game and second in total rebounds per game.
KJ Buffen – Honorable Mention All-Conference USA
One of the Blazers' most consistent players, KJ Buffen earned honorable mention All-Conference honors for the second-straight season. Buffen has averaged 10.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season. He scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Blazers win over South Carolina.
Buffen earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors for the first time after putting up a pair of double-doubles, including a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in UAB's win over Rice. He has posted five double-doubles this season, ranking second on the team.
Eric Gaines – Honorable Mention All-Conference USA
During his first season as a Blazer, Gaines has posted 22 double-digit scoring efforts. He ranks second on the team with 12.0 points per game while leading the Blazers with 4.6 assists per game. The LSU transfer made headlines with his highlight dunks during the season, making SportsCenter's Top Ten Plays two times.
Gaines has recorded two double-doubles this season. He scored 16 points and dished out 10 assists in a win over Presbyterian before putting up 12 points and 10 assists against Middle Tennessee. Gaines set a new career high with 22 points against Louisiana Tech while knocking down a career high four three pointers.
UP NEXT
UAB will travel to Frisco Texas for the 2023 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament Presented by TotalCare. The Blazers have earned the No. 3 seed and will face either No. 6 Rice or No. 11 UTSA on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. CT. The game will stream live on ESPN+. Purchase your tickets here.
TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2023-24 UAB men's basketball season are now available starting as low as $110. Season ticket packages will feature all home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Bartow Arena. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Jordan Walker – First Team All-Conference USA
The third-leading scorer in the country, Jordan Walker has been a standout for the Blazers once again. The senior averages 23.2 points per game in his final collegiate campaign, leading Conference USA. Walker has scored 30+ points in six games this season, putting his career total at nine, a UAB record. Nationally, he ranks third with 4.36 three pointers made per contest.
Jelly earned Sunshine Slam MVP honors after scoring 31 points, grabbing six rebounds and recording five assists in the championship game against Georgia. He became the fastest player in UAB history to reach 1,000 points, doing so in only 47 games. In addition to his scoring prowess, Walker has dished out over 100 assists in consecutive seasons. He is the first Blazer to reach that mark in back-to-back seasons since 2019.
Walker was named to numerous national watch lists during the 2022-23 season, including the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watchlist, Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List, Preseason Naismith Trophy Watchlist, Preseason Wooden Award Watchlist and Preseason Bob Cousy Award Watchlist.
Trey Jemison – Third Team All-Conference USA, All-Defensive Team
Birmingham native Trey Jemison has been a force for the Blazers all season. He leads the team with eight double-doubles on the year, doubling his previous career total. Jemison ranks second in Conference USA in rebounding with 8.3 boards per game. He currently is one block shy of matching his career high of 60.
Jemison ranks seventh in UAB history with 710 rebounds and third with 171 blocks in only three seasons as a Blazer. During the 2022-23 season, he has set career highs in points and rebounds while shooting .575 from the field. The senior has helped the Blazers become one of the top rebounding teams in the country. UAB currently sits in first nationally in offensive rebounds per game and second in total rebounds per game.
KJ Buffen – Honorable Mention All-Conference USA
One of the Blazers' most consistent players, KJ Buffen earned honorable mention All-Conference honors for the second-straight season. Buffen has averaged 10.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season. He scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Blazers win over South Carolina.
Buffen earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors for the first time after putting up a pair of double-doubles, including a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in UAB's win over Rice. He has posted five double-doubles this season, ranking second on the team.
Eric Gaines – Honorable Mention All-Conference USA
During his first season as a Blazer, Gaines has posted 22 double-digit scoring efforts. He ranks second on the team with 12.0 points per game while leading the Blazers with 4.6 assists per game. The LSU transfer made headlines with his highlight dunks during the season, making SportsCenter's Top Ten Plays two times.
Gaines has recorded two double-doubles this season. He scored 16 points and dished out 10 assists in a win over Presbyterian before putting up 12 points and 10 assists against Middle Tennessee. Gaines set a new career high with 22 points against Louisiana Tech while knocking down a career high four three pointers.
UP NEXT
UAB will travel to Frisco Texas for the 2023 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament Presented by TotalCare. The Blazers have earned the No. 3 seed and will face either No. 6 Rice or No. 11 UTSA on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. CT. The game will stream live on ESPN+. Purchase your tickets here.
TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2023-24 UAB men's basketball season are now available starting as low as $110. Season ticket packages will feature all home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Bartow Arena. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
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