Hogs' Powell unanimously selected to SEC All-Freshman team

Arkansas’ All-SEC Freshman of today isn’t waiting to be a leader of
tomorrow.

Freshman forward Marshawn Powell says he’s leading right now as the Razorbacks leave
today for Nashville, Tenn. and the SEC Tournament game awaiting Thursday night
versus Georgia.

Powell was voted unanimously by SEC coaches to the SEC Freshman team announced by
the SEC Office Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala.

Arkansas sophomore point guard Courtney Fortson was voted as one of eight to the
Coaches All-SEC second team, and sophomore guard Rotnei Clarke was named to the
SEC’s Community Service team for good works.

Powell, averaging 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds for a 14-17, 7-9 coming off five
straight losses, was asked Tuesday if he figured on assuming a leadership role for
next year’s Hogs.

“Yeah, I believe I’m there now,” Powell said.  “I believe this is my team.”

What do his teammates think about that?

“Not taking nothing from Big Mike or Stef and Cox,” Powell said of seniors Michael
Washington, Stefan Welsh and Stephen Cox, “I know they are the seniors and
everything. But I am taking it as putting it on my back. This is what this team
needs is a leader. And we haven’t had that all year. It’s my turn to try, I guess.”

It may seem like stepping in ahead of his time, but that doesn’t surprise his
teammates who have seen him take command from the outset as incumbent sophomore
power forward Michael Sanchez was lost for the season with painful  plantar’s
faciitis in his feet.

Welsh, a fellow Virginian from Newport News, knew Arkansas coach John Pelphrey was
recruiting something special two years ago.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Welsh said of Powell’s ability and presence. “I saw
him my sophomore year and knew he was a must-get. I think he’s just scratching the
surface.”

Scratching the surface but with leadership already forging to the front.

“I think he’s growing into that this year,” Welsh said,  “being more vocal and
wanting to step up and make plays down the stretch of basketball games. He’s done a
little bit of everything.”

As for vocal, the Razorbacks apparently got an earful before last Monday’s practice.
It was  the first time following Sunday’s mandatory off day that Pelphrey could
really address their losing an 11-point lead in the final 5:22 of their 68-66
regular-season closing loss to Ole Miss last Saturday at Walton Arena.

Asked if the Hogs were rid of the bad taste from last Saturday, Pelphrey said
Tuesday, “I would say I probably put a bad taste in everybody’s mouth by my handling
of film. After the game we had some other coaching responsibilities to take care of
and I traveled and hadn’t had a chance to look back to get my feelings across to the
team. So we did that yesterday. I would say about halfway through practice we were
kind of moving on to what’s coming next.”

Powell said the team had it coming, especially  him after hitting just 3 of 12 shots
for nine points.

“We’re not really over it,” Powell said.  “We gave that game to them. We talked
about it in film the other day and we understood what we did wrong that allowed them
to get back in the game. We’ve got to keep working to get better for this weekend
coming up.”

As for hitting just 7 of his last 28 shots in losses to Tennessee and Ole Miss,
Powell said, “It’s frustrating, to be honest. I would love to play well every game,
but of course no one can play well every game. Even Kobe can’t play well every game.
 My teammates just keep encouraging me to keep shooting and they are going to fall
sooner or later.”

Pelphrey praised Fortson, Powell and Clarke for their SEC awards.

“Courtney obviously gave our basketball team a big shot in the arm,” Pelphrey said.
“He has earned the respect of other coaches in the league and certainly was a big
part in us being able to win a couple of games. That’s a very big honor there.
Marshawn was a unanimous pick to the all-freshman team. That’s outstanding as well.
I think for Rot, his award is big-time. It speaks about character and putting the
focus on someone besides yourself. So good for all three of those young men.”
SEC champion Kentucky freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins both were voted
unanimously first-team All-SEC and to the All-Freshman team.

Wall was named SEC Player of the Year and Cousins named SEC Freshman of the Year.

Kevin Stallings, coach of SEC East runnerup Vanderbilt, was named SEC Coach of the
Year despite John Calipari coaching  second-ranked Kentucky to a 29-2 over-all
season and 14-2 in the SEC.