AUGUSTA, GA - Augusta State’s Festus Hawkins and Gary Boodnikoff were named to the All-South Atlantic Region first and second team, respectively, as announced Tuesday by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
Hawkins earned first team honors after leading the Jaguars with 16.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest. Hawkins, a 6-11 center from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, also led the team with 72 blocks.
Boodnikoff, a 6-7 guard from Alice Springs, Australia, earned second team honors after tallying 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Boodnikoff led the Jaguars by hitting 79 of 193 three-pointers for a stellar 40.9 shooting percentage from long range.
The 2000-2001 season was a magical one for head coach Gary Tuell and the Jaguar basketball team. ASU posted a 21-10 overall record, the school’s first 20-win season since 1978 and its sixth overall. ASU’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament was the school’s first since the 1978 season. ASU defeated Catawba 96-84 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, only to fall 65-48 to Winston-Salem State in the second round.
Setting up the tournament berth was a thrilling Peach Belt Conference Tournament title, the first in school history. ASU defeated Clayton State, USC Aiken, and top-seeded Armstrong Atlantic State in the conference tournament to claim the crown. For their efforts, T.J. Ott, Hawkins and Boodnikoff were named to the PBC All-Tournament Team. Boodnikoff was also honored as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Both Hawkins and Boodnikoff also were named to the Peach Belt All-Conference First team.
During the regular season, the Jaguars posted an 11-5 mark in the PBC and in the process notched an unprecedented third straight North Division Championship.
NABC All-South Atlantic Region First Team
Festus Hawkins, Augusta State
Wylie Petty, Johnson C. Smith
Robert Campbell, Armstrong Atlantic
Daniel Willis, Lenoir-Rhyne
Djaun Hawkins, Wingate College
NABC All-South Atlantic Region Second Team
Gary Boodnikoff, Augusta State
Rob Williams, Winston-Salem State
Simon Moore, Lander
Shingler Lemans, Johnson C. Smith
Nedzad Gusic, Catawba College