FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas sophomore forward Daniel Gafford was named first-team All-SEC by the Associated Press and the league's coaches on Tuesday.
He was also selected to the All-SEC defensive team.
Gafford averaged 17 points on 66 percent from the floor and 8.7 rebounds during the regular season. In conference play, he put up 16.7 points and 8.6 rebounds in nearly 29 minutes per game.
The Razorbacks have had 11 players named first-team all-conference by the AP or coaches since joining the SEC before the 1991-92 season.
"I think he’s very deserving of it," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said Monday. "When you look at the big picture and the things that Dan has done ... I thought he stepped up to the plate. He’s been on the top of everybody’s scouting report. Just think, two years ago he was in high school and now he’s being considered one of the better players not only in the SEC but in the country.
"I think his best basketball continues to be in front of him."
After recording three double-doubles as a freshman, Gafford has totaled 10 this season and scored 20-plus points in 11 games - seven times in SEC play. Gafford scored a career-high 32 points in the Razorbacks' home loss to LSU on Jan. 12 and finished with a career-high 16 rebounds in what was likely his final game in Bud Walton Arena on Saturday.
Gafford closed the regular season fourth in the SEC in scoring, first in rebounding and field goal percentage, and third in blocks per game.
Isaiah Joe, who broke the program's single-season record for 3-pointers in a season in Arkansas' win at Vanderbilt last week, was named to the All-SEC freshman team by the coaches. Joe averaged 14 points, good for second on the team, and made a league-best 106 3s on 42.9 percent from distance.
He also totaled 49 steals - ninth most in the conference - and led the Razorbacks in charges taken.
Gafford and Joe were among the 10 players named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-District VII team as well. District VII covers Division I programs in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana.
AP ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM (listed alphabetically)
Daniel Gafford, Arkansas
PJ Washington, Kentucky
Tremont Waters, LSU
Quinndary Weatherspoon, Mississippi State
u-Grant Williams, Tennessee
SECOND TEAM
Jordan Bone, Tennessee
Jared Harper, Auburn
Admiral Schofield, Tennessee
Breein Tyree, Mississippi
Chris Silva, South Carolina
AWARDS
Player of the Year – Grant Williams, Tennessee
Coach of the Year – Kermit Davis, Ole Miss
Newcomer of the Year – Tyler Herro, Kentucky
COACHES ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM
Daniel Gafford, Arkansas
PJ Washington, Kentucky
Tremont Waters, LSU
Breein Tyree, Ole Miss
Quinndary Weatherspoon, Mississippi State
Chris Silva, South Carolina
Admiral Schofield, Tennessee
Grant Williams, Tennessee
SECOND TEAM
Bryce Brown, Auburn
Jared Harper, Auburn
Nicolas Claxton, Georgia
Tyler Herro, Kentucky
Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
Skylar Mays, LSU
Terence Davis, Ole Miss
Jordan Bone, Tennessee
FRESHMAN TEAM
Kira Lewis Jr., Alabama
Isaiah Joe, Arkansas
Andrew Nembhard, Florida
Tyler Herro, Kentucky
Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
Naz Reid, LSU
Reggie Perry, Mississippi State
A.J. Lawson, South Carolina
DEFENSIVE TEAM
Donta Hall, Alabama
Daniel Gafford, Arkansas
Ashton Hagans, Kentucky
Tremont Waters, LSU
Chris Silva, South Carolina
AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Kermit Davis, Ole Miss
Player of the Year: Grant Williams, Tennessee
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Skylar Mays, LSU
Freshman of the Year: Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
Sixth-Man of the Year: Hassani Gravett, South Carolina
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Tremont Waters, LSU and Ashton Hagans, Kentucky
USBWA ALL-DISTRICT VII (listed alphabetically)
Desmond Bane, TCU
Ty Cockfield, Arkansas State
Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
Corey Davis, Houston
Daniel Gafford, Arkansas
JaKeenan Gant, Louisiana
Jhivvan Jackson, Texas-San Antonio
Isaiah Joe, Arkansas
Daishon Smith, Louisiana-Monroe
Tremont Waters, LSU
Player of the Year – Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
Coach of the Year – Chris Beard, Texas Tech