AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State's Garret
Siler and Ben Madgen were named to the Peach Belt Conference
preseason all-conference team Thursday, according to a release from
the league office.
ASU led the way with two players chosen to the five-man squad. The
team, which was chosen by the league's 11 sports information
directors, also included USC Aiken All-American forward Chris
Commons, Georgia Southwestern guard Anthony Sargent and Georgia
College & State guard Shaun Keaton rounded out the team.
Siler and Madgen were two of a trio of All-Conference players that
helped lead the Jaguars to the NCAA Tournament's National
Championship game last season. A 7-0, 291-pound senior center from
Augusta, Siler returns for his senior season after leading the NCAA
among all divisions in field goal percentage (.762) last year.
Named to the Elite Eight All-Tournament team and the South Atlantic
Regional All-Tournament team, Siler led the PBC in rebounding last
year with 7.8 per game and in blocks with 2.62 per outing. He was
also ninth in scoring with a 15.6 ppg., average.
Madgen returns for his junior season at guard after scoring 16.0
ppg his sophomore year and earning All-Conference honors for the
second straight season. The 6-4 native of Williamstown, Australia
ranked second in the PBC in free throw percentage and 10th in
three-pointers made.
Commons was one of two PBC players named an NABC All-American last
year and the first Pacer to do so. He was named the PBC co-Player
of the Year after helping the team to a school-record 27 wins. An
all-league performer as a junior, Keaton was sixth in the PBC in
scoring at 16.6 points per game. He finished second in the league
in three-pointers made and eighth in three-point percentage. Keaton
scored in double-digits in 25 contests and 11 games with 20 or more
points.
Sargent led the Peach Belt in scoring last year with 22.0 points
per game, although he was not ranked among NCAA leaders because GSW
was completing its transition to full DII membership, which they
accomplished over the summer. Returning for his senior season, the
guard was named all-conference last year after leading the league
in three-pointers made and was second in the PBC with 1.88 steals
per game.
2008 -09 Peach Belt Conference
Men's Basketball
Preseason All-Conference Team
Chris Commons, USC Aiken
Shaun Keaton, GCSU
BEN MADGEN, AUGUSTA STATE
Anthony Sargent, Georgia Southwestern
GARRET SILER, AUGUSTA STATE