University of Cincinnati junior forward Octavius Ellis (Memphis, Tenn./Trinity Valley College [Texas]), sophomore guard Troy Caupain (Midlothian, Va./Cosby HS) and freshman forward Gary Clark (Clayton, N.C./Clayton HS) have earned American Athletic Conference honors the league announced on Tuesday.
Voted upon by the league coaches, Ellis was named second team all-conference while Caupain received honorable mention all-conference accolades and Gary Clark was selected to the all-rookie team.
Ellis is the only league player to rank among the top three players in rebounds (third at 7.3 per game), blocks (third at 2.1) and field-goal percentage (third at .582). He also leads the Bearcats in scoring at 10.0 points a contest. He averaged 10.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks during league play. He finished the regular season with three doubles, including 19 points and 11 rebounds against Memphis on Sunday. During UC's current five-game win streak he is averaging a team-best 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 63.2 percent (24 of 38) from the field.
Caupain finished the regular season ranked among the conference leaders in free-throw percentage (third at .796), assist-to-turnover ratio (seventh at 1.7), field goal percentage (ninth at .461), assists (10th at 3.6) and steals (12th at 1.2). He led the league during conference play, shooting 46.5 (20 of 43) percent from three-point range. He ranks second on the team in scoring at 9.5 points a game this season and has 22 assists with eight turnovers during UC's current win streak.
Clark completed the regular season ranked second among league freshmen and fifth overall, averaging 6.9 rebounds. He also ranked among the conference leaders in offensive rebounds (third at 2.6), field goal percentage (sixth at .545), blocks (sixth at 1.3) and defensive rebounds (seventh at 4.3). He ranks fourth on the team in scoring (7.9 points).
Cincinnati claims its second consecutive second-team all-league honor. Justin Jackson earned the accolade a year ago. The last time a Bearcat was tabbed an honorable mention all-league selection was 2006 (James White in the BIG EAST Conference). Sean Kilpatrick was the last Bearcat to receive all-rookie team recognition in 2011 in the BIG EAST.
Cincinnati (22-9) starts postseason play on Friday when it faces the USF-UConn winner in the quarterfinals of the American Championship at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. The contest is scheduled to start at approximately 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU and 700 WLW.
2015 American Athletic Conference Awards
* unanimous selection
(University of Cincinnati press release)
