UTC forward Justin Tuoyo, right, dunks over ETSU’s Jalen Riley and teammate Casey Jones (24) during the Mocs’ Senior Night SoCon basketball game against the ETSU Buccaneers on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn.The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Justin Tuoyo was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches Tuesday.
Tuoyo, a 6-foot-10 center, averaged 10.3 points and 6.5 rebounds, but his 102 blocks was tops in the league and is currently the second-best season in the history of the conference. Only Kyle Hines’ 106 blocks in 2004-05 ranks ahead.
Tuoyo is the second consecutive Moc to win the award. Zaccheus Mason took the honor last season. He was also named second-team all-conference by the media and to the 10-player all-conference team by the coaches.
Casey Jones and Greg Pryor were honored by being selected to all-conference teams. Jones was named first-team all-conference by the media and joined Tuoyo on the coaches’ teams. Jones, a 6-5 junior guard/forward, averaged 14.3 points and 7.1 rebounds.
Pryor, a 6-foot-2 guard, made tremendous strides in his second year in the program. He averaged 11.4 points and was second on the team with 75 assists as the team’s primary ball-handler.