Southeast Missouri State forward Powell awarded second team all-OVC

~ The junior also was selected to the OVC all-newcomer team

Southeast Missouri State junior forward Leon Powell's impressive rookie Division I season was rewarded Tuesday.

Powell was named second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference and to the OVC's all-newcomer team. He is Southeast's first all-conference selection since 2006-07, the last time Southeast made the OVC tournament.

The all-OVC picks were voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Powell finished the regular season leading the nation in field-goal percentage (64.0). He leads the Redhawks while ranking among the OVC leaders in scoring (14.5 ppg), rebounding (7.8 rpg) and blocks (45).

Southeast Missouri State's Leon Powell dunks against Arkansas State earlier this season. (Southeast Missourian file)

Powell, who missed all of last season with a knee injury after transferring from junior college, scored in double figures in 25 of 30 games and had an OVC single-game high 36 points during a win over Tennessee-Martin on Jan. 3.

Powell, who registered a team-high six double-doubles, was named OVC newcomer of the week five times, second-most in the league.

Morehead State senior forward Kenneth Faried won both the player and defensive player of the year honors for the second straight season. Tennessee State guard Patrick Miller was named freshman of the year and Murray State's Billy Kennedy coach of the year.

On the women's side, Morehead State senior guard Chynna Bozeman repeated as player of the year and Tennessee Tech's Sytia Messer won coach of the year.

UT-Martin guard Heather Butler is freshman of the year, while UT-Martin freshman guard Jasmine Newsome and Tennessee Tech junior guard Tacarra Hayes shared the defensive player of the year award.