By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State SID, Written for LSWA
Two of the key members of McNeese’s record-setting men’s basketball turnaround season took home top honors on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s 2023-24 All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball Team.
Senior guard Shahada Wells, a transfer from TCU, won both Player and Newcomer of the Year honors while Will Wade was named Coach of the Year after leading the Cowboys to a 30-4 record and the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles. Grambling’s Donte’ Jackson was a strong contender for the coaching award.
Bossier Parish Community College guard John Awoke rounded out the individual award winners, taking home state Freshman of the Year acclaim after averaging 15 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Kashie Natt, the sensational junior guard who led the LSUA Generals to the Red River Athletic Conference championship and the NAIA Tournament, was a third-team selection.
Earlier this month, Natt won first-team NAIA All-America honors.
The 2023-24 LSWA All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball teams were selected by a statewide vote of school sports information directors and media members.
2023-24 LSWA All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball Teams
Player of the Year: Shahada Wells, G, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Shahada Wells, G, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: John Awoke, Bossier Parish Community College
Coach of the Year: Will Wade, McNeese
First Team
Shahada Wells, G, Gr., McNeese, Fort Worth, Texas
17.8 points per game, 4.7 assists per game, Southland Conference Player of the Year, SLC Newcomer of the Year, Major Madness First-Team All-American
Isaiah Crawford, F, Gr., Louisiana Tech, Fort Worth, Texas
16.3 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, Conference USA Player of the Year, CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, NABC All-District First Team
Daniel Batcho, F, R-Jr., Louisiana Tech, Paris, France
15.2 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game, Conference USA Newcomer of the Year
Diante Smith, F, Sr., Nicholls, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
16.0 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southland Conference
Jordan Wright, F, Gr., LSU, Waggaman, Louisiana
15.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game
Second Team
Kobe Julien, F, R-Jr., UL Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
17.3 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, Second-Team All-Sun Belt
Kevin Cross, F, Sr., Tulane, Little Rock, Arkansas
17.5 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, Third-Team All-American Athletic Conference
Christian Shumate, F, Jr., McNeese, Chicago, Illinois
12.1 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Nick Caldwell, G/F, Sr., Southeastern Louisiana, Prairieville, Louisiana
15.4 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southland Conference
Kintavious Dozier, G, Jr., Grambling, Lanett, Alabama
13.0 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference
Third Team
Kashie Natt, G, Jr., LSU-Alexandria, Rayville, Louisiana
17.4 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Year
Jordan Johnson, G, Sr., New Orleans, Memphis, Tennessee
21.3 points per game, 3.8 steals per game, Second-Team All-Southland Conference
Jamal Gibson, F, Fr., SUNO, New Orleans, Louisiana
21 points per game, 15.8 rebounds per game, Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year
DJ Richards, F, So., McNeese, Houston, Texas
11.4 points per game, 45.1 3-point shooting percentage, Southland Conference All-Tournament Team
TJ Jones, G, 5Y, Xavier, Opelousas, Louisiana
14.0 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, First-Team All-Red River Athletic Conference
Seth Thomas, F, Sr., Centenary, Kilgore, Texas
16.2 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Honorable Mention (Appeared on at least 25 percent of ballots)
CJ Carpenter, G, Sr., LSU-Shreveport, Natchitoches, La.; Joe Charles, F, Jr., UL Lafayette, Carencro, La.; Tra’Michael Moton, G, Gr., Grambling, Shreveport, La.